Aux Heater Ticking/tapping Noise

[Phil her up]

I have a 2002 Seat Alhambra 1.9 TD PD 115bhp and replaced the glow plug in the aux heater soon after buying the car around 2 years ago as the aux heater was not working at all. It was a horrile job - I ended up completely removing the aux heater and temporarily joining the coolant pipes to keep the car on the road. The biggest issue was removing the seized bolts/screws fromthe aluminium casing to get it apart.

Anyway, it started working straight away after refitting so I was pleased with myself. However, I do not think it has helped warm the car up any quicker. Although the heater fires up when it should and both pipes that run to/from front of car get really hot it still takes an age for the car to warm up. On a 15 mile journey you just start feeling a little warmth after the 15 miles (typical outside temp 0 - 8 degrees C). I chnaged the thermostat which made no difference and also had the front end of the car well elevated for a couple of hours with engine at working temp to eliminate any air locks.

Something I have noticed is that when the aux heater initially fires up there is a ticking/tapping noise that I have never been able to pinpoint.

I know there is an electric water pump on the n/s of the engine bulkhead and wonder if there is a way to test this?

Any comments on this would be very welcome - its disappointing that I put the effort into getting the glow plug changed but it didn't help stop me shivering lol.

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[chromedome]

I think I have read that there is a fuel metering pump under the car that supplies diesel to the aux heater.

 

I'm sure someone else on the forum can explain better.

[octo0072000]

that's the fuel pump for the heater ticking that's normal

i would be looking at the pump on the bulkhead they normally pack up at 100000 ish or below depends on use

when you changed the thermostat did you check it by hanging it in a pan then heating it it up to see if it opened and closed ok the stat needs to hang on a bit od string so as not to touch the pan a thermometor help tp see if it open at the right temp as well

 

(never think that just because a thermostat is new that is works so many problems caused by cheap stats)

[daddyfixit]

the pump is really a solenoid, so the clicking is it sucking/pumping fuel from the tank, across the underneath of the car to the aux heater--------yes the noise is annoying, but proves pump is working.

the electric pump behind the fuel filter is repairable, there are threads on here and the german site (sgaf) that show how to fit new brushes--------and it works too !!

[billywizzo]

Hi

The ticking noise is normal as it is the fuel pump for the heater.

I would look at the pump on the engine bulkhead behind the fuel filter.

It should run when the engine is turned on and stop a few minutes after the car is turned off.

Just turn on the ignition and you should hear/feel it running. If not then you need to fix/replace it as it helps pump the water round the aux heater.

If you have vagcom then you can use it to see the temps the heater is running at to see if it is working ok.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Bill

[Phil her up]

Hi

The ticking noise is normal as it is the fuel pump for the heater.

I would look at the pump on the engine bulkhead behind the fuel filter.

It should run when the engine is turned on and stop a few minutes after the car is turned off.

Just turn on the ignition and you should hear/feel it running. If not then you need to fix/replace it as it helps pump the water round the aux heater.

If you have vagcom then you can use it to see the temps the heater is running at to see if it is working ok.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Bill

Ok, I will take a look when the weather dries up a bit lol.

Thanks to all for replies on this one.

 

What is vagcom btw? I have seen it mentioned so many times but don't really know what it is!