E320 cdi heater

[k8legal]

Ive seen loads of posts about the diesel heaters being very slow and not much heat given out. i have the same.
I have the following fault
P1664-001 Electric heater booster generator load signal is implausible
P1664-002 Electric heater booster equipment fault

Number of issues
1/ Does changing the thermostat help the engine wrm up quicker? (Last night 25 minutes around town and only just got above 40 degrees on the water temp indicator) or is this normal with the diesels?
2/ It seems as if the booster is a common fault, would those codes indicate a replacement and if so is it likely to be expensive?
3/ Doesnt the aircon warm the air? Or is that why they have the booster because these engines are so slow to warm up?

 

[renault12ts]

1 Warm up is very slow on the 320 cdi. But it should get to 87 degs C, if not replace stat.
2 Most peoples heaters don't work.
3 Don't know because of 2.

 

[kwakdonut]

The air con simply removes the moisture from the incoming air and yes, it may make it feel a touch warmer because of this

 

[allias]

2. So why people dont bother to fix? Is it to expensive or what? There is no point for it in UK?

 

[k8legal]

There is a need for it at the moment, cant see through my screen until the car runs for 15 minutes!!!!

 

[k8legal]

Just did a 40 mile run down the m6. The temp needle never got to 60! Air coming in was just about warm enough to take the chill off.

 

[renault12ts]

Needs a new stat...the booster heater is optional. The booster is only there to make things warm up quicker.

 

[kwakdonut]

+1 - time to get the thermostat changed!

 

[gkerr4]

is the 'booster' an electrical heating element for cabin heating? - this has been discussed before but I didn't know if my car (an 08 W204 C220CDi) would have it or not?

My wifes car has a webasto aux-heater which kicks in at <5degC but it focuses on getting the coolant up to temperature quicker - not directly heating the cabin - are they the same thing or is the booster just an electric cabin heater?

 

[renault12ts]

is the 'booster' an electrical heating element for cabin heating? - this has been discussed before but I didn't know if my car (an 08 W204 C220CDi) would have it or not?

My wifes car has a webasto aux-heater which kicks in at <5degC but it focuses on getting the coolant up to temperature quicker - not directly heating the cabin - are they the same thing or is the booster just an electric cabin heater?

Yes, in the photo it is the unit second from the left:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2664038/IMG_0492.JPG

Though some have diesel heaters, which can work automatically. Not sure which one you have.

The electric ones have the coolant pipes going through the unit. You can see them in the photo.

 

[tmaoahthfte]

Yes, in the photo it is the unit second from the left:.

So is there an electric element in there that heats the coolant? (sorry for stupid question) My e220 has one fitted but activating the switch this morning didn't seem to heat the cabin any quicker than normal.

 

[k8legal]

From my fault codes I know I have an electric one, but I can only assume that they are c**p cos everyones seems to be faulty.

Likewise I assume it must be a pain or prohibitively expensive to repair or replace. Am I right???

 

[renault12ts]

You're right, most don't seem to work. Again, most (like me), don't bother to find out about repair.

 

[k8legal]

Changed the thermostat today and the water actually got above 80 and nice and warm!!!

Thanks to acid for the stat by the way!

Now back to the electric heater, fuse box diagram stated that the auxiliary heater should have fuses in spaces 4, 7 and 17. Why 3??????

No fuse in 17 so 20 amp fuse put in as per diagram. Lets see what happens tomorrow when starting from cold

 

[Dunhamkid]

Yes, in the photo it is the unit second from the left:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2664038/IMG_0492.JPG

Though some have diesel heaters, which can work automatically. Not sure which one you have.

The electric ones have the coolant pipes going through the unit. You can see them in the photo.

The unit second from the left in the photo is the vacuum tank. The electric heater is below the tank.

 

[cjc 999]

I have P1664002 on my 270 cdi CLK - have previously replaced the stat so temp now goes above 60 deg and up to about 90.

However still takes up to 14 miles to fully heat up.

So my question is when these symptoms are evident and DTC 'P1664-002 Electric heater booster Equipment fault' are presesnt, is there a usual cause i.e. wiring, ecu or heater element.

Is there a procedure for testing the ECU output?

Cheers.

 

[iggy12015]

same problem here but strugling to find pin point answers please help it anoing

 

[HB]

My heater booster has the car blowing warm air in 2 mins after start. Bloody great thing. The wifes c320 cdi has no heater booster and takes 10 mins to throw out warmish air.