Cabin Electric Heater

25279 Views 82 Replies 28 Participants Last post by transitmrgcav, Apr 10, 2022

orton

Discussion Starter · Mar 14, 2015

On page 89 of the owners manual under "C" there is this statement "Turn the temperature control to maximum heat to turn on the auxiliary heater". On page 195 fuse link "H" describes a 80 amp fuse for "Positive temperature coefficient heater"
Does Transit have an electric air heating element for the dash air vents? My 08 Sprinter had a 1000 watt air heater that would start automatically when warm air was selected and would shut off automatically when interior warmed up. I could see when it stopped by the change in volts shown on my Scan Gage. Voltage would jump up 1/2 volt when it turned off.
If I knew how it functioned, I could avoid turning on the "vehicle" powered 1000 watt inverter when Ford heater was operating. Hopefully Ford electric heater is not automatic and only comes on if heat selector switch is at max. setting.

61 - 80 of 83 Posts

Airedrifter

· #61 · Dec 11, 2016

Positive temperature coefficient heater

Part#18D283.

My van doesn't have one. My fuse H (80 amp) of the pre-fuse box is empty.

Airedrifter

· #62 · Dec 11, 2016 (Edited)

"Auxiliary Heater

An electric auxiliary heater is available as optional equipment on diesel vehicles. The auxiliary heater assembly contains the Auxiliary Heater Control Module (AHCM) and element, and is located in the airflow immediately downstream of the heater core."

Airedrifter

· #63 · Dec 11, 2016

Further research in the Ford Part electronic catalog shows that in regards to the Transit the part#18D283 shows up also as an assembly for the rear HVAC. So....

My apologies if I was disparaging, but I knew I didn't have one.

Reactions: 1

RandomJoe

· #64 · Dec 12, 2016

Yeah, I tried again this morning to see if my van has the electric heater but nothing happened. I guess it doesn't really matter since I get warm air from the vents in just half a minute or so anyway - ScanGauge shows I get to around 120F coolant temp that quickly and after that point I feel heat.

A nice change from my NV200 work vehicle where the coolant temp barely reaches 160F even after driving across town!

(Never had a vehicle run so cool - but it's done it since we got it.)

Michael Ophus

· #65 · Dec 12, 2016

i have been unable so far to get mine to work, but evidently it is there on my 2016: (number 10) http://parts.autonationfordwhitebea...ront-evaporator-scat/?part_number=bk2z18k463b

GapRunr

· #66 · Dec 12, 2016

Item number 10 on this schematic looks to be an electric auxiliary heater mounted up front with the heater core.

http://www.oemfordpart.com/auto-par...gas-engine/hvac-cat/blower-motor-and-fan-scat

Edit: Great minds think alike... I see Michael posted this while I was typing my post!

Reactions: 1

orton

Discussion Starter · #67 · Dec 12, 2016

If anyone has a Scan Gage in their Transit you can easily determine when the electric heater is functioning. That was how I found the heater in my 08 Sprinter. The electric heater in Sprinter, when running dropped the voltage down to 13.5 volts from a normal 13.9-14.1 volts. I could then watch the engine water temperature increase until it got to 145 degrees when the heater turned off and voltage went back to normal.

I do not have a Scan Gage in the Transit because the transmission is properly programmed. The automatic in the Sprinter required the Scan Gage because you had to manually downshift because the transmission would not. When "load" got to max. at 99% you downshifted manually.

foxharp

· #68 · Dec 12, 2016

I just tested my 2016. For some reason I couldn't get Torque to show either ambient or coolant temperature during my test -- odd.

In any case, I watched current draw on my battery monitor while the engine warmed up, and while I played with the heater control. As the engine ran, the current into the battery tapered off (as it always does after an engine start), and nothing I did with the heater control had any effect.

Then I did what I knew I'd eventually do in any case: I found the pre-fuse box and checked fuse H. Took me a couple of minutes, because my pre-fuse box doesn't look quite like the picture in the manual, and I was peering in through the small opening I could crack open without trying to remove the cover completely. But I finally figured out that the 80A fusible link in position H is present, but there's nothing wired up to it. So I definitely have no heater, and the lack of the cabling makes me think it won't be possible to simply buy the parts and install.

(My 2016 was built in January, BTW.)

paul

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Reactions: 2

ranxerox

· #69 · Nov 2, 2017

no dash vent heater on mine, it took 15 minutes to burn off the first frost of the season on my windshield the other day.

Reactions: 1

foxharp

· #70 · Nov 2, 2017

be sure to keep the hood intake vent clear. mine gets covered with pine needles and maple tree whirligigs.

Budsky

· #71 · Nov 2, 2017

Even if one could add the heating element, wiring, and fuse- I bet the PCM would have to be reprogrammed since it monitors air, coolant temp, and battery voltage to control the heater. Finding a dealer to do that, if they even can, would be an issue I'm sure.

Reactions: 1

orton

Discussion Starter · #72 · Nov 7, 2017

This morning the temperature is 44 degrees. A post stated that the temperature needs to be below 50 degrees before heater will turn on. I have a digital voltmeter so I can see if the voltage drops when the heater is running. On my sold Sprinter the voltage dropped from the normal 14 volts to 13.5 volts when the electric air heater was running. Would expect to see a voltage drop if I had a heater. Started engine with voltage reading 14.6 volts. Turned the temperature dial fully clockwise several times as instructed by the owners manual to turn on the heater. No change in voltage so I do not think I have the air heater. Owner's manual must be incorrect.

ranxerox

· #73 · Feb 5, 2021

orton said:
On page 89 of the owners manual under "C" there is this statement "Turn the temperature control to maximum heat to turn on the auxiliary heater". On page 195 fuse link "H" describes a 80 amp fuse for "Positive temperature coefficient heater"
Does Transit have an electric air heating element for the dash air vents? My 08 Sprinter had a 1000 watt air heater that would start automatically when warm air was selected and would shut off automatically when interior warmed up. I could see when it stopped by the change in volts shown on my Scan Gage. Voltage would jump up 1/2 volt when it turned off.
If I knew how it functioned, I could avoid turning on the "vehicle" powered 1000 watt inverter when Ford heater was operating. Hopefully Ford electric heater is not automatic and only comes on if heat selector switch is at max. setting.

