Sprinter pre-heater

nabsim

nabsim

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This morning we found our Sprinter 316 is fitted with an Eberspächer Hydronic D 5 W Z water heater to preheat the engine. Can anyone tell me how this is supposed to work and where fuses are located please?

As my van is fitted with a calorific this pre-heater will also supply hot water to the habitation area
 
If it is like the VW installations of the pre-heaters they come on automatically when you start the engine and the ambient temperature is below a certain temp (think about 6C?).
 
I "believe" this works automatically, it's fitted usually behind the bumper and it's fitted because some engines don't get hot enough to provide sufficient heat to the cab, hence this "auxiliary" heater. I have read that you can have them re-configured and timers fitted to provide heat to the cab and engine via a timer or even wifi nowadays but in its present guise it's just an auxiliary heater with no user controls.
 
On our Merc there is a small deisel heater outside location under the passenger seat with its own tiny exhaust.I have only used it when the engine has just started by a switch.It supplies heat until the engine warms up enough.Not aware of water heating and only on for about ten minutes.
 
These diesel fuelled heaters are a great thing to have
If factory fitted by MB then it could be either :-

a pre heater that will work with the engine off and will warm up the engine and the cab before you start it up
They can have a timer so you can set it to come on at a set time so its all warmed up nocely before you even get in it
Will even defrost windcreen if heater leavers set to demist

Or

A supplementary heater that only works when engine running to boost the heat as modern diesels dont have a lot of waste heat to heat interiors eg a mini bus
 
I did notice that motorhome fun has a current thread on this and its been covered also in the past on motorhome facts

So worth a quick search on those forums

But they wont work if fuel level too low in tank ( prevents you running out ) and will not work if external temp to high and temp setting on heater needs to be turned up to warm
 
Nabsim You should have a switch on your dash with some squiggly lines on it, press it and a red led should light

If your switch has squiggly lines on top and bottom of it (rocker switch) then you have preheater and it will work with engine off or on

If it only has one set of squiggly lines then its the auxiliary / booster heater and only works with engine running



BUT it can be reconfigured with a bit of effort ( easier on pre 2007 models)
 
If its working you should start to hear a clicking noise which is the small fuel pump to the heater and when it fires up you will hear a roar
 
I do have some documents for pre and post 2007 sprinters that i can send you that may help

I have also fitted these heaters to my cars ( a webasto heater ) and in the winter thay really are a superb thing to have
 
@Trek, I have been looking up on the net but not got that far yet, will check the sites you mention though. I do have the switch with the wavy lines going up and next to that it has a similar switch with wavy lines going down (same switch mounted other way). In one document I found it said the up switch was the one but it doesn’t light up, neither does the down. Not tried with engine running though.

On the Hydronic leaflet I downloaded of an American site last night it shows the Rest button as what operates it but again nothing with engine off and full tank of fuel.

If you have any documents you can send that would be great as most of what I am finding online is for Dodge Sprinters and MB just said they don’t have manuals that old
 
same as last one but with factory fitted timer
 

Attachments

  • HYDRONIC D 5 WS in t1n _DE_3576.pdf
    299 KB · Views: 40
if you get hold of a Webasto heater ( instead of the MB fitted Eberspacher ) then this document will help you install it
 

Attachments

  • 316 sprinter caper webasto 9011462A.pdf
    975.7 KB · Views: 26
eberspacher 7 day timer
 

Attachments

  • Unlocking ECU with 7 Day Timer.pdf
    1.8 MB · Views: 28
REST BUTTON on my 2008 sprinter is used when you stop engine after driving but want to keep the cab warm from the residual heat in the engine block

stop engine press REST and a fan and pump operate to pump the coolant from engine to interior heater matrix and fan blows warm air out until engine cools down
 
Brilliant thanks Trek, I had the Espar one but not the others, I will check when back inside if that is the forum I have been on or not also.
I thought the Rest button did as you described from the Dodge manual but will do some more investigation when we have done our touristy bits if still light.
I am suspecting a fuse may have gone or wiring break as no lights on the wavy switch at the moment
 
This is the switch on mine, it has a red light on it, I tried it last week and it didn't work.

Sprinter diesel pre heater switch.png
 
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