Another Aux Heater Failure

[shefki]

For all those who have had the aux heater failure please read on.

 

My heater has just failed this morning. First noticed it when I dropped the kids off at school and the rear of the car was surrounded by white smoke with a strong diesel smell.

 

Thought nothing of it as i thought the heater must have just cut in and hadn't quite made temerature as I stopped the car (trying to fool myself I think).

 

The, went into town and stopped at some trafic lights, again the car was surrounded by thick smoke (like a 15 year old transit van MOT failure). The smoke was blowing out of the rear wheel arches.

 

I stopped the car and looked under (engine still running) and the whole area around the heater was billowing in smoke. Couldn't quite tell if it was all out the little exhaust or if some was from the unit it's self.

 

Carried on driving as no fault light on the dash and eventually the heater cut out and smoke stopped. Lots of worried looks from people outside the car before it stopped though.

 

Car is 2 years old but has 68,000 on the clock so out of original warrenty so relying on local dealer to get some good will payment.

 

 

Does the problem mirror anyone elses and if so what was the fix... mor important what was the cost??

[MarkinLondon]

Hi

 

I am afraid it it ithe auxillary heater and it won't fix itself. When mine went last year it cost

[Jeff115]

shefki,

Obviously if the smoke was excessive then you could have a problem.

 

However could it just have been a still day and you've never noticed the smoke before?

 

Alternatively if there is a fault it could be relatively simple such as a faulty glow plug (most common problem), bad fuel to air mix/faulty metering pump.

 

Do a Search on the forum for 'auxiliary' or 'booster' and get a flavour of the different issues with the unit. Bring some print-outs to the 'local dealer'.

 

At least yours is still working albeit potentially faulty :lol:

 

You will get a better picture of the damage using VAG-COM (again do Search for more info ! ) if there's a willing forum member local to you or dealer using VAG 1551 diagnostics on the fault code returned by the booster heater control unit.

 

Mark,

Please explain

it cost

[Sharanfx]

Right the Aux heater is not faulty when it smokes ocasionally on start up. There is a Modification available for VWs fitted with the Aux heater.

 

It consists of a new Exhaust pipe for the heater and few other mods. I will try and find the exact details.

I know its a bit scary when clouds of smoke come out from under you car, but its still working fine.

 

See if the Ford dealer knows anything about the mods.

[NikpV]

According to ford mechanic I know says there is a different glowplug specified now which reduces the smoking perhaps that is part of the modification