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Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics
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Serpent7
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 12:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

I have a 73 Vw Thing, and when I purchased it all the heater parts have been removed. I tried contacting the previous owner to see why all the heater stuff had been removed. How hard and expensive will it be to locate and reinstall everything? I know it's a very general question but it a possible thing to do without getting screwed?
Your thoughts?
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 1:34 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Yes its entirely possible to do.

Weather you do it piece by piece or most all at once it for sure can be done. Last year - and this is not a common thing but two complete units poped up in the box NOS condition.

I got one of them here - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

These will fetch in the $500 to even $1000 foe the ambitious. Those listed pics will also aid you in seeing the complete unit and parts - less the cabin ducts.

It may take some diligence but all the stuff is out there. Look for parted Thighs with gas heaters, Ask the seller to pull everything for it.

There are also plenty of "fixit" info here and you tube so you can restore one or three.

I myself have lots of vids and an ongoing thread over in the Bay forum.


Link

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notchboy
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 2:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Ive had a space dedicated to the Eberspacher made up. All types of Eberspachers welcome!


https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029635500462666/
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Mon May 29, 2017 4:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

What?

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8454784#8454784
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 12:13 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

I was excited that I got my heater to work again over the weekend! It had quite heating some time last fall and I didn't bother to figure out just why. (It didn't seem to be firing at that time, the fan was running but no fire and eventually it timed out.)

I got it working by cleaning up all the electrical contacts. I had been working on the contacts in the fuse area and got inspired to give that a shot.

So it worked great for a few days.

Then yesterday while driving it made a squeaking noise a couple times. They were very brief the first two times, and I actually thought it was the speedometer getting cranky.

But the third time it made the noise, I was at a stop light and quickly realized that was the heater. Before I could turn it off, though, it quit altogether. No fan run on or anything.

I haven't had a chance to check the safety fuse or the "breaker" or any of that on the heater yet.

Just wondering though, what the noise may have been and where to start.

While I was at the light, I did briefly reach in and see if the air fan moved and it does still spin.
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 12:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

There are only two moving parts - the fan and the pump. Most likely the fan pooped out. The combustion side lives in a harsh environment.
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Stickers available.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2259243
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kenj06
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PostPosted: Sun May 05, 2019 7:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

OK BN4 experts, I'm looking for suggestions to resolve my issue.
The heater works fine during startup, cycles through combustion and cool down and shut down fine.
The problem is at night when I have the lights on, and the heater is NOT in the combustion cycle, the lights dim and the fan slows, in time with what would be the fuel pump pulsing. But the fuel pump is not working at that point in time. It's almost like there is a short during that time but no blown fuses or burnt wires. Even without lights on, I can hear the fan pulsing. During the combustion cycle, when the pump is pulsing, no lights dimming and fan speed is steady. During Shutdown, no pulsing.
Engine speed does not make a difference on the pulsing. I can be at a stop light or on the highway and the lights dim just the same.
The charging circuit (generator) checks fine, 12.8V out of the regulator at idle and 13.8 about 1500 RPM.
I cleaned the grounds (battery, battery to body, chassis to tranny and heater). Cleaned all the connections on the charging circuit. Cleaned all the terminals on the switch and those I could reach on the heater, without taking it out. Took the pump out and cleaned it and checked it. Measures 6 ohms so pulling around 2A which seems normal.
This would make sense to me if it happened when the pump was running.
It's been this way a few years and I would like to get it fixed so as not to attract the attention of law enforcement during chilly nights because my lights are pulsing. I'm used to driving cold VWs but the other 1/2 likes the heat. Smile
My next step is to pull the heater over the summer, tear it down and clean it up.
Any suggestions on where to look? Maybe a bad capacitor/condenser, relay or?
Thanks!
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Sun May 05, 2019 8:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Generator or alternator? VW put 75 amp alts in later bays with the metering type BN4 & BA6 gas heaters. The only time I hear this kind of issue is not enough amps or the voltage drops below 11.5. I just bench tested a later metering pump BN2 and the pump kept stopping during ignition cycle. Put the trickle charger on then - bam enough juice, ran fine.
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OK, this thread is over. You win.

