pdq import repair
Veteran Member
Old man winter is starting to show his frigid face again and being a rather warm blooded creature I have started another project that hopefully will give me some relief. My morning commute consists of a long downhill stretch and I routinely see my engine temps plummet to the bottom of the scale, and thus the heater output too.
I got a good deal on some Wabasto diesel fired auxiliary heaters that do not specifically fit my car, but after some research I have found that the heater is pretty much the same unit just the mounting is different from car to car, and in some cases the controller.
From what info I have been able to gather, these devices once activated start heating and pumping coolant. Once 40C is achieved a connection is turned on that can be utilized to turn on a fan circuit for instance. Once 70C is achieved it reduces power to 50% or so and if it drops below 60C it ramps back up. Sounds perfect for my downhill commute where the engine doesn't add a single BTU to the coolant.
I intend to hook it up on a remote timer circuit so I can pre-warm my car if I choose from a distance and preferably inside where it is warm.
I have not had one up and test fired yet as these models are the Canbus and likely w-bus fired ones and can not be just fired from a 12v source. They require a w-bus signal (I hope) or if I am unlucky a canbus signal. I have found an analog to w-bus converter and have it on order. I found a site in Hungary that makes them and also if needed a replacement controller for the heater that can make it purely analog, though that controller is much more costly and requires pulling the heater apart to install.
Now that I am reasonably certain that I can fire one somehow, the next step is to try to install the heater in the car. I removed the bumper skin and proceeded to plan where and how it would fit.
The best placement, possibly the only placement is in the left front inner fender area below the air filter. I tried to fit it as is and there was just no combo that worked, so I pulled off the mounting brackets and proceeded to see if either one would work. I finally found a possible fit.
After much fooling around and test fitting the heater to the mount( They did build in pretty good adaptability for reversing directions and sides ) I was able to strike a combination that worked. I had to relocate the water pump and hoses some as well as the muffler, but it finally looks doable.
I intend to add a home built bracket to the left side of the heater as the one it came with is not even close. It should be pretty easy to fabricate one to help stabilize the heater. The more observant people have probably noticed it is not plumb at all as pictured. This is more of an exercise in viability at this point, and i believe it is now. I wonder if that electrical connection with 7 blank spots contain wires that might be useful to me, maybe even the ones intended for the heater? I have found very little useful information on the internet concerning heater fitment on the Jetta. I did find one VW installation manual for a Passat and it showed running harnesses separate for the heater. Still hopeful to find something use able in that connector like power and ground, at least.
That was enough fooling around for one day, my assistant and I have other chores to do today too. I felt it was a success so far though. I am now confidant I can at least mount the thing. I will post more as I progress through the project after the test firing.
My assistant:
I got a good deal on some Wabasto diesel fired auxiliary heaters that do not specifically fit my car, but after some research I have found that the heater is pretty much the same unit just the mounting is different from car to car, and in some cases the controller.
From what info I have been able to gather, these devices once activated start heating and pumping coolant. Once 40C is achieved a connection is turned on that can be utilized to turn on a fan circuit for instance. Once 70C is achieved it reduces power to 50% or so and if it drops below 60C it ramps back up. Sounds perfect for my downhill commute where the engine doesn't add a single BTU to the coolant.
I intend to hook it up on a remote timer circuit so I can pre-warm my car if I choose from a distance and preferably inside where it is warm.
I have not had one up and test fired yet as these models are the Canbus and likely w-bus fired ones and can not be just fired from a 12v source. They require a w-bus signal (I hope) or if I am unlucky a canbus signal. I have found an analog to w-bus converter and have it on order. I found a site in Hungary that makes them and also if needed a replacement controller for the heater that can make it purely analog, though that controller is much more costly and requires pulling the heater apart to install.
Now that I am reasonably certain that I can fire one somehow, the next step is to try to install the heater in the car. I removed the bumper skin and proceeded to plan where and how it would fit.
The best placement, possibly the only placement is in the left front inner fender area below the air filter. I tried to fit it as is and there was just no combo that worked, so I pulled off the mounting brackets and proceeded to see if either one would work. I finally found a possible fit.
After much fooling around and test fitting the heater to the mount( They did build in pretty good adaptability for reversing directions and sides ) I was able to strike a combination that worked. I had to relocate the water pump and hoses some as well as the muffler, but it finally looks doable.
I intend to add a home built bracket to the left side of the heater as the one it came with is not even close. It should be pretty easy to fabricate one to help stabilize the heater. The more observant people have probably noticed it is not plumb at all as pictured. This is more of an exercise in viability at this point, and i believe it is now. I wonder if that electrical connection with 7 blank spots contain wires that might be useful to me, maybe even the ones intended for the heater? I have found very little useful information on the internet concerning heater fitment on the Jetta. I did find one VW installation manual for a Passat and it showed running harnesses separate for the heater. Still hopeful to find something use able in that connector like power and ground, at least.
That was enough fooling around for one day, my assistant and I have other chores to do today too. I felt it was a success so far though. I am now confidant I can at least mount the thing. I will post more as I progress through the project after the test firing.
My assistant:
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