auxiliary heater to parking heater

[scimmiettarossa]

Hi T6 users and magicians!

I searched a lot on the forum, but I'm not quite sure I found what I need, so I'm posting the 1000th request about this subject:
I have a T6.1 Kombi, fitted from the factory with an "auxiliary heater" (coded as 9M5 in the build sheet), that works only with the engine on (well, with "at least" the dashboard on, to be precise). It is fitted on the rear ("D") pillar, left side, sucks air from the rear of the compartment and send the heated air in the area of the "C" pillar, left side; its control panel is above the windscreen (se pics attached).

Now, I've made a light camper conversion, and I would like to add a night heating feature to my van, so I'm wondering if it is possible to "hack" in some way the system (soft-based, via reflashing, or even hard-based, via rewiring), so that I can use the installed heater even with the engine off.. .no particular needs for remote controls etc.. just setting the temperature and the fan speed, and as an extra, a sort of timer.
Has anyone attempted something like that with a similar hardware? or is it a silly idea?

Of course the alternative is to install an extra heater (webasto or whatever), but before drilling the foor I'm looking fora a "cleaner" solution

thanks in advance
Rosanna

 

[StratosFearXX]

No, that works off hot water (coolant) from the engine.

 

[scimmiettarossa]

No, that works off hot water (coolant) from the engine.

mmh.. even if in the description on the contract is referred to as "riscaldamento supplementare alimentato a carburante" ("additional fuel-fed heater")?

 

[StratosFearXX]

mmh.. even if in the description on the contract is referred to as "riscaldamento supplementare alimentato a carburante" ("additional fuel-fed heater")

Well mine was, had it taken out ... definitely fed from the engine. Maybe you have the Webasto (?) one under the bonnet as well?

 

[scimmiettarossa]

Well mine was, had it taken out ... definitely fed from the engine. Maybe you have the Webasto (?) one under the bonnet as well?

I do not think there's one under the bonnet... If I understand correctly from the label on the door and from other posts, it is a webasto that uses additional fuel, to heat up, as you said, the "general" van coolant fluid.


so probably, even if I were able to have it working with engine off, it would be quite an energy waste, because it would heat up all the coolant, going to the radiator and back etc...

Probably it is not worth the effort, but, nevertheless, from a DIY perspective, it would be interesting to understand how to make it work

 

[StratosFearXX]

Ah, I don't have that so maybe there is a way, I don't know.