After five Winters I am convinced the Transit does indeed have a Electric Cabin Heater built in.
First I have a Bulkhead so I am not trying to heat the whole van.
I start the van in the morning and let it run for 15 minutes to defrost the windshield, When I come back out there the windshield is defrosted but the cab is still cold.
I can let it run for 30 minutes and the cab will still be cold, Running for 15 minutes or 30 minutes the temperature gauge shows the engine is about 3/4 that way to operating temperature. Almost the second I start driving I have high cab heat, The engine is fully warmed up after about 3 more minutes of driving.
Plenty of antifreeze in the tank and the ambient temperature averages 28 degree's F every winter in the morning.

Hot water circulates in the transit heater core year round, There are no heater valves. The transit regulates cab heat, And cab air conditioning, Through the use of stepper motor controlled air Blending Doors that mix hot and cold air to regulate cab air temperature. The PCM controls the HVAC system.
The Ford parts catalog shows both a Heater Core and a Auxiliary Heater inside the front Hvac unit.

2015-2020 Ford Heater Core CK4Z-18476-A | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake

2015-2020 Ford part # CK4Z-18476-A - Heater Core

parts.autonationfordwhitebearlake.com

2015-2019 Ford Auxiliary Heater BK2Z-18K463-B | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake

2015-2019 Ford part # BK2Z-18K463-B - Auxiliary Heater

parts.autonationfordwhitebearlake.com

The cabin electric heater was long debated on this forum with everyone finally agreeing that the Transit does not have one, Right now I am pretty sure it does.

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orton

Discussion Starter · #74 · Feb 5, 2021

ranxerox said:
The cabin electric heater was long debated on this forum with everyone finally agreeing that the Transit does not have one, Right now I am pretty sure it does.

In the sold 08 Sprinter I could tell when the electric air heater operated. The voltage would be 13.6 volts with the heater on and 14.1 volts with the heater off. I had a Scan Gage set to show both voltage and water temperature. A I recall the heater heater turned off when the water temperature reached 150 degrees. Voltage would change from 13.6 to 14.1 volts. The Sprinter air heater operated automatically if dash controls were set asking for heat and water temperature was cold.

A voltmeter should confirm if you have or do not have an electric air heater in the Transit.

kazuo

· #75 · Feb 5, 2021

orton said:
In the sold 08 Sprinter I could tell when the electric air heater operated. The voltage would be 13.6 volts with the heater on and 14.1 volts with the heater off. I had a Scan Gage set to show both voltage and water temperature. A I recall the heater heater turned off when the water temperature reached 150 degrees. Voltage would change from 13.6 to 14.1 volts. The Sprinter air heater operated automatically if dash controls were set asking for heat and water temperature was cold.

A voltmeter should confirm if you have or do not have an electric air heater in the Transit.

If you have FORScan, one of the data feeds is alternator Amp. output, It's a Hall effect doughnut on the cable coming off the back of the alternator, it's resolution is .01 amp. you can tell when you turn the map lamp on. An electric heater would draw 10 - 30 amps easy.

njvagabond

· #76 · Feb 5, 2021

I see in @orton's OP he refers to 80A Positive temperature coefficient heater fuse, The 2020 manual has a 150A fuse with the same description. This this part sure looks like an electric cabin heater to me.

ranxerox

· #77 · Feb 6, 2021

orton said:
In the sold 08 Sprinter I could tell when the electric air heater operated. The voltage would be 13.6 volts with the heater on and 14.1 volts with the heater off. I had a Scan Gage set to show both voltage and water temperature. A I recall the heater heater turned off when the water temperature reached 150 degrees. Voltage would change from 13.6 to 14.1 volts. The Sprinter air heater operated automatically if dash controls were set asking for heat and water temperature was cold.

A voltmeter should confirm if you have or do not have an electric air heater in the Transit.

I was just confirming what you already thought first, Confirming your idea. You were the first one to bring this subject up.

I may have used to many words to say this but I wanted everyone to know all of the facts from my end of things.

I have a base model Transit with few option so if I have this Auxilary Heater everyone has it, I would think.

square1

· #78 · Feb 6, 2021

This (having an electric aux heater) would certainly explain some things I've been experimenting with. My guess is they do exist!

At times the air coming from vents will go cold, like the AC has come on. I've found two ways to deal with it.
1. Restart the van which isn't always practical.
2. Repeatedly turn the heat control knob from max to min to max. Which is a distraction from driving.
Shouldn't have to mess with this Ford...

mikesee

· #79 · Mar 5, 2021

My 2020 definitely has this electric heater.

transitmrgcav

· #80 · Apr 10, 2022

Mikesee,
This is the first I have heard of this device. I also have a 2020. How do you know you have an electric Heater?
Is you van a cargo, XL or XLT ?
How do you get yours to work ?

If you do have an electric heater, you could put an LED or 12V Bulb in parallel with the heater to indicate when it is on.
I have a remote starter but it does not turn on the blower. So an electric heater would be great. If I have one.

61 - 80 of 83 Posts

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