How to remove/access Webasto heater?

[Larry H]

My Webasto heater is not working. It starts up and then shuts down after a minute or so.

I want to remove the heater and take it to Sure Marine for service.

How is the heater accessed?

What is the procedure to remove it from the boat?

I have discussed this problem on another thread here: http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9249&p=64339#p64339

Thanks for any help.

 

[j&lgray]

Larry;

To answer you question on point, it depends on where the factory or the installer put it because the heater can be installed in different spaces. Typically, the heater is very close to the duct where the should come from. On our Ranger 27, it accessed through the cave, there is a removable at the very bow end.

I have learned these issues for your information:
A. The heater will shut down when there is a low voltage to the unit. This may be a battery issue or an issue between the unit and the battery.
B. The heater will shut down if the intake duct is not getting sufficient air. On our Ranger 27, the intake duct is on the port side exterior cabin side under the window.
C. The heater will shut down if any of the duct work is obstructed. In our case, a vacuum hose sucked out a lot of junk and debris and the heater came to life.
D. If the heater is fuel starved, it will shut down. These units have a separate fuel pump that in our case was mounted closer to the main fuel tank. No power or the fuel line is obstructed - it will shut down.

My experience, the unit is often very good and reliable. It is the issues described above that are often the cause.

 

[Larry H]

I got no factory response here, on Tugnuts, so I called and spoke to Kenny. He advised that the panel on the port side of the v-berth has to be removed. I removed the four screws, (covered with plastic caps) and removed the vinyl covered panel. It was a tight fit and took some pulling and tugging to remove. That allowed access to the heater.

I have the heater out and its going to Sure Marine, Seattle, for a check up. The last error codes produced by the heater was F 9, which relates to the glow plug/flame sensor.

While the heater is out, I will manually pulse the fuel pump to endure that it is primed. I have slipped a 3 foot length of 3/16in ID clear vinyl tubing over the end of the copper tube so I can see the fuel being pumped.

The heater is located under the step on the port side forward of the co-pilot seat.

Photo of fuel pump and filter located under step by door.

Larger photos in my album.

 

[baz]

Larry: Be sure to post back what Sure Marine finds out about the issue. Thanks... 🙂

 

[Larry H]

The Webasto is back and reinstalled in the boat.

Sure Marine diagnosed the problem as a failed glow plug. The cause of the failure was 'water in the combustion chamber'. So how did the water get in? Since the heater worked fine during the two days of inspection and sea trial, it must have happened after that.

I think the dealer washed the boat prior to delivery, perhaps with a pressure washer (not sure) and the hose/nozzle was directed into the heater exhaust.

This 'lesson' cost me $400.00, and I didn't do the damage! Not a fun surprise to get from my 'new to me' boat.

 

[baz]

Larry:

Thanks much for posting back. That's a bummer about the dealer power washing and the possibility that it caused water to enter the Webasto's heat exhaust port and subsequently into the combustion chamber.

This tells me, as I always wash down the boat with fresh water when returning to dock after a salt water cruise, to temporarily block the Webasto exhaust port with something.... such as a red painted cork or tape during the wash down activity.

Thanks. 🙂

 

[Larry H]

That's a good idea!

 

[stwendl]

my understanding of a proper webasto exhaust install requires that the exhaust pipe makes a loop up right after the thru hull and at the lowest point should be a drip loop (unless the exhaust pipe is installed such that all water is flowing out by gravity. Took me a while to figure out how to route my webasto water heater exhaust (not to mention the emotional pain when drilling a 1.5 in hole into the transom)

 

[baz]

I agree, and suspect RT does in fact route the exhaust with the loop(s). However, if a power washer directs water directly at the exhaust port I bet there's still a chance water can/could be force through and down to the heater.