********!! Eberspacher

[boatmike]

Went down to boat to work on headlining. Switched on Eber . Started normally. Boat got toastie. Then after about an hour it switched off. Thought "Oh right, thermostat has cut in.. OK" . Then it started to get cold again and Eber didn't start. Then it got bloody freezing so I switched off and on again. Fan started but pump didn't. Waited 10 mins, still fan only. Checked pump. With independent 12v supply (intermittent contact of course) pump spurts diesel. electrical supply to pump shows constant 12v. Should of course pulse, it doesn't. Started to get too cold to work without heat so came home. Anybody understand these diabolical things?? Sounds to me like a control fault. Could be the thermostat stuck?? Any ideas very welcome. I hate eberspachers!!!!

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Usually yelling " ********!!" at something works for me... but you need to do it passionately and really mean it!

 

[NormanS]

Mine works perfectly. Last week it was on practically non stop. Cold up here.

 

[Poey50]

There's a one word cure. You won't appreciate it to start with but eventually you may thank me.

Planar.

 

[Dutch01527]

I had similar symptoms. Baffled my local engineer. Was thinking of pulling it out and replacing it with a Chinese copy.

Turned out that the single outlet had a louvered, adjustable control that had been knocked nearly shut by accident. Eber overheated because of lack of air flow and shut itself down. Louvre was removed and now all is well. Probably not your issue but thought it worth mentioning.

 

[ghostlymoron]

You could try the Le Tonkinois site. They have a good fault diagnosis section.

 

[boatmike]

Have just seen previous thread on the same subject. Mine is a D4. Le Tonkenois site is interesting but unfortunately suggests it is a common fault with ECUs (Doh!) However I am interested in the overheat reset button thingy. Do I have one on the D4?? Can't remember seeing one but will check tomorrow. Could also be the controller so will check that too if I can......

 

[superheat6k]

Have just seen previous thread on the same subject. Mine is a D4. Le Tonkenois site is interesting but unfortunately suggests it is a common fault with ECUs (Doh!) However I am interested in the overheat reset button thingy. Do I have one on the D4?? Can't remember seeing one but will check tomorrow. Could also be the controller so will check that too if I can......

So do you buy a single ECU or likely two Chinaspachers complete for likely less cash ?

As a convert I know where my cash would be spent, and not on German price fixed rubbish.

 

[pagoda]

So do you buy a single ECU or likely two Chinaspachers complete for likely less cash ?

As a convert I know where my cash would be spent, and not on German price fixed rubbish.

Neither Eberspacher nor Webasto make "rubbish" BUT the prices they imagine they can sell for ARE rubbish!
I replace a faulty Webasto AirTop5000 with a complete AutoTerm Planar heater or about half the cost of "parts" to fix the Webasto.
The Chinese clones are potentially even better value...

 

[Rocksteadee]

I had similar symptoms. Baffled my local engineer. Was thinking of pulling it out and replacing it with a Chinese copy.

Turned out that the single outlet had a louvered, adjustable control that had been knocked nearly shut by accident. Eber overheated because of lack of air flow and shut itself down. Louvre was removed and now all is well. Probably not your issue but thought it worth mentioning.

There should be one vent out of all the vents that has fixed open Louvre for this reason

 

[PetiteFleur]

I fitted a Chinese clone last year and so far it's excellent and trouble free. I did spent much more than the heater cost on all the marinisation items. After perusing the facebook site for Chinese heaters I upgraded the wiring, used Eber exhaust tubing and exhaust outlet, copper fuel piping, Hi-Grip hose clips etc.

 

[pvb]

There should be one vent out of all the vents that has fixed open Louvre for this reason

Exactly! Always a warning about this in installation instructions. Poor installation is often the cause of Eberspacher problems.

 

[boatmike]

Exactly! Always a warning about this in installation instructions. Poor installation is often the cause of Eberspacher problems.

Well not in my case. It has been working fine for 4 years and only gave up in the middle of a successful run. Could still be either overheating or a dodgy controller though so I will check and see if there is a reset and check the control tomorrow. If it turns out that I need a new part costing more than a Russian or Chinese complete kit the answer is a no brainer ........

 

[Hot Property]

So do you buy a single ECU or likely two Chinaspachers complete for likely less cash ?

As a convert I know where my cash would be spent, and not on German price fixed rubbish.

Agreed Trevor. Found that they also got into hot water in the USA as well.....

https://europe.autonews.com/article...paecher-unit-indicted-in-u-s-for-price-fixing

https://www.reuters.com/article/eu-...r-parking-heater-cartel-idUSB5N0WL00T20150617

 

[Dutch01527]

Exactly! Always a warning about this in installation instructions. Poor installation is often the cause of Eberspacher problems.

Agreed, I inherited the single louvered installation when I bought the boat and it was obviously not following standards. However, the standards and availability of service of the Eber network leave a lot to be desired. If mine fails Chinese replacement it will be.

 

[pcatterall]

No, there is not a reset button on the D4.
Is the lead coming out of the heater case the type which has a braided tape cover or the older type which has plastic encapsulation?
If the later then an ECU fault is quite possible. If the former then ECU is less likely to fail. ( change of ECU manufacturer a few years back....old problems solved)

 

[boatmike]

No, there is not a reset button on the D4.
Is the lead coming out of the heater case the type which has a braided tape cover or the older type which has plastic encapsulation?
If the later then an ECU fault is quite possible. If the former then ECU is less likely to fail. ( change of ECU manufacturer a few years back....old problems solved)

Thanks for that. Another thing to check today.

 

[boatmike]

Well! I will check to see if its the control or something obvious today, but failing this, especially as I don't intend to keep the boat much longer it's probably Chinese. Have been surfing the web and there are hundreds of them at a bit over £100 but then I saw this one at £68...... https://www.amazon.co.uk/talogca-Ac...203399&sprefix=diesel+heater,aps,154&sr=8-113

My question is " are the Chinese ones all the same?" Should I just order it, or is £68 just too good? I have always thought if something is too good to be true it probably is. Can anyone with a Chinese success story tell me which supplier they used please?

 

[PilotWolf]

We had them in the ambulances maybe 20+ years ago, with all these faults and more.

One crew nearly killed all their passengers, elderly dementia day care patients, when one failed whilst they were parked at a hospital to pick up another patient and filled the ambulance with black smoke and fumes. fortunately I think a porter was nearby and raised help.

W.

 

[boatmike]

We had them in the ambulances maybe 20+ years ago, with all these faults and more.

One crew nearly killed all their passengers, elderly dementia day care patients, when one failed whilst they were parked at a hospital to pick up another patient and filled the ambulance with black smoke and fumes. fortunately I think a porter was nearby and raised help.

W.

I take it that 20 years ago this would have been an Eber or Wabasto ?? To fill the ambulance with black smoke it would need to be severely damaged or improperly installed surely? Don't think it could have been Chinese or Russian 20 years ago......