Aux Heater Fix (tapping & White Smoke)

[Guest blatters]

:D My dealer has just told me that Ford have issued a fix for the infamous ticking aux heater & white smoke problem. Ford issue technical information supplements and this is what they checked today when my Galaxy went in for an inoperative aux heater. They had recd the car at the tail end of last winter because of the ticking & smoke but carried forward the work because the ambient temperature was too high to get the thing to work.

The technician said that they have ordered parts for the fix pack. This is a revised glow plug (to stop the smoking) and new 'fuel lines etc.' for the ticking noise. When they have the bits & pieces they gonna call and try the fix. So I'll post a note onto the forum when that's done and let you know!

As for the inoperative aux heater, I'm told that it has three attempts to fire up and, if these all fail, error messages are sent to a computer. The log is then read by the Ford dealer when the car is booked in for rectification. They say that, after three error logs, the computer blocks the aux heater from any further attempts to fire up until it is reset by the dealer.

Anyway, as a new member (albeit one that has been quietly reading the site for six months now - brilliant inside info so thanks everyone), I know that this aux heater thing has been going on for yonks on the site. If this works then perhaps our

[Guest blatters]

Update on belching white smoke from aux heater & ticking noise

Smoke worse than ever but dealer has Galaxy booked in for Friday, 5th November (bonfire night) for the modifications.

Mechanic has explained that smoke is from diesel that is only partly burnt because of incorrect ignition in unit - wrong glow plug. Revised kit will stop smoke and ticking. I'll let you all know come the weekend.

Sun shining today in Scotland but temp low so I reckon we'll be able to check the thing come the weekend.

Have some jpegs of the smoke screen that I'll post when I get them off my other laptop. Video too in MP4 format if anyone is interested. Certainly helped with the dealer.

 

Regards, Blatters.

[GSMGuy]

Re this heater, I have just taken delivery of my 02/02 115TDi Auto, and it has the control above the rear ns door, also, have been underneath and the heater is plain to see, along with it's exhaust... Question is, what temp does it come into play at, ie at what temp does it start to burn fuel etc - I ask as it's not been below about 15 degrees since I got the car, and it does blow hot air etc, but only once the coolant hoses are hot.. Not heard the infamous sound or smelt the hot aroma yet...

 

Mike

[Guest fredt]

and it has the control above the rear ns door, also, have been underneath and the heater is plain to see, along with it's exhaust...

 

these two items are two seperate units, the heater under the car is there to boost the coolant temperature in low temperatures due to the low heat output of the engine, what with it being so efficent and unable to provide a decent output (heat and bhp! thats why everyone keeps chipping them :blink: ) to heat the coolant which in turn provides heat for the heaters its not controlled by the controls above the rear door but by the outside ambient temperature

although it is possible to have this heater controlled by a timer to pre heat the cabin but its an option from new or an expensive after market job! or if you clever and can read German somewhere there is a link on the forum to a guys web site where he tells of how to install a switch to operate the heater manually!

[GSMGuy]

Hmm. prepared to have a bash at the German - but does anyone know where the link is, 'cause I can't find it :blink:

 

Mike

[Masked Marauder]

http://www.pantoulier.de/Galaxy/index.html

[johnb80]

Here's a translation.......

Z u h of e i z e r

 

 

 

 

My Ford- Galaxy, that VW- Scharan and the SEAT- Alhambra have the problem in the execution with the TDI-motor that these vehicles in the winter and in short-range business do not come simply on Betriebstemperatur and becomes not therewith also the inner rooms warm.

Such things annoy me, therefore I spent something time therewith and came on a solution how the problem lets has remove itself for each of that something skilled-labor skill.

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

To the theory, so like it my considerations spriwas:

It is well so, that the Turbodieselmotor through its verbrauchsoptimierte construction with a consumption of ca. 6 liters ever 100 of km simply too little Abw

[GSMGuy]

Looks like I'm gonna be busy playing tomorrow then...

 

Cheers :P

 

Mike

[gazza007]

I had a new heater fitted last June after the original packed-up in January.

