Auxiliary Heater???

[streamquest]

Can anyone tell me what this is, where it is, and what it does???
There's a switch on the dash that says High/Low, but I can't seem to notice anything happening when it's activated.

The manual only tells me that….

"The heater switch is to operate the two-speed fan. The heat source is from the engine so the "core" of the heater is hot whenever the engine temperature has reached the normal operating range."

What am I missing here??

Thanks,

Charly

[SeeMore]

An operating two-speed fan! It could be a bad switch, poor/loose ground, or worn out brushes in the fan motor.

[bobmiller1]

The Aux. heater is located under the couch. It is a secondary heater core. The switch on the dash controls the fan speed, either high or low, or off. There is a separate temperature control also located under the couch, when you open the under couch drawer, you will see the temperature knob. Regards, Bob

[Keyair]

Charly... I did a refurbish on mine and wrote a thread.
Dumb phone app can't search.

Bob is correct, mine is under the rearward edge if couch. It's a simple box with a fan and a heater core, fed by 50' of heater hose from the engine. My dash switch doesnt do anything either... Not had time to diagnose it yet, and as the heater hose is disconnected, its not on my priority list! In fact I am seriously considering hard piping as much of it as I can so I remove the maintenance of the heater hose.

[Keyair]

Here you go...
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f311...ter-72696.html

[bkahler]

The main thing that turned me off on having one of these Aux heaters is the fact that you're piping engine coolant inside your coach. While trying to isolate the heater hoses on the Aux heater in the 310 I managed to spill some coolant on the carpet. The smell is not pleasant at all

It cleaned up ok but it just reinforced my feelings about getting rid of the Aux heater. Same for the heater hoses going to the water heater, I got rid of them and a short time later replaced the water heater and eliminated that feataure.

Brad

[streamquest]

Thanks to all for the replies…

I forgot to mention that this is a 370.

So heading rearward on the drivers side, I've got nothing but space under the couch. Aft of that, its all drawers and cabinets. From front to back, I've got a hopelessly buried propane heater under the drawer unit, an aluminum tank (disguised as a rat's nest, but thankfully without rats) that I believe is a heat exchanger to heat domestic water, and finally under another cabinet (lost behind a grill in the toe kick) is something else that appears to connect to some plumbing. It may be a heater core of some sort. There is a push/pull sliding cable with a knob labeled "Heat" heading into the abyss. I assume this is the auxiliary heater.

I can't imagine servicing any of this without removing the entire bank of cabinets. UGHH, what were they thinking when they built this thing?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by streamquest

Thanks to all for the replies…

I forgot to mention that this is a 370.

So heading rearward on the drivers side, I've got nothing but space under the couch. Aft of that, its all drawers and cabinets. From front to back, I've got a hopelessly buried propane heater under the drawer unit, an aluminum tank (disguised as a rat's nest, but thankfully without rats) that I believe is a heat exchanger to heat domestic water, and finally under another cabinet (lost behind a grill in the toe kick) is something else that appears to connect to some plumbing. It may be a heater core of some sort. There is a push/pull sliding cable with a knob labeled "Heat" heading into the abyss. I assume this is the auxiliary heater.

Is it all fed with rubber hoses?!

I can't imagine servicing any of this without removing the entire bank of cabinets. UGHH, what were they thinking when they built this thing?

Who said they were thinking....

[bobmiller1]

On my 1989 325 I replaced "all" of the heater hose 63' with the best "cop car" heater hose silicone I could get. Although replacing all of the hose was time consuming, the original hose had lasted since the Airstream was new. I like to keep everything original as it was made with the exception of improving non-cosmetic items. Remember...we don't own these Airstreams...we are just custodians of them until the next owner. I would like to see some pictures of your 370....I don't believe that your heater core "aux" will be that difficult once you start fishing around you see how everything is put together. Take pictures with your phone as you remove items so that when you return to re-assemble you have a good guide to work with. Regards, Bob

[streamquest]

Bob/Brad,

It is crazy to think that this involves almost enough rubber hose to wrap around the moho lengthwise. I need to scope out the route that it's taking to travel from front to back to front again. Wondering about installing a valve that would take advantage of that long run by diverting flow to an exterior radiator of some sort that could dump heat outside the bus during the summer months for supplemental cooling. Maybe like a couple lengths of fit-tube radiator pipe???

Charly

[r carl]

Originally Posted by bobmiller1

On my 1989 325 I replaced "all" of the heater hose 63' with the best "cop car" heater hose silicone I could get. Although replacing all of the hose was time consuming, the original hose had lasted since the Airstream was new. I like to keep everything original as it was made with the exception of improving non-cosmetic items. Remember...we don't own these Airstreams...we are just custodians of them until the next owner. I would like to see some pictures of your 370....I don't believe that your heater core "aux" will be that difficult once you start fishing around you see how everything is put together. Take pictures with your phone as you remove items so that when you return to re-assemble you have a good guide to work with. Regards, Bob

This is great heater hose that doesn't get hard and cheaper than silicