Rapido Engine Heater (1 Viewer)

[Silver-Fox]

We have an extra heater on our Merc Sprinter base Rapido A Class.
It runs off diesel, well not at the mo, is supposed to help heat the engine up as its plumbed into the engine cooling system.
Only works whilst the engine is running and is a standard fit on Sprinters.
Im led to believe its an
Eberspacher

Does anyone have a clue how to fault find with these things as this little so and so isn't working

Pics of the switch in the cab and the top of the unit under the bonnet.

 

[Badknee]

I had one years ago that fired a very fine mist of derv over a glow plug, sounded like a jet engine (same as a night heater for hgv's) then a small heat exchanger and a pump. The hot air heated the water and pumped it round the engine. Instant heater and a warm engine. Much used in Canada.
Fault finding? I'd start at the fuse box as they take quite a bit of power, mine was on a 20min Max timer.

 

[JeanLuc]

Mine has one too but it hasn’t worked for a few years. When I asked about fixing it I was told it might be the control unit at fault. Since I hardly ever used it anyway, I decided against spending any money to investigate further.

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[Reallyretired]

Mine does work. Makes a lot of noise like a jet engine and does warm up the engine quicker in the winter. I rarely use in in anger but I do run it occasionally as they tend to stop working if not used (like aircon)

 

[canopus]

We have one on our Merc Sprinter and its designed to preheat the engine block in extreme cold conditions, the theory being that a warm engine is more efficient and uses less fuel I believe. Eberspacher help can be found here:-

https://www.butlertechnik.com/contact-us-i3

 

[SandraL]

In the resources section of MH fun there is a Eberspacher manual. If you want to get really into it you can connect laptop to interogate it similar to obd socket on a car. Googling eberspacher will pull up lots of info.
Control wiring is a bit harder when integarated into mercedes wiring.
They have an ecu inside, if it fails over a certain number of starts, depending on reason, it will need reseting.
They are fitted to many trucks and boats, so their dealers may be knowledgeable.

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[Silver-Fox]

Thanks for the replies.
I really wanted to get this working as I think the engine thermostat may have got west as well.
Engine takes ages to warm up, I have been told the Sprinter engine is thermal efficient but mine seems overly so

 

[7735]

I haven’t got one on my Rapido Sprinter, should I have?

Spongy

 

[ambulancekidd]

Its not standard Sprinter fitment, at least not on the 2.7 five cylinder engine, at least not to my knowledge. The Sprinter engine is very thermally efficient but it shouldn't take too long to heat up, the last one I had with the 2.7 took about 3 to 4 miles to have heat coming through the vents. I had one of these gadgets on my Range Rover & it is the mutts on a really cold day.

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[Silver-Fox]

I know of 4 Sprinters with the heater fitted but it may be year dependent?

My Sprinter takes 20 to 25 mins