I guess the old one was on its way out as this one is much quieter, cleaner & seems to come on when it should.

Having a timer would be handy. If you visit Webasto web site you may be able to get some advice on timers & remote controls to start up the aux heater, I think it can also be dome by mobile phone!!!

[Guest lycooper]

How pleased am I to see that I am not the only 1.9 TDI Galaxy driver that has had smoke coming from the drivers side rear wheel arch. First time it happened I was doing the school run and a few of the kids standing in the car park shouted "look their car's on fire!" PANIC .....

 

I rushed the car to the dealership, as it is still under warranty, and they ran some tests and said that the auxiliary heater was not working, and needed replacing. They ordered the parts, told me it wasn't dangerous and sent me on my way until the parts arrived the following week.

 

Parts swapped and the very next day it did it again, was picking my husband up from the station and he was a witness to the whole white smoke effect (bit more credible that a heap of 5-8 year olds!)

 

Dealership wanted to do a cold start to try and get it to "perform" they've had the last couple of days and Hey Presto this morning bellowing white smoke poured out.

 

Now this is where it gets interesting. I was told by the manager of the workshop that this is a known customer complaint, but there is nothing technically wrong with the car. Mmmm I thought I'm not happy, so I asked for the Ford Customer care number and got a very mixed feedback from them, I am awaiting a call back, but after seeing all this information I feel a little more armed to deal with the problem.

 

If you are interested Part II will be available in the next couple of days.

[Guest blatters]

lycooper,

 

I continue to have faith in my local Ford dealership. They appear pretty clued up on this matter and seem very aware of the recent technical update from Ford etc. We'll see after Friday when they have done their stuff. On Saturday, one of the lead mechanics said this aux heater has caused numerous customers to report the fault but he was relaxed that all would be OK come the modification.

It seems to me that if this works then we should all form an orderly line at our dealers requesting that the same modification be made. That's my main reason for posting the rolling update on this site, to be honest.

My aux heater comes on / off almost every morning on the way to work now and, tonight with the dark nights, evident it was smoking as the car behind me picked out the smoke in the headlamps - it stinks, no wonder they can't wait to get past!

 

We shall see, eh?

 

Regards, Blatters...

[Masked Marauder]

Mine came on yesterday morning and the car was toasty very quickly. Which was nice.

 

But today was cold, but not cold enough. So a switch must be fitted. But is that all it takes, I know a boxhead wrote the page translated above, and the TIS shows a thermal switch, but ALL that text for "I fitted a switch!"

 

Thoughts of a modified central heating timer and 12volt waterpump come to mind.....

[johnb80]

ahem cough cough, boxhead ? thats not very nice, nobody says you have to read it.

 

Shant bother next time.

 

Regards - JB

[seatkid]

I think he was refering to the original author....

[johnb80]

I take it all back then :lol:

[GSMGuy]

MM, don't think you need a 12v pump, as the circuit already contains one that, afaik - will work correctly if wired correctly - I think the safest way to do this is to try and obtain the genuine ford/vag programmer - commonly known as the "digital clock" that goes in the headlining above the mirror - this has the option for auto setting the heater to come!

 

Mike

[seatkid]

Which suggests to me that it should be possible to fit a switch there....

[Guest pnwheels]

I think you need to be aware that there is a difference between an aux. heater and an additional heater. The diesel powered one fitted to all tdi shalaxies is purely there to assist heating with the engine running. It does not have an electric pump but relies on the engine's water pump for circulation. The additional heater is not an option for the uk market. Its a similar unit with an electric pump for circulation. It also has an extra battery under the driver's seat for its power (and a timer built into the clock). The only way to get the aux heater to work as a parking heater is to override the ambient temp sensor input, the alternator input (it only runs when engine is on) and change the main +12v feed from ign. to permanent. You also need an in-line 12v pump to circulate the water. Oh and a timer of some sort if you want it to come on before you use the vehicle.

