Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics

Fun 181 · Last edited by Fun 181 on Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:08 pm; edited 6 times in total

Heating issues are a popular topic here in the Thing forum, especially for the owners of '73 Things. Below is a list of previously posted links to topics relating to heating issues with the BN4 gas heater which you may find helpful. I have also listed some information and photos regarding heating for the 1974 model Thing as well.

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1973 Thing BN4 Gas Heater FAQs
Note that the majority of these posts deal with similar BN4 heater issues so there is a LOT of information overlap. However, each post may contain unique information which you may find to be helpful.

Here is the owner's manual page...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Here is a photo with captions of the BN4 heater switches courtesy of Captian Spalding...

crofty · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject:

I second your request for sticky status!
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amishman · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject:

oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2193

Can a gas heater be made to work in '74 (and later) Things? I'm not limiting my question just to the BN4. If the answer is yes, what should one do to delete the heater boxes ... or should they be kept as a second heat source?
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Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

Ferretkona · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2193

Ferretkona · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject:

doublecanister

Hey everybody,

Just curious on these gas heaters, BN4 Eberspacher type;

I've gandered at the presented information and THANKS for making it available, i've learned a few things so far, but...

Does anybody know if there is a walkthru test document (flow chart style) to test these heaters?

As I am studying up on them; I was curious if there exists a troubleshooting document of flow chart design, something a tad bit more user friendly than what i've seen.
I know some places sell heater repair books, but I didnt want to buy one thats equal to the shop manual I already have.

Any suggestions or links to anything anyone??

Some folks have reccomended the RoMToC cd & I have found some links with this forums links on a Canada Only troubleshoting guide (that wasnt too difficult to follow), just hard to read due to quality of scan and appeared difficult to print in a usable format.

My heater status:
Currently, if you pull the thermostat out, turn on the fan, I get a clik and the fan runs & thats it, (sounds like the fuel pump clicked but cant tell for sure) I've read the fuel pumps may take a whack or 2 to start, & I would need to check for pulse 12volts at the pump, and to check the relay hasn't tripped.
Other than that, it appears to be a technical nightmare to troubleshoot these heaters. So far, I noticed my heater is a under 10k serial # in the 9k range, and looks like its never been used.

I hate working on objects i know little about, I wouldnt want to damage anything or set the THING on fire, but a little more 'user friendly' troubleshooting documentation would be a great idea....
Anyways, Just thought I'd throw it out and ask everybody, I may be wishing for somthing that doesnt exist, but you dont know till you ask.

Thanks All for any info and sorry for the rant....
I wanna drive my THING and its too freakin cold!!! Crying or Very sad

T.
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2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8

Fun 181

crofty · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:21 am Post subject:

I'd clean all your grounds, flip the red emergency switch a couple of times and pop the top off of the thermostat switch to make sure everything looks ok in there. They can get moisture in them and corrode a little.

Also a PITA but changing the fuel lines (and adding clamps) is a must if it hasn't been done in a long time.
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Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

doublecanister

Hey Crofty and Fun181, after a bit of digging I again found the link to the flow chart troubleshooting guide (that says canada only).

I Also noticed it says :Troubleshooting Guide: BA-4 Gas Heater: (not BN4)
so I probably found somthing I cant use. (just saw that, oops)

http://oacdp.freeweb7.com/ba4.html

Others here: http://oacdp.freeweb7.com/docproject.html

I ran across them using the links in this sticky, somehow.

What do yall think? (of this canada flow chart ts guide??)would it be of any use??
I guess if its an entire diff model heater, prob not best to use these inst,
Oh, I thought I struck gold on this one. RATS!

But, I appreciate your input, I will try what you both reccomended. Thanks again guys! I'm gonna get this dern thing working somehow.

Be Good!
T.
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****************************************
2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8

[email protected] · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 6:49 am Post subject:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/bn4troubleshooting/2.jpg
and http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/bn4troubleshooting/3.jpg

These two pages will help with troubleshooting.
The fuel pump wont click unless the contact inside the brass box is making contact. if it doesnt or wont. you can temporarily override the safety device by jumping the two blue wires together dont leave it like this
If you still have trouble, you should make sure you dotted your is and crossed the ts and get on the phone with me, while you are next to your car. and I will try to help. Mike
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http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173

alex1916v · Samba Member Joined: June 22, 2007 Posts: 33

hi there, been thu most of the info on this thread, VERY helpful!!!

just one minor question....

i cant find any details regarding the wiring up fuse board end.... heres my problem.....

my military trekker has 2 fuse boards, curently theres only the big red from the starter motor doign anything on that 2nd fuse board, so off the big white plug for the heaters wires it goes into the fuse board but dosnt connect in the board where any power is....

ive got the big red one going to the first fuse on the right on the 2nd fuse board, this is the main live one, this has 2 fat red wires going off to power the normal 1st fuse board for all the other standard wiring lights etc....

then ive gotta connect the smaller black wire to the 3rd terminal along on the 2nd fuse board,... thats all fine but at the moment ive got nothing going in or out of that fuse board other than the main live...

this is how my 2nd fuse board looks, except now its got the far red going to the 1st fuse, where them big red's are going in etc...

has anyone got any info one this? im gonna go have a look for a colour wiring diagram for the military style trekker, because i went off of a civilian trekker wiring diagram for all the rest...

also does it matter which way round the fuel pump terminals are wired? im guessing if its incorrect it'll pump the wrong way?? there are no markings, on it..

the wires ive got are a brown and a green, as per drawing... ive just put em on at the mo, i can swap em...

Also, once i have this thing wired up, and ive connected the fuel line, whats the correct method of ignition??

im guessing i turn the green 'egg timer' knob on the dash, then wind it a little, then it should fire? what about the first time, ie should i try and bleed the fuel to the pump, or with it be fine pulling it thu the lines etc?? also ive got a 'choke' style knob, which i guess you pull for more heat?? can i pull this straight away???

So has anyone got any pics off the 2nd fuse board in situ with that dash panel flipped down, one pic showing where the wires are coming and going should help me out no end!!!

cheers for any info!
alex

Saturnin

Hello-- can someone tell me how this flat copper piece showed on this photo is called and where I can find a replacement? Mine was repaired but broke again... Thanks! Paul

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp7/paulvw181/IMG_5269.jpg

[email protected] · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject:

I have some Pmail me, Mike
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Michael Basso
http://www.thingparts.com
New and Used VW Thing Parts Free advice
CALL 518 630 0173

xavi_242 · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

crofty · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:49 pm Post subject:

xavi_242 · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:35 am Post subject:

forgot to say that the heater runs perfect now. just connected wires and replaced fuel lines and filter and some hammer knocks at the fuel pump that was stuck.
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1967 Split SO-42 Dormobile

Captain Spalding · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:50 am Post subject:

A PDF service manual for the BN-4 is now available in the Technical Section.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/thing.php

Emeritusx · Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:51 am Post subject:

For what its worth:

My heater was only working sometimes. And failure to light was becoming more and more a problem.

I took my battery charger and hit On side of the fuse, fan speed up, heater lit.

Took the charger off and hit the other side of the fuse.. No speed increase or anything. Cleaned the fuse ends and bang first time everytime..

BTW is the fuse bypassed in that picture ^^^^ ?
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82 Westy ☢, 66 Splitty ☮, 73 Type 181 ✠


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Heating FAQs - BN4 Gas heaters & heating related topics
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