Diesel heater E-3 fault code repair

[@MeganBarbourNYC]

You saved the day! I followed your video step by step and now I’m nice and toasty.

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi Megan, that’s good to know 😄 and we’ll done, all the best, Ian. 👍

[@TomFoley247]

Many thanks for the helpful instructions and demonstration. I followed them and was back up and running in jig time.

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi Tom, that’s great news, glad you found the video useful. All the best 👍

[@jimnjele.bean-dayone3505]

Woke up to E3 error today 3/9/24. Heater has been fine since installed 12/9/22. Thankfully I bought spares when I installed so gonna give it a try..Thank you for sharing!!

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

You’re welcome Jim, hope it sorts it out for you 👍

[@wideboatbluebell3021]

Excellent work and video, well done

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Thank you 😊

[@MrSilver708]

Thanks so much for this! Just turned on my heater as its getting frosty here in Canada and guess what? E3 ugh 😑...this video helps alot

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi, I’m pleased you got it fixed and that the video helped you out 😊 all the best.

[@philmurphy5584]

Thanks for the helpful video. Hope I can fix it. I presume the E-03 is the same fault in my heater.

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi Phil, if the glow plug replacement dosent work then I would be looking at replacing the ECU, good luck and thanks. 😊

[@Evilslayer73]

Hi i have the same problem i have changed the glow plug but im still having the same error code 03 do the motherboard is faulty or i just being scammed ?

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi, if I were you I would change the motherboard out next, be careful to get one with the correct type of plug on the electrical connection as some are triangular and others square. All the best 👍

[@Evilslayer73]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 these units are pure scrap firts time we used it and it was running like 10 minutes then shut off i changed the glow plug and still the same problem and im pretty sure amazon will not taking them back this is pure scamming :)

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Sorry to hear that you’re having problems ☹️ I got mine from eBay in 2021 and apart from the glow plug issue it works great. It’s just a generic unbranded heater, a lot of people are using the maxspeedingrods ones now and I think this brand is trying to build a reputation and therefore provide a reliable unit but I don’t have any experience of them. Hope you get things sorted anyway 👍

[@susancrocker5851]

Thanks so much! Gonna order a spare today!

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

You’re very welcome 😊

[@ilukilu82]

Thank you, helped a lot

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

You’re welcome 😉

[@JaywalkingTheWorld]

Thanks. Very useful. I was about to buy a new heater.

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi Jay, hope this quick fix sorts it for you. Cheers

[@JaywalkingTheWorld]

Parts ordered. There's no rush because I'm in Malta and it's not going to get cold again for the next eight months. :)

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

@JaywalkingTheWorld Sounds perfect, I’m in north Spain and it’s only 15 degrees and raining 😩

[@kermitthefrog6363]

Thank you very much for that

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

You’re welcome 😊

[@MCscarfacematt]

well this should be fun to do with one hand before a canadian winter when its already in the single didgets but ill be sure to add that to my list of parts to have on hand

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi Matt, its a while now since I did this job but having thought about doing it with one hand I think that it should be possible, although I’ve obviously never tried, the hardest part would probably be the wiring connector but I’m sure you would be ok. All the best. Ian.

[@ryanbird5043]

Thx for posting! Very helpful

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

You’re welcome, please could you subscribe, thank you 👍

[@MySteve59]

Thanks for the tip 💪💪

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@luizthibaut2505]

Good afternoon. I bought two spark plugs and did the exchange procedure with both. When turning on the heater, the candle does not glow. What should I do? Thank you for your help.

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi there, I’m no expert on diesel heaters but if that happened to me I would be tempted to change the ECU which is the printed circuit board that the glow plug lead is attached to. This is basically the brain of the system, if that didn’t work then I don’t know but would be thinking of replacing the heater altogether. Good luck.

[@luizthibaut2505]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 Thanks a lot for the help. I'm going to replace the heater control board. Have an excellent new year. Cordially, Luiz

[@cornelius2993]

You bought spark plugs?

