Mercedes sprinter pre heater (1 Viewer)

[styleruk]

Hi all
Just bought a 2004 Rapido 986M with mercedes sprinter. the engine bay has a pre-heater device that is routed through to the engine (i guess). Seems the only way to activate it is to start the engine and press the button on the dash and it fires up running on diesel to heat the engine quick.
I say I guess that's all it does because I don't really know what else it does when bolted to a motorhome.
It's a bit like the eberspacher I fitted to my classic car, only difference is, I can fire that up on a timer and warm the car before starting, does not look like the mercedes has that option...

Unless you know differently?

Regards
Si

 

[styleruk]

It would be a shame that Rapido did not route this to the water heater or heating matrix some how so you can warm up the cabin or something else.

 

[Enword]

Our 316 CDI Has the same, very handy on frosty morning's
I have been told Merc do a kit to convert to timer, never checked this out to be true or not, if true it may be not cheap!!

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[styleruk]

Our 316 CDI Has the same, very handy on frosty morning's
I have been told Merc do a kit to convert to timer, never checked this out to be true or not, if true it may be not cheap!!

I'm sure that's the case. It's a shame Rapido didn't take the opportunity to use this device to heat water or the cabin or simply to pre-heat. Would be quite handy. But I'm sure you're right about the timer thing being added and dread to think how much that would be.

 

[DavidG58]

I have exactly the same on mine and have no idea what it does, but like you say it only works with the engine running so can be nothing to do with pre heating

It does seem to get the cab area warmer though, so I thought it might let the engine heat the rads we have in front of our seats that I thought are part of the Alde system

 

[canopus]

The Eberspächer fitted in our 616 Cdi Sprinter is designed to be powered up when the engine is running. The Eberspächer merely warms the engine block up quicker thus prolonging the life of the engine during winter or in colder climates.

However, I have just discovered that there is kit available from Eberspächer that allows you to use it as an auxiliary heater. There is plenty of info on the project on MB Sprinter Forums.

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/eberspacher_techdocs/Hydronic-4-5/SPRINTER-kit/Sprinter Upgrade kit 24 0212 00 00 00.pdf

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[Techno]

On my Fiat Rapido it feeds through a heater matrix fitted beneath my fridge. It has a three speed fan and heat control at the drivers position and the heated air is directed adjacent the hab door.
However mine plays no part in heating the engine

 

[styleruk]

The Eberspächer fitted in our 616 Cdi Sprinter is designed to be powered up when the engine is running. The Eberspächer merely warms the engine block up quicker thus prolonging the life of the engine during winter or in colder climates.

However, I have just discovered that there is kit available from Eberspächer that allows you to use it as an auxiliary heater. There is plenty of info on the project on MB Sprinter Forums.

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/eberspacher_techdocs/Hydronic-4-5/SPRINTER-kit/Sprinter Upgrade kit 24 0212 00 00 00.pdf

Indeed, and I fitted a petrol eberspacher unit to my singer gazelle. Used it to drive to work for many years, great getting in a heated car with the engine ready to run. You simply fit a control box that powers it up. I fitted it in the boot and put copper pipes up to the engine, actually only just taken it out as I'm restoring the old girl.
According to the mercedes manual, you can get a control unit that turns it on before you start. I'm just surprised out of all the useful things, Rapido did not make use of this in other ways, like heating the cab etc...

 

[styleruk]

On my Fiat Rapido it feeds through a heater matrix fitted beneath my fridge. It has a three speed fan and heat control at the drivers position and the heated air is directed adjacent the hab door.
However mine plays no part in heating the engine

That's a different thing, it's the same in mine. The engine runs heat back to near the door through a matrix and heats the living space when you are driving...quite useful as it stops you getting a cold neck in the winter

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[Techno]

I'm just surprised out of all the useful things, Rapido did not make use of this in other ways, like heating the cab etc...

No surprise there to me

 

[styleruk]

I have exactly the same on mine and have no idea what it does, but like you say it only works with the engine running so can be nothing to do with pre heating

It does seem to get the cab area warmer though, so I thought it might let the engine heat the rads we have in front of our seats that I thought are part of the Alde system

I'm not familiar with the term 'alde system'. Is that the heating on a Rapido?

 

[Techno]

It's a wet system similar to gas central heating at home. pipework and radiators etc

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[styleruk]

Looks like I'll be using it just for heating the engine up quicker, though I'm surprised such a small box makes a big difference to a big engine, can't be more than a few kw power. And with it running it still takes a while to get to temperature. I guess every little helps.

