The official Chinese Diesel Heater thread (Webasto Knockoff)

[thegreenroom]

Has anyone had any issues with their Glow Plugs / the E-03 error? My heater is quite new and I've only used it a handful of times, but I've already now got an E-03 error which apparently points to a faulty glow plug. I've had a poke around online and apparently, the glowplugs do often break/are a common fault and weak link. Does anyone have any advice regarding this / are there any other better glow plugs that can be used (but also at a reasonable price)? thanks very much,

Dan

[vwhammer]

On my oldest heater I do get the E-03 error sometimes when the heater has sat for a while. (At least I think that's what error I get)

I don't know that it is specifically a glow plug error as much as it is a failure to get up to temp issue during start up.

I think usually when mine does it it is because my fuel line has bled off a bit and more or less has to be primed again and I simply did not prime it.

Sometimes I just let it go and it tries the process all over again or I shut it off and turn it back on and it usually fires up the second time once once it has fuel.

I suppose I could sort out why that line bleeds off but it always starts eventually so I don't mess with it.

I have three 8kw heaters functioning as garage heaters.
I will be moving soon and taking the heaters with me so I will get them tuned up for where ever I use them next.
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Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=

4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/

[tristessa]

Genuine Eberspacher glow plug for the D2/D4 Airtronic fits the heater body but you'll need to splice the wiring because the connector is different. Downside is that they cost almost as much as a complete heater does -- almost $90 on Amazon.

The one I have mounted in the camper, I did have to replace the glow plug a couple months after installation, but the replacement (also Chinese) has been working fine ever since. Still, if you go that route order a couple and keep the spare on-board along with the installation tool. Maybe a glow plug screen and temp sensor also. They're cheap enough and don't take much space.

[Steve M.]

[thegreenroom]

That's interesting VWHammer, thanks for the info. Mine certainly also sits a while between operation (often weeks at a time go by before I use it again), and so maybe I need to prime it again like you say? I have only primed it once when I first installed it, and didn't know I might have to do it more often?

Thanks Tristessa, I will have a look for the Eberspacher plugs - that is pricey though

[jocoman]

I have to do the manual prime when the westy has been sitting for a while. Then it starts.
If I don't do the manual prime, it tries to start for like 6-7 minutes and then stops. If i try again it usually will start.
Much easier to do the manual bleed if it has been sitting for a while.
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'86 Westfalia 2.0L Zetec
'97 Volvo 850 AWD Turbo
" The fun never stops"

[thegreenroom]

Thanks jocoman, that's good to know. It sounds like I need to try priming again, I'm going to do it this morning and will report back. Fingers crossed!

[thegreenroom]

So I tried priming it (twice) and, unfortunately, no joy. It looks like fuel is going into the unit but it just cuts out with the same E-03 error after trying to start up. I've ordered a glow plug, removal tool, and screen, but it seems very strange for these items to be a problem seeing as though it's a new unit and has only been used a handful of times.

[vwhammer]

So I was doing some youtoobin' and a guy started talking about some ultra quiet chinese diesel heater fuel pump.

This thing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-STOCK-Ultra-Quiet-12V-...3800161456

That appears to be out of stock so I came across thing thing as well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-STOCK-Fuel-Dosing-Pump...%3A2047675

There was also some conversation somewhere about making the exhaust and maybe the intake a little quieter on these heaters.

The exhaust seems pretty straight forward but I accidentally found this intake muffler.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-STOCK-MuffMaster-Chine...%3A2047675

It's clearly a 3D printed thing but maybe they have done some experimenting with the design.

Anyway it seems that maybe these things are evolving.
Who knows what the next cool thing will be for them.
_________________
Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=

4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/

[erste]

[Zeitgeist 13]

I added felt filter material to my intake muffler, but I don't even have an exhaust muffler and I really can't hear the heater all that much. I know lots of folks complain about the fuel pump tick, but having an external heater mounting really seems to remove nearly all of the common noise complaints. Seriously, mount your heater outside the van.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[dobryan]

FWIW to virtually eliminate all fuel pump noise I used some zip ties to mount the fuel pump bracket to the frame of the bus with a 1/2" thick piece of closed cell foam as a cushion. I cannot even hear the fuel pump from outside the bus now, before (using the supplied bracket) the pump made the body of the bus resonate with the pulses. YMMV.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Howesight]

[erste]

[DigiMatrix]

[Howesight]

Erste:

Thanks for the link. That seller has screens AND glowplugs. Works for me.


Digimatrix:

I got the 2000kw unit because, I hoped, it would be compatible with the Afterburner. It might be compatible, but I have not "looked under the hood" yet to see the control board.

Here is the Amazon link to the one I got:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07JZCJ563/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The items in the pics, including the pic of the LCD controller, are the ones I actually received. So far, I am pleased. I did buy a true Webasto muffler which came to half the price of the CDH. I tested the CDH on some cold nights, leaving the van parked on the driveway - - no issues to date.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[DigiMatrix]

[tristessa]

If I'm in somewhat of a hurry for spares, Amazon or eBay, if I'm not then aliexpress or banggood for better pricing.

[JEL91Westy]

Sorry If I missed it in this long thread, but has anyone come up with a good way to heat the water in the water tank using the CDH?
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91 Westy
85 911

[joyfulpursuit]

[not sure how to delete]
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📖 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, Jesus,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life - John 3:16
🚐 1987 Westy, EJ22 small car conversion
🚗 1991 e30 325i Sport MTech II coupe
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