Freelander 1 Fuel Burning Heater cut-in temperature

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Avocet1

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Does anyone know what (ambient) temperature the FBH is supposed to come in at? I was surprised this morning to hear it running (for the first time since I've had the car). I just assumed that (like most things on that car!) it didn't work, but after a short run (about 3-4 miles) it was running! When I got back, my other car reckoned the ambient temperature was about 10 degrees, so maybe just under 10 when I set off. Does that sound about right?

Also, the temperature gauge was showing normal when I stopped. Should it have cut out by then?
 
It's about 5°C, although it's a simple mechanical thermostat, so subject to some variation.

I fitted an electronic thermostat to my FL1, so I could adjust the temperature to suit my needs. I also fitted a remote control, so I could run it before I set out on a cold morning.
 
Nodge68 said:
It's about 5°C, although it's a simple mechanical thermostat, so subject to some variation.

I fitted an electronic thermostat to my FL1, so I could adjust the temperature to suit my needs. I also fitted a remote control, so I could run it before I set out on a cold morning.
Click to expand...

Nodge I would love to know how you fitted your remote, what you used etc
 
Nodge68 said:
It's about 5°C, although it's a simple mechanical thermostat, so subject to some variation.

I fitted an electronic thermostat to my FL1, so I could adjust the temperature to suit my needs. I also fitted a remote control, so I could run it before I set out on a cold morning.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nodge. Is the thermostat on the unit itself, just ahead of the left hand front wheel, or somewhere remote? Can it be adjusted or are they sealed?
 
Avocet1 said:
Is the thermostat on the unit itself, just ahead of the left hand front wheel, or somewhere remote?
Click to expand...
It's on the driver's side of the lower front grille. The bumper need to be removed to access it, and it's over £30, which is why I went for a cheaper and adjustable alternative. ;)
Avocet1 said:
Can it be adjusted or are they sealed?
Click to expand...
No it's a sealed throw away unit.
 
Avocet1 said:
Does anyone know what (ambient) temperature the FBH is supposed to come in at? I was surprised this morning to hear it running (for the first time since I've had the car). I just assumed that (like most things on that car!) it didn't work, but after a short run (about 3-4 miles) it was running! When I got back, my other car reckoned the ambient temperature was about 10 degrees, so maybe just under 10 when I set off. Does that sound about right?

Also, the temperature gauge was showing normal when I stopped. Should it have cut out by then?
Click to expand...
Mine did that just before it packed up completely, so far I have bought and fitted a new dosing pump for it and tested the pump and the pump in the fbh next job is to test the glow plug works and prime the fuel line I also would be interested in @Nodge68 set up as I will need to. by pass the old sensor and fit a remote control which is all I want from it
 
Madmustang said:
I also would be interested in @Nodge68 set up as I will need to. by pass the old sensor and fit a remote control which is all I want from it
Click to expand...

I used a general remote switch from Ebay, which turned the FBH on via it's auxiliary input. The FBH has an output, which will trigger a relay, to drive the vehicle fan.
 
Just got back from a run this evening. I was a bit surprised, the ambient temperature is about 11 degrees according to the other car. I fired up the Landy and drove it 20 miles, but was a bit surprised to see that the FBH was still running when I got to my destination and switched off? The gauge got up to "normal" within a few miles. (The thermostat is relatively new). On previous diesels with combustion heaters, they've not fired up until the temperature is much lower (typically 5 or 6 degrees) and they've only run for 5 miles or so.

Aside from the fact that the thermostat might be faulty, is there any particular reason it should run so long before cutting out? (Note that it wasn't on when I got home, which was after another 20 miles). Presumably, the signal to come on, comes from the ambient thermostat, but the signal to cut out must come from the car's cooling system somewhere?
 
Avocet1 said:
Aside from the fact that the thermostat might be faulty, is there any particular reason it should run so long before cutting out?
Click to expand...

The FBH fan will run the whole time it's being triggered to run. However the actual burner will only run when the temperature sensor inside the casing is measuring a coolant temperature below 75°C. So the FBH can sound like it's running, but in reality it's probably just the fan running and not burning any fuel. This is easy to check, just by listing for the dosing pump clicking. No clicking from the pump, means no combustion is happening, so no heating is occurring.
 
Nodge68 said:
The FBH fan will run the whole time it's being triggered to run. However the actual burner will only run when the temperature sensor inside the casing is measuring a coolant temperature below 75°C. So the FBH can sound like it's running, but in reality it's probably just the fan running and not burning any fuel. This is easy to check, just by listing for the dosing pump clicking. No clicking from the pump, means no combustion is happening, so no heating is occurring.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks, I'll try that. Is the dosing pump that "lump of amorphous rust with wires on" that I have, just ahead of the right hand rear wheel? When I got out at the end of the 20 mile run, the exhaust of the FBH was warm to the touch, but not actually hot.
 
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