[@skilland]

Take out the spark plugs and fit a glow plug

[@Muddynoddy]

Hi. I have E-03 code coming up. I checked it in the manual, heater plug. Do toke it out, put 12v on it glowing red! I said ok maybe a loose connection. Put it back and the same fault comes up! Very annoying… I find new plug on eBay but can’t see replacement boards … Question: in the 14 months you have this heater how many days was it going nonstop?? Mine is about 3 months old and at least was going for 30-40 full days nonstop… until yesterday…

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi Norbert, I tried to find a replacement board with the triangular plug to keep as a replacement if I needed to change it out one day but could only find the ones with the square plug !!! I probably used my heater every day in the 14 months but I have never used it non stop, I only ever use for maybe 1 or 2 hours maximum, I don’t know the answer to the problems you are having but for the low price that these heaters are it’s probably worth just fitting a new one if you can’t repair it. All the best.

[@Muddynoddy]

Thank you so much. Yes I was thinking just get an other one… to be honest this was going sometimes nonstop for a week even… I take it apart again and see if I spot anything else like a loose plug or pin… Thank for your time again… Regards Norbert

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

@user-ju5os6qw7c Good luck Norbert, if you use them for long periods it might even be worth carrying a spare heater round with you just in case. Regards. Ian.

[@MK-CELER-ET-AUDAX]

Hi Ian, Very VERY useful. Mine has just gone code 3. Are the kits universal? Or do you need one for the make and model? Only had it in 2 weeks and not used it that much... Going to be a cold night tonight 🥶SODS LAW I guess. Or shall I just kick it a little bit🫣 Many thanks, Mkkm CELER ET AUDAX

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi, sorry to hear about your problems 😟 Strange that it’s gone after 2 weeks, if it’s a Chinese diesel heater then I think they’re universal so I should try a glow plug first and if the problem persists it could be the main circuit board that needs replacing. But good luck and I hope you get it sorted soon, p.s I don’t think a good kicking would help much 🤣 All the best

[@MK-CELER-ET-AUDAX]

@onevanandhisdog3641 Thank you Ian.

[@MK-CELER-ET-AUDAX]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 Sorry yet another question. Is there a detailed picture of the control panel that shows what each icon is for. The reason I ask is in the bottom left of my control panel is a picture of a petrol pump. When I first had this I put some fuel in to see if it worked. Two yellow bars and two red were showing. So thinking that's the fule level indicator. Now when I had this fitted they ran a new nylon fule line from the main van tank. Sure enough the aforementioned lines started to go down until the picture of the fule pump started to flash... Now I have this error code 3. As you said in your reply funny the glow plug has gone in two weeks. Could this flashing fule pump picture have anything to do with it. Sorry to take up your time. But you are a GOD. 😁😁😁😁😇

[@MK-CELER-ET-AUDAX]

Oh.. Yes it's a Chinese heater, SUNSTER smart heater. Pretty much all the same design from what I can tell from KZbin. Many thanks Ian.

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi, it sounds like your control panel is different to mine as I don’t have the red and yellow bars in mine but I wouldn’t have thought they’d have anything to do with fuel level but more internal temperature of the unit?. Why not speak to the people that installed it ? or do an online search of forums relating to this particular brand. I’m sorry I can’t help more but I’m not an expert in diesel heaters and have no knowledge or experience of repairing anything other than the glow plug that failed in my heater. I really hope you can find a solution but replacing the glow plug would rule that scenario out if it still failed to work.

[@richiek2155]

Hi could you put link up as my heater has just give up

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi Richie, the eBay link is in the description below the video, if the item is out of stock then just look for something similar, cheers, Ian.

[@richiek2155]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 hi thanks they have sold out but plenty more for sale a bit dearer but hey ho thanks again was going to get a garage to do it but after watch in your video think I will have a go

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

You’ll be fine Richie, it’s quite straight forward and once you know how to do it you’ll be saving cash next time it needs doing 😊 cheers

[@mgtz4599]

Thanks for the info, i have the same problem, could you share the link to get the glow plug from eBay?