 

[FJmike]

Wish I could find how to use mine in my Pilote. I have a three way switch but it doesn't seem to do anything

 

[Techno]

Wish I could find how to use mine in my Pilote. I have a three way switch but it doesn't seem to do anything

Got a picture of it Mike?

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[DavidG58]

Broken Link Removed

@Techno

no photo of mine Andy, but I am pretty sure this is what is being discussed, mine doesn't have the 'off' wording but is more or less then same, I think it boosts the internal heating

 

[FJmike]

I will take a photo tomorrow, looks nothing like the one in David's link

 

[Techno]

me too

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[DavidG58]

I will take a photo tomorrow, looks nothing like the one in David's link

mine does

 

[Just smiffy]

On my Fiat Rapido it feeds through a heater matrix fitted beneath my fridge. It has a three speed fan and heat control at the drivers position and the heated air is directed adjacent the hab door.
However mine plays no part in heating the engine

That's a different thing, it's the same in mine. The engine runs heat back to near the door through a matrix and heats the living space when you are driving...quite useful as it stops you getting a cold neck in the winter

I have that too but mines not working, I've got heat there but the fan doesn't work...

 

[styleruk]

I have that too but mines not working, I've got heat there but the fan doesn't work...

That's either a blown fuse or a can of worms!

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[Techno]

I will take a photo tomorrow, looks nothing like the one in David's link

 

[FJmike]

Mine being 2007 is a bit different

 

[FJmike]

No matter how long I hold with ignition on or off or with the engine running it does not start the heater and the light doesn't come on

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[SandraL]

As one who doesn't have one I am led to believe( just getting excuses in first) that on some car mounted versions there is an external air sensor to stop diesel heater firing up above a set temp, maybe around 6 degrees C. Of course may not be like that on yours.......

 

[Red Dragon]

Hi I have a mercedes rapido with a heater booster switch similar to Davidg58 which blows extra hot air through the cab vents to assist heating the internal rear area.
We have used it when travelling in winter to go skiing and boy what a difference it makes.

 

[DavidG58]

No matter how long I hold with ignition on or off or with the engine running it does not start the heater and the light doesn't come on

Mine is the same as yours, not so far away from the one in the link, but just goes to show how 2 people can be talking about the same thing and totally disagree

Mine is a standard switch press the same as heated rear screen button (which on ours only does the mirrors), a red light comes on, (on the switch) when pressed, goes off if already on

I only wish it did something, we get no obvious effect as @Red Dragon gets , it might just be @FJmike that the light doesn't work on yours, I don't really think we can tell a difference on ours, other than when we stop if it has been on it sounds like the engine is in over run as the 'extra' bit whatever it might be and do still continues for about a minute

That untechnical reply is me at my peak I am afraid, no real help

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[funflair]

Mine is the same as yours, not so far away from the one in the link, but just goes to show how 2 people can be talking about the same thing and totally disagree

Mine is a standard switch press the same as heated rear screen button (which on ours only does the mirrors), a red light comes on, (on the switch) when pressed, goes off if already on

I only wish it did something, we get no obvious effect as @Red Dragon gets , it might just be @FJmike that the light doesn't work on yours, I don't really think we can tell a difference on ours, other than when we stop if it has been on it sounds like the engine is in over run as the 'extra' bit whatever it might be and do still continues for about a minute

That untechnical reply is me at my peak I am afraid, no real help

Hi David the default for you button should be ON, if you want it OFF you press the switch and it lights up, the heating part will only work at 8 deg as has been said already and all it does is heat the water around the engine block for faster delisting etc, the running you can hear after switching off is the exhaust fan on the heater unit.

Martin

 

[funflair]

No matter how long I hold with ignition on or off or with the engine running it does not start the heater and the light doesn't come on

Dont know if you have read this? page 123

Quite different to what David has I think.

http://www.sprinter-rv.com/wp-conte...5_Mercedes_Benz_Sprinter_Operators_Manual.pdf

Martin

 

[FJmike]

After having a play this afternoon, reading the manual I decided to look at the fuses. As my Pilote is an Aclass a lot of the fuses under the drivers seat (LHD) are missing as a lot of the functions do not apply. In the manual it said fuse 27 was for aux. heating, this checked out OK . Fuse 26 was marked as just heating but didn't have a fuse fitted, I fitted a 25 amp fuse, tried the switch again, nothing. Turned the engine on tried switch and success, light came on and heater started up (you could hear it). Very quickly I had warm air from the cab vents but very little from what I assume to be a rear facing vent under the passenger seat, picture below. After nine years of owning the Pilote from new it's the first time the aux. heater has run, so I am well chuffed.

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