Webasto Air Top 2000 error code 8 'fan problem'

[Stevesuk]

I have a Webasto Air Top 2000 S diesel heater. The rheostat was faulty and I've replaced it (old one kept buzzing and the light flickered on it). Feeling pleased with having sorted it, the heater then started throwing up error code 8 . This is a fan problem apparently, I say apparently as I can hear the fan running until it abruptly stops at the same time as the error code appears.

The heater is located in the engine bay and a couple of times it has worked ok and heated the boat, both times it was when the engines had got the engine bay good and warm, but on another similar occasion it still wouldn't start. On the second occasion it worked I tried just leaving it on set on a low temperature thinking it just needed some regular use but when I came back next day it had the same fault code. The fault code appears between 2 and 8 seconds after turning the heater on.

I have checked the electrical connectors to the resostat and to the heater itself and they appear to be clean but I gave them a dose of electrical lubricant anyway to no effect

Any idea what the problem might be and how to fix it, could it really be the fan?

Note: it's not low voltage as it's connected to the mains when on the berth.

Could you recommend anyone to fix it, preferably based in the Lymington area?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Steve

 

[pcatterall]

Yes, open or closed circuit or wrong speed.

The fault could be in the obvious place... the motor itself but could equally be in the electrical connections directly to the motor or, indeed anywhere resulting in lack of power which in your situation affects the motor first.
Squirting the contacts with lubricant is no substitute for taking them off and cleaning. Starting and running when the engine is warm could, again, suggest electrical connections.
Having mains power means little if the 12 volt power is not getting to the equipment.
Failure after a few seconds could be either the motor just not wanting to start or lack of power for the motor after the glow pin has come on and is pinching the limited amps available.
I would go right through the connections starting with those most exposed but also ensuring that those directly to the motor were good and tight.

 

[pvb]

I have a Webasto Air Top 2000 S diesel heater. The rheostat was faulty and I've replaced it (old one kept buzzing and the light flickered on it).

Basic question, but did you replace it with exactly the same unit? And was the heater working OK previously?

 

[Heckler]

Yes, open or closed circuit or wrong speed.

The fault could be in the obvious place... the motor itself but could equally be in the electrical connections directly to the motor or, indeed anywhere resulting in lack of power which in your situation affects the motor first.
Squirting the contacts with lubricant is no substitute for taking them off and cleaning. Starting and running when the engine is warm could, again, suggest electrical connections.
Having mains power means little if the 12 volt power is not getting to the equipment.
Failure after a few seconds could be either the motor just not wanting to start or lack of power for the motor after the glow pin has come on and is pinching the limited amps available.
I would go right through the connections starting with those most exposed but also ensuring that those directly to the motor were good and tight.

Peter
thats the issue isnt it, is the voltage actually getting to the machine, the webasto I messed with, that was the issue, the previous had made connections that werent goo enough.
Stu

 

[Stevesuk]

Thanks for your thoughts Guys.
I will check out the power supply lines and connections thoroughly, I agree sound the more likely problem area than the actual fan.

Basic question, but did you replace it with exactly the same unit? And was the heater working OK previously?

Yes, exactly the same rheostat, well the heater worked last time I used it with the old stat but that was a while ago. When I went to use it that when I discovered the stat wasn't working. In past years I would run up the heater on a regular basis but this summer / autumn for some reason I haven't, this may have contributed to the problem, once I find out what it is I'll know.

 

[Stevesuk]

Here's the end of the story.

There was no blade fuse to corrode up (common problem), mine was connected to a circuit breaker, the supply voltage was ok, it turns out the heater itself had a fan fault. The estimated cost to repair (I supplied them the heater) was very close to the price for a complete new Webasto heater with all the bits!

A no brainer really, I bought a new one and fitted that instead. It did need a bit of adaptation as the wiring loom needed changing and there was some other more minor differences.



All fitted and working now and left on during this cold weather, seems to be working well. As bonus it is noticeably quieter than the old one.