I have a problem with the auxiliary engine heater on my 03 Mondeo TDCI. And I was wondering if it?s worth fixing?
The 60 Amp Fuse that feeds it was blown when I got the car. I replaced it but when I looked again it had blown again.
This is supposed to feed 3 X 250W heater plugs in the hose to the Heater matrix through 2 relays when below zero degrees C. Even if the relays took nothing, at 12 volts that?s 62.5 amps; at 13 volts that?s 58amps. It looks tightly-sized to say the least?
(1)The warranty is about to expire and the local Ford agent will ?Trace the fault? but I will have to pay if no fault is found or a wiring snag is found.
Not all models have this heater, is it important? is it worth the gamble?
(2)Does anyone have experience of these heaters or have they had similar problems?
Many Thanks
Len
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1)The warranty is about to expire and the local Ford agent will ?Trace the fault? but I will have to pay if no fault is found or a wiring snag is found.
I dont think so. If a wiring snag is found they fix it - thats what the warranty is for. In fact the warranty means you pay nothing in any case. The fuse has blown they fix it under warranty V simple really.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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I agree with RF, er TVM re warranty, it is up to the dealer to fix it.
Re the value of the aux heater AFAIK my 02 Ghia X TDCi does not have this feature and it warms up OK, see the folowing thread.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=4&t=39...7
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eljay
So they want you to pay if "no fault is found?" So a blowing fuse isn't a fault then? Or do they think you're just making it up for a laugh?
The most likely problem is that one of the "immersion heaters" has shorted. Although the fuse looks marginal. the 60A is it's continuous rating - to blow it you'll need nearer 120A.
These heaters are to help get some temperature into the car after a cold start. Modern diesels are so efficient at low load and revs that there would be almost no heating/demisting available at all in heavy traffic. Even with them; some makes provoke torrents of complaints about poor heaters in town.
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What model Mondeo is this, as I said AFAIK my 2002 Ghia X TDCi does not have this feature though the handbook mentions that it is fitted to "some models", it seems to suggest that the 60amp fuse also covers other devices such as the glow plugs so it may be that your glow plugs will not operate without this fuse in place leading to cold starting issues.
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Cheddar,
My Mondeo is a 2003 (Jan?) Zetec TDCi.
You may well have this heater. I was totally unaware of it, until I noticed that fuse F3 was blown. The symbol on the cover was a glow-plug symbol...but another fuse had this to.
Because mu manual didn't show the wiring I enquired from Haynes what F3 fed and they sent me the wiring diagram. F3 feeds the diesel auxiliary heater (Which is 3 250W plugs...hence the symbol??).
I have no cold start issues.
What's more I thought the car warmed-up quick enough.
Furthermore the fuse blew second time in spring/summer whereas the heater is only supposed to start below zero degrees.
Thanks for all the advice everyone
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Just a Thank-You for all the advice.
the local Ford garage say they replaced the heater plugs (one shorting) under the warranty.
I will watch the fuse!
Thanks Again
Eljay
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The nominal car voltage used for power calculations is 13.75 volts so your 750 watt heaters will pull 54.6 amps and less at 12 volts. These heaters do not come on until after the engine has started as it is too busy heating the glow plugs if demanded and cranking the engine. The heaters do not come on without the engine running as this would also cause localised boiling of the water. I suspect one of the aux heaters has melted and gone short cct. Hope that helps. It is under warrantee insist they fix it or immediate letter to Ford HQ. Regards Peter
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