Volvo A25c engine heater

[Pond digger]

What kind of heater thingy is this, and why wouldn’t it have been connected?

I was struggling to get her started and was doing a bit of investigating. The solenoid was energising but nothing seemed to be happening, so I took the lid off the little junction box to find there was no connection between the feed from the battery and the solenoid feed: looks like it’s always been that way. Anyway I fastened the two ends together, got some extra battery power hooked up and got her going. Perhaps it was more the extra power Rather than the the heater thingy that made the difference, but I’m most curious??

 

[Nickirl]

It's a heater for the air in take theres an element in side there.
I've disconnected a few on trucks they give a lot of bother and can cause shorting of the battery.

 

[JD450A]

It's a heater for the air in take theres an element in side there.
I've disconnected a few on trucks they give a lot of bother and can cause shorting of the battery.

As said.

Heater elements on the older volvo engines can also break up and fail with the parts finding there way into the engine Can't remember ifthe C's had that issue I think it was before that.

 

[Pond digger]

So should the engine not need heat in our climate? I’ve never driven anything that didn’t.

 

[Shovelhands]

So should the engine not need heat in our climate? I’ve never driven anything that didn’t.

Mine was not working when I got it, and it certainly don’t like starting this time of year without it!

 

[V8Druid]

my favored inlet heater ... perky use 'em a lot .... small flame thrower when working right and'll really fire 'em up on the coldest of mornings ... can be fed from a return line .. 1/2" BSP is the most common, but there is a bigger one too ..... worth drilling a port out to suit it Chris and not dear ... keep a spare handy ... always got a couple sat

 

[Pond digger]

my favored inlet heater ... perky use 'em a lot .... small flame thrower when working right and'll really fire 'em up on the coldest of mornings ... can be fed from a return line .. 1/2" BSP is the most common, but there is a bigger one too ..... worth drilling a port out to suit it Chris and not dear ... keep a spare handy ... always got a couple sat

View attachment 10470

Aye, that’s more the thing I’m used to seeing.

 

[Shovelhands]

@Pond digger , imo they are fine when they are working, and are a bit of a necessity in our winter climate. I really don’t know what the options are in the winter if you’ve not got the heating system working? Easy start? Do you even want to go down that route? Other than retro fitting something like Gra has suggested. Volvo have used similar element type heaters in their stuff for years, and I assume they know a thing or two about cold starting engines? So I stick with the OE setup personally.

I’ve not heard of them breaking up and being eaten by the engine, I suppose it’s a possibility?

Get the system operating as it should and keep an eye on it, make sure the light goes out ect. If you want piece of mind that the solenoid has disconnected then I suppose a warning light could easily be rigged up directly from the solenoid? And always use the isolator when the machine is parked up.

 

[V8Druid]

I'd fit a flame thrower personally .... worth the effort IMHDO ..... as a pro tem measure ... pull the inlet rubber off the manifold, of a morning and a small blowtorch up the inlet'll have it snorting PDQ .... diesels love a lungful of warm air first thing

 

[Pond digger]

@Pond digger , imo they are fine when they are working, and are a bit of a necessity in our winter climate. I really don’t know what the options are in the winter if you’ve not got the heating system working? Easy start? Do you even want to go down that route? Other than retro fitting something like Gra has suggested. Volvo have used similar element type heaters in their stuff for years, and I assume they know a thing or two about cold starting engines? So I stick with the OE setup personally.

I’ve not heard of them breaking up and being eaten by the engine, I suppose it’s a possibility?

Get the system operating as it should and keep an eye on it, make sure the light goes out ect. If you want piece of mind that the solenoid has disconnected then I suppose a warning light could easily be rigged up directly from the solenoid? And always use the isolator when the machine is parked up.

Pretty much what I would have thought, I’m just baffled as to why it wasn’t already connected up. As said, there’s no sign that it ever has been.

 

[CPS]

From memory the elements weren't the problem but the solenoid that activates it used to stick on. Some guys just disconnected them as a temporary measure and never reconnected them.
Go through it and re connect it properly and it will be fine.

 

[V8Druid]

that connection box looks to me to be a big fusible link type set up Chris .... and someone's by passed it, presumably when they didn't have any links to replace knackered ones ??
have you tested the heater plug? bet they ain't a cheap item from Ovlov .... Lucas flame thrower's about 12 quid IIRC .... plus a bit of pipe ... can use your exisiting supply I'd have thought

 

[Pond digger]

From memory the elements weren't the problem but the solenoid that activates it used to stick on. Some guys just disconnected them as a temporary measure and never reconnected them.
Go through it and re connect it properly and it will be fine.

Ah, that sounds feasible Aiden, thanks.

 

[Pond digger]

that connection box looks to me to be a big fusible link type set up Chris .... and someone's by passed it, presumably when they didn't have any links to replace knackered ones ??
have you tested the heater plug? bet they ain't a cheap item from Ovlov .... Lucas flame thrower's about 12 quid IIRC .... plus a bit of pipe ... can use your exisiting supply I'd have thought

Yes, it would make sense to have a fuse there. I think I’ll buy a book, and educate myself a bit before going further.

 

[CPS]

Yes, it would make sense to have a fuse there. I think I’ll buy a book, and educate myself a bit before going further.

Il check if I have one on pdf... but check ebay sometimes you can find them on there