Help! Caravelle heater timer (Insider ?)

My T5 Caravelle is fitted with a Webasto AirTop 3500 ST night-heater.  The problem is that the timer only allows the heater to run for 120 minutes, unless the ignition is 'ON', in which case it'll run indefinitely.  The van is fitted with a second 80 Ah battery, so I see no reason why they have restricted the run-time to 120 min.

I've contacted Webasto in Germany, but they say that they cannot help, as the timer is not theirs, but a VW item. Previously, Webasto and Eberspacher used Hella timers, and VW fitted them when these heater were supplied as OE equipment in the T4.

I've contacted VW, and they I have told me to take my vehicle to one of their agents, but they have not said if it is possible to alter the wiring to allow the heater to run indefinitely (it must be, but they are not giving me much info).  I am reluctant to take the van to the dealer, as it will cost me the best part of a day.

I'm a little frightened to play around with the wiring as I have no undrstanding of the CAM BUS system.

Can anyone let me know what I have to do in order to get the heater to run indefinitely?  Thank you.

Insider wrote: The official answer is as per customer care's response. The aux heater is operated via CAN and without specialised equipment to 'read' and interpret the data on the network there is no way of overiding the standard settings. The Van Centres do not have such equipment to make these changes so there is not much point contacting them.

Thanks for your reply Insider, but what can I do?  If they were normal eclectrics, I would look for the live at the timer that goes off with the ignition, and then just run a live that that terminal.  Can I do this with a CAN system?

I'm in Latvia.  Here we do not have separate Van and Car centres - they are all both.  Do you expect them to be able to do what I want?

Thanks. 

The timer allows you to pre set up to 5 settings, so I suppose you could set the heater to come on and off during the night with say a 10 minute gap in between. Not ideal I know, but perhaps an idea nonetheless.

Happy the setting for the heater timer is quite easily accessible within CAN a screen shot below

Box 18

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Mr Hedgehog wrote: Happy the setting for the heater timer is quite easily accessible within CAN a screen shot below Box 18 ">

Mr Hh,

If this tool works on your van, would you mind having a look at the items covered by 09 Cent. Elect., 35 Centr. Locks, and 46 Central Conv to see if remote windows are covered anywhere in those items ?  (I'm looking for hints for my current project - remote operated windows on a T5)

Is this the Vag Com software I read about on US VW forums, or some other tool ?

Taa, Greg

Insider wrote: Address word 18 Aux Heater is for the auxilliary coolant heater not the parking (air) heater. Remote (convenience) window opening is not posssible on T5 with the standard equipment.

Oh I got the info from a guy who does mileage correction services , He was quite confident that he could adjust values for most items and he did say that if it was there he could change them, these people are all over the place

Had a look at mine but I bottled with going to deep into it

 

Edited by Mr Hedgehog

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I think this tool is just for putting out oil light, air bags lights and reading fault codes, I would try and find a specialist in your area and see what they can do

The mileage correction guy reckons that remapping companies should be able to access the settings too  

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OK.  Here in Latvia it's a little more difficult.  There are not many independant companies doing this sort of thing (properly) yet.  I've had a chat with a few, but always I'm pointed to the VW dealer.  I got the impression that the VW agent would not/could not do this.  I'm going to see them.

Thanks to all who have commented.  

Edited by Happy Yellow

Top Job HY, your persistence certainly paid off

You got to be happy about not needing the keys in the ignition all night to run the heater

Now that’s what I call I result, I normally listen to the radio too but have a Sony radio one with remote so I can turn it off while in bed but in needs the key in but i normally watch a DVD with the player on timer to turn off

It’s the best way to drop off

oddly enought my UK T5 174 will allow the heater to run indefinatly 'out of the box'

Normally it comes on for 120 mins but by pressing buttons (and i cant remember what) it comes up with and infinity symbol and syats on.