Auxillary heater
- Thread starter Taylor
- Start date
depronman
A2OC Donor
I’ve never owned an A2 tdi with the electrical aux heater, mine have all had the webasto diesel power heater which is rated at 5.5kw in full power and 2.5kw in half power
My understanding of the electric heater is that it is rated at 1.5kw but will kick in within a few seconds of engine start as long as certain criteria are met. Min engine speed, minimum voltage, air temp less than 6deg C engine coolant temp no greater than 80deg C
The first thing is to check out all of the above are being met AND the sensors are telling the truth
Next check is the coding of the engine ecu this must be 00002
If it it set to 00005 then the aux heater will most likely be inoperative (this is very late breaking news about a week old)
There is a much more detailed thread at 130+ threads long on this topic. Well worth skim reading it as mostly applies to the webasto but the electrical heater gets a mention in a few places
Paul
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Sootywg
A2OC Donor
Your understanding is correct as depronman says, there are criteria to be met but essentially below 6degC you should have warm air blown into the cabin. I understand that the Webasto not only warms the cabin but also the engine coolant hence helping the engine get to temperature . The electric heater does not do this (hence the vastly different power output).
Geoff
robskiA2tdi
Member
I think you are pointing to electric heating element inside car to heat up internal air flowing thru vents (I do have tdi90 which is fitted with this) also to speed up windscreen defrost, some of tdi75 were equipped with webasto coolant heater too which helps engine to warm up quicker and provide warm air in to cabin (webasto only turns on within conditions met - mentioned above)
Thank you all; it's great little addition on the
Thank you Paul. It's a great little thing and after reading so much over how bad these are on cold mornings without the Webasto, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised
. Thanks for all the information. MarkThank you. Pleasantly surprised how effective it actually is.
Mark
depronman
A2OC Donor
The electrical heater is certainly effective at cabin heating likely better than the webasto in the first few mins of operation
The webasto then wins as it gets the cabin toast warm and also gets the engine up to temp and therefore onto more economical fuelling maps quicker thereby compensation for the diesel used buy the webasto
Let’s face facts, the reason Audi discontinued the webasto was two fold
1 cost - the electrical heater plus a larger alternator was significantly cheaper than fitting the webasto unit
2 omissions - the tdi A2’s where about to change from euro 3 (AMF engine) to euro 4 (BHC and ATL engines) the webasto would not be euro 4 compliant
The change form AMF to BHC was staggered over a few months the factory fitting either a AMF or BHC engine as to what was available, the webasto phase out was done in summer shut down 2002 likely when the AMF to BHC swap over was also planned, but they ended up using the AMF until around the end of 2002
I’m convinced that the electrical heater was only planned to be used with the euro4 engines but reality kicked in and the plan went to rat s**t for a few months, hence we have a some late 2002 cars with electrical heaters and AMF engines
My personal vote is for the webasto but if I could have my cake and eat it I’d have both as they both have advantages
Paul
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The webasto then wins as it gets the cabin toast warm and also gets the engine up to temp and therefore onto more economical fuelling maps quicker thereby compensation for the diesel used buy the webasto
Let’s face facts, the reason Audi discontinued the webasto was two fold
1 cost - the electrical heater plus a larger alternator was significantly cheaper than fitting the webasto unit
2 omissions - the tdi A2’s where about to change from euro 3 (AMF engine) to euro 4 (BHC and ATL engines) the webasto would not be euro 4 compliant
The change form AMF to BHC was staggered over a few months the factory fitting either a AMF or BHC engine as to what was available, the webasto phase out was done in summer shut down 2002 likely when the AMF to BHC swap over was also planned, but they ended up using the AMF until around the end of 2002
I’m convinced that the electrical heater was only planned to be used with the euro4 engines but reality kicked in and the plan went to rat s**t for a few months, hence we have a some late 2002 cars with electrical heaters and AMF engines
My personal vote is for the webasto but if I could have my cake and eat it I’d have both as they both have advantages
Paul
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datsundrew
A2OC Donor
I wonder if anyone will consider fitting an electrical heater to a webasto equipped car? It looks like the dash has to come out on our silver tdi as the matrix is blocked, so when it’s out I may look at getting an electric heater in there and putting it on a 10 minute timer To give instant heat
depronman
A2OC Donor
Defo a job to do with the dash out
Don’t tempt me as the dash was out to fit a double din a few years ago. Not wanting to do that job again
Paul
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George Hogg
A2OC Donor
Maybe a silly question but are all non-webasto A2s fitted with the electrical heater?
robskiA2tdi
Member
think that TDi90s are all with electric element fitted, not sure about TDi75s
George Hogg
A2OC Donor
Thank you, then I have non-working electric heaters in my 90s !
PlasticMac
Member
If you have VCDS, first check Engine Controller, Group 016.
That's for AMF engines.
90s may be the same, but if you give me your engine code, I'll check.
Edit: ATL is the same Group & Block, (02).
Mac.
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"ECON off" is also on the list of requirements for the PTC electric heater to operate. so if @George Hogg always has his "ECON on" that might be why he thinks they are all broken!
I wish there was some kind of indicator that lit up when the PTC heater was operating. I'd just like the info/re-assurance that it's doing what it should. Alas, other than providing a bit of heat when you are not expecting it or looking with VCDS I don't think there is any other way to tell when it's on.
I wish there was some kind of indicator that lit up when the PTC heater was operating. I'd just like the info/re-assurance that it's doing what it should. Alas, other than providing a bit of heat when you are not expecting it or looking with VCDS I don't think there is any other way to tell when it's on.
PlasticMac
Member
Easy enough to add a 12 volts indicator, across the heater element supply.
Mac.
Fair point. Another job to do. Any idea where and which the PTC relay is? I'd bet it's under the passenger floor??
George Hogg
A2OC Donor
I’m not sure at all why you’ve written that about ECON on. But it’s neither helpful or respectful.
I have a few A2s one AMF the webasto works fine, one BHC the electric heater works fine. One BHC no electric heater 2 90s no electric heater.
Fortunately in discussion with Depronman he had given me what I believe is the answer. It looks like it’s map related.
audifan
A2OC Donor
Sorry George the ECON button is important. Not only does it turn off climate it will inhibit the PTC heater. On manual heater cars the econ button was also fitted just the later cars the icon and button functionally discontinued.
Here is a later manual heater
and an earlier one with the ECON button marked
Probably in line with the phased out Webastos.
Here is a later manual heater
and an earlier one with the ECON button marked
Probably in line with the phased out Webastos.