Booster Heater - Need Someone To Diagnose. Midlands Based.

[BrummyGit]

After working flawlessly all last winter, our 2005 TDi 150 Galaxy now refuses to start the booster heater after the summer break.

 

It's been to our local independant VW specialist who tells me he can "hear the fan turning" but can't find any errors on his diagnostic computer. He wants to replace the glow plug.

 

To be honest I think he is much better with his spanners than the laptop and so I'd like some help to diagnose the fault before throwing good money after bad. Is there someone with VAG COM or somewhere recommended that can help me with a diagnosis?

 

Would be willing to travel a reasonable distance and if a member can help, I would be willing to pay for your time.

 

Thanks

[gregers]

have you read the endless posts on this subject found within the forum?

 

like does your run on pump work,as this may stop the heater from working correctly,

there is a thread running at the moment where a result was finally found.

 

how did you find that it wasnt working,or did it just not start?

if its the glow plug iirc they usually smoke like a navii before stopping.

[BrummyGit]

Hi Gregers

 

I've not found the thread about the run-on pump - will go looking again, and I've never had the clouds of smoke to be expected when the glow plug fails so I suspected a quick check of the errors and reset in VAG COM might have been the quickest way to get myself on track with cause of the problem. I am also well aware that the controller on my unit is often the culprit.

 

Thanks

[Scorpiorefugee]

As I understand these things possible causes can be eliminated with a bit of observation. For instance, if the fan which makes the 'jet engine' noise fires up for a few seconds and then stops this would suggest pump/glow plug types of failures. If this doesn't happen then possible causes are thermostats or as has already been mentioned circulating pump failure which may have an associated function check feeding back to the control system.

Not relevant in your case but to confirm my suggested approach mine failed to start after a sudden severe frost (-8) last year and the fan started and stopped as described and the whole thing started to work again when the temperature rose. :16: While it was not working the temperature did not get off the black until I got onto the motorway 20 miles later but the fuel consumption improved to 50mpg as opposed to 40mpg when it is working proving that it is a necessary but damned expensive accessory. I find the MK11 tends to fire this up at about 12 degrees and have now put a switch in the circuit of the stat on the wiper mechanism to give me a bit of control.