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi there, the listing I used is no longer there but this one is the same item 404026644509. All the best. Cheers

[@italiaimballaggis.r.limbal3202]

Thanks for the video. You haven't changed the gaskets, are they spare parts ..?

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Hi, yes I think they are spare parts and to be honest I don’t actually know what they are for ? Maybe something internal but I’ve never took it apart. Many thanks.

[@italiaimballaggis.r.limbal3202]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 ok, yes, it makes your job easier not to remove the gaskets. There are all kinds of parts. If you need atomizers, they are easily found.-)

[@Timetraveller1010]

Upon connection my screen is dark until i turn the heater on How do i get into setup mode when its running

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

I’ve not heard that one before 😳 this video was made a couple of years ago and I’ve not had to do anything with my controller since, so I honestly don’t know, a quick google search should give you the answer. Cheers.

[@Timetraveller1010]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 So your controller is always on even when the heater is off?

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Yes, it shows a picture of a diesel heater and above that there is the letter P then the voltage of the leisure batteries. ie 13.2V

[@Timetraveller1010]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 ok my screen is totally black Cant figure why Ahh well will have to put with it I guess

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Sorry I can’t help with that one.

[@Genghis-Khan121]

Just took mine to bits from brand new glue plug is fine

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

Should be good to go then 👍

[@Genghis-Khan121]

@@onevanandhisdog3641 unfortunately it was brand new as I said took it to bits yet again the round thing attached too the cable had come out can’t explain what it looks like but it was disconnected broken so then got my old heater took that to bits for spare parts swapped it around brill for five minuets then for some reason it won’t prime and I’m on my second pump I tried swapping the unit control box even and still won’t prime on screen is just shows a small clock no idea why then I unplugged tried priming many times no luck you can’t tell me a brand new pump doesn’t work when it did fine before and the old one did as well now both are not ticking nothing happens came up once disconnected which it wasn’t now nothing shows only this stupid little clock the pump symbol doesn’t come on I will never ever buy one of these things again this is the second one purchased just before Xmas other just two or 3 months prior it all started with air it something in the pipes now total disaster!!

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

@Genghis-Khan121 you’re having some real bad luck with these diesel heaters and I can’t blame you for losing faith in the Chinese ones. There is the option of getting something of better quality at a higher price point if you’re in a position to be able to do that? But I ain’t no expert on them and cannot offer any kind of explanation as to why you’re having these problems, all I can do is hope that you can find a solution somehow. Regards. Ian.

[@mainstreampaintingmainstre865]

Well i have had this for about three hours ...2nd night of no rest in Montana no heat its 120 am and im in my truck trying to stay warm. I have had the heater working flawlessly for about 4 hours and now it's saying error 3 🤷

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

That’s not good 😩 I feel for you. I should try changing the glow plug first and then if that dosent work it’ll probably be the motherboard ( main circuit board ) I should buy two glow plugs just in case it happens again. Best of luck.

[@mainstreampaintingmainstre865]

Thanks man, yeah I'm bumming, Mr Buddy is no go, electric heater no go, now this, just moved out of my camper got 12×24 shed I'm converting but can't seem to get warm going on month 2

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

That sucks, I don’t suppose the shed is in Florida by any chance ? would make life a bit easier, but seriously, hope you get something sorted.

[@mikefranks4528]

i’m in the same boat and it’s below freezing. Upon very new installation of Maxpeedingsrod diesel heater, I get this error 3 right out of the box. Will try to change the glow plug and see what happens.

[@neilsbs8273]

I had an E03, changed glo plug and still didnt work, the answer from the engineers was "E03 immediately mainboard, E03 after 10 to 15 secs Glo Plug, E03 after 50 seconds a power fault. now waiting for a mainboard

[@onevanandhisdog3641]

That’s interesting, thanks for the info. I’m going to get a spare pcb just in case. Cheers.

[@dawsonharding6535]

Did replacing the mainboard fix your E-3 error code ?