73 heater blows cold

[dborell]

I have a 73 thing with the stock gas heater. Until recently, the heater worked great, then it wouldn't turn on. So i flipped the reset switch and it worked again. Then on Sat it wouldn't turn on again. So again I flipped the reset switch. Now it blows but the air blows cold. Any ideas? I'm not really familiar with this heater and haven't attempted any diagnostics. Where to start?

[crofty]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332848


When you hear the fan go on do you hear the fuel pump? (ticking)

When's the last time you pulled the plug and cleaned it?
_________________
I don't mind eccentric people i just don't care for shit heads.

I am Bastard, hear me Roar-

[Van-go108]

A quick pic to show where the plug is and the pump under the gas tank. I would guess either one of the two reasons Crofty mentioned.


G'luck...
_________________
"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."

1983 1/2 Wasserbroken Vanagon(storage shed)
1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[Wildthings]

Having good voltage at the unit is important. Clean the connection and the fuses. I have learned to never fire the unit up until the car had been started and run for at least a half minute so that the battery voltage gets a chance to build up. I also try and remember to turn the unit off a minute or two before I kill the engine. Seems to like to fire off better the next time when I do that.

[Van-go108]

LMAO....

Just today mine did not fire. So, with that being said, I will post my repair solution when I find it.
_________________
"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."

1983 1/2 Wasserbroken Vanagon(storage shed)
1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[doublecanister]

Yeah these heaters work great when they work,

I guess we're working them abit more than their used to, esp if theyve sat for years.

CHeck the fuel pump, make sure it's clicking, about every second it should click and pump fuel to the heater.

Check the "spark plug' for the heater, pull it and clean it gently with a wire wheel or whatever you can, JUST BE CAREFUL not to break it or grind it into dust.

It could be a few things causing the heater not to work, check out MAN130's link for his heater fix, I've put a bit in there myself, it may be somthing stupid then it could be anything.

There's been a lot of heater requests for help, Man130's was a decent "recent" post, I've found others but he helpd me fix mine.

Good luck
T
_________________
*************************
1973- Thing ~ 1966-Mustang GT- Fastback ~ 1951- Ford Truck

[///Mink]

Start here:

[Emeritusx]

You got a battery charger? There is a fuse in the unit - an 8 amp (I am going by memory) when I put the positive lead (from the battery charger - other lead on ground) on one side of the fuse the heater sped up fuel pump was audible (tick tick tick) and when I hit the other side it was still slow, no audible tick. Found the fuse was corroded cleaned it and the contacts and it works good now.

The next time it failed was a corroded connector at the heater switch (the main Voltage in)

The fuel pump needs good strong 12v to work.

[Van-go108]

Just a follow up on my BN-4 issue. It was just the spark plug that was a bit mucked up. So, I did a quick cleaning and put it back in. HEAT!

Did you figure you issue out yet?
_________________
"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."

1983 1/2 Wasserbroken Vanagon(storage shed)
1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[dborell]

[Wildthings]

Check to make sure you are getting a spark from the coil, you may need to clean your points.

[dborell]

I just discovered the heater works great with the engine running.
According to the trouble shooting diagram, my battery has insufficient voltage. I'll have the battery checked.

[Wildthings]