Jason "notchboy" Weigel
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kenj06
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PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2019 7:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

notchboy wrote:
Generator or alternator? VW put 75 amp alts in later bays with the metering type BN4 & BA6 gas heaters. The only time I hear this kind of issue is not enough amps or the voltage drops below 11.5.

Generator. Measured voltage at the heater and have 11.5 with no lights, 10.5 with lights. Voltage drop somewhere in the 45 year old wiring, imagine that. Rolling Eyes Now to find it.
Thanks for the tip!
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Fri May 24, 2019 9:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Picked up some Eberspacher goodies. Ill be selling the Thing thermostats with cables for $180 ea if anyone is interested.


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NormGarr87
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Can someone direct me to information on setting up the Temperature Regulating Switch. I think I have read all the FAQs and I'm on my way to memorizing the manual. I have mine freed up and I see how it works. I'm just not sure how to properly set the switch. I guess I'm not really sure how the "switch" rides on the cam to regulate temperature.
Thanks,
Frustrated in South Carolina!
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:37 am    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

NormGarr87 wrote:
Can someone direct me to information on setting up the Temperature Regulating Switch. I think I have read all the FAQs and I'm on my way to memorizing the manual. I have mine freed up and I see how it works. I'm just not sure how to properly set the switch. I guess I'm not really sure how the "switch" rides on the cam to regulate temperature.
Thanks,
Frustrated in South Carolina!


The metal spring/band around the probe that sits inside the outlet air side gets expanded and contracted manually when you push and pull the TEMP knob inside the cabin. Heat causes the spring/band to expand and contract while the unit is on. The pull knob cable either increases or decreases the springs ability to expand and contract while the unit is on.

It doesn't change the heat cycle output much. Its a relatively short window difference from knob all in or pulled all out.

In this vid - I only show the output right before the spring gets hot enough to shut off the fuel pump. It then lets the fire die, cooling down the spring, then clicking the pump back on, igniting the fire, heat comes out, cycle repeated.


Link

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OK, this thread is over. You win.

Jason "notchboy" Weigel
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NormGarr87
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:11 am    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Thanks Notchboy. Great Vid. Now I have a very specific question. I have the square temperature regulator. How do I set the points so the heater will cycle? I have never seen a "good" regulator so I do not know where the plastic cam should be in relation to the "points".


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I have freed everything up so it moved free. I can set it so power goes off as the spring contracts (heat gun). It moves freely into the "get hot now" position from the cooldown position. I can't figure out how the points ride on the cam to regulate temperature.

Frustrated in South Carolina. It's not cold here yet but it's coming.
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 6:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Notchboy, I finally watched a You Tube Video you posted on this thread that shows the inside of the Temperature Regulating Switch. SCORE!!!! The cam inside my box lines up with the cam in the new unit installed in the video.
Now I just need to learn how to set the temperature limit.

Not so frustrated in South Carolina!
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Good to hear. THey are simple creatures. Cool
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:43 am    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

Here is a dumb question but related to heat not the gas heater Has a anybody ever taken the heat from the doghouse out vent and used it as a heat source for some heat, say in Oct or early Nov. My gas heater caught on fire so it scares me .I got the fire out but flames coming out under the fender just make s me nervous .I don't use my thing after mid Nov so the shoulder season is what I m looking at. I may put heater boxes on but with all that free heat I'm wondering if anyone has done this..Thanks Bill (73 thing,76 Westy)
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2022 11:14 am    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

I thought about this conversion. Should not be hard; you just need the parts. I do not remember if there are channels for the heater control wires on the Thing pan.
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soko121
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PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2023 9:17 am    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

we are restoring our 73 from the ground up for my 16 yr old Son. the BN4 is coming out, i have it posted for sale on the classifieds.
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PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2023 10:52 am    Post subject: Re: Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics Reply with quote

soko121 wrote:
we are restoring our 73 from the ground up for my 16 yr old Son. the BN4 is coming out, i have it posted for sale on the classifieds.


This?

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2615743

If so - do you have the pump under by the gas tank? The protective shield in the trunk, the fresh air paper pipe and the exhaust pipe? Any gaskets around them and the switch with the light from inside the cabin? The cover for the top.

The more you have - the closer you will get to that $200.
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OK, this thread is over. You win.

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