[GSMGuy]

My Gal DEFINATELY has an electric pump in the heater line under the bonnet, I only know because after switching the engine off, I was puzzled by the noise it make, so set about locating it - it is just behind and to the left of the battery housing - if the engine has just beenstopped, you should be able to hear and feel it in operation.... Surely this would suffice as a circ pump if the aux heater could be fired up via a switch/timer arrangement - I am sure that the lack of a 2nd battery would not be a prob if it was only running for say 30 mins... Most prob though, the wiring and relay for that add battery would be easy to add??? And then it would charge whilst the enine was running - had a similar relay setup on a couple of mobile shops I owned about 12 years ago!!

 

Mike

[Guest fredt]

All Galaxy's have an electric water pump located in the cooling system, its there to keep the coolant circulating round the engine in order to stop hot spots forming in the engines cooling jacket after the engine is switched off hence its name the coolant after run pump :D

as for the aux heater and the additional heater being seperate units, they are one of the same thing if I have read the spec correctly the only difference being the remote controlling element of the unit

[Masked Marauder]

ahem cough cough, boxhead ? thats not very nice, nobody says you have to read it.

 

Shant bother next time.

 

Regards - JB

Achtung! Donner unt blitzen! Yes sorry for the misunderstanding chap, I was indeed refering to the original author, a German, aka a "Boxhead."

 

No offence was intended towards yourself.

 

Indeed I had in the past tried to run that page though a translator and failed, and did indeed find your post helpfull.

[Masked Marauder]

MM, don't think you need a 12v pump, as the circuit already contains one that, afaik - will work correctly if wired correctly - I think the safest way to do this is to try and obtain the genuine ford/vag programmer - commonly known as the "digital clock" that goes in the headlining above the mirror - this has the option for auto setting the heater to come!

 

Mike

I noticed the other night an unused wire and pin on the clock connector... The output I presume!

 

I wonder what would happen if I connected 12v to it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you smell burning?

[Guest blatters]

Update on aux heater fix

Getting back to the original subject of this email thread (sorry guys to call a temp halt to the 12v switch debate - all of which is way beyond me).

 

The dealer has done his bit. Result: the ticking noise has completely gone. Only a slightly different version of the jet engine noise remains - so that's good. But on my first outing the white smoke was as bad as ever. I'm going to see how things go this week. It might clear up with a few miles on the clock. If not then I'll have another chat to the dealer. They have certainly resolved one of the two problems so just the smoke to go now.

 

Had a quick look under the car. It looks like some new parts have been fitted and they look different from the old aux heater exhaust section - perhaps longer? I'll take some jpeg photo's next weekend and post them onto the site. Too wet right now to be sure and digi-phone camera thing on loan to work colleague.

 

Something has definately changed though - more to follow.

 

Just one thing. The smoke seems worse on damp mornings. Is that a long shot or has anyone else got a smoking Galaxy and has noticed any trend? Why would my car chuck out white stinky stuff from the aux heater pipe and others not? Advice appreciated in advance of me going back to the dealer?

 

....... Blatters :D

[Guest fredt]

you should see more smoke in the cold damp mornings due to extra moisture content in the air, but the constant grey smoke is possibly due to over fuelling in which case the metering head needs to be replaced and possible the burner as its covered in unburnt fuel which it cant burn off leading to an unclean burn and hence the extra smoke!

[Masked Marauder]

OK, getting back to the timer issue. The un-used green and white wire on the clock connector is indeed the pull-up for the system, which is different to the UK spec one as there is an aditional pump under the rear of the car. As said before by someone, there is a battery under the seat with a split charge relay to keep it topped up. It uses the same thermostatic switch.

 

So in theory it should be possible with a bit of re-wiring to sort this out.

 

Whether the electric cooling pump in the engine compartment can be utilised for this is another matter though, as why would they fit another pump at the rear if it could? Indeed the only reference I can find to the engine compartment pump on the TIS is "After Running Pump" and is fitted only to V6 petrol engines where it is located at the right hand side of the engine near the coil. But as such a pump does exist and no doubt one could be sourced from the salvage yard.

 

As winter bites I will consider this some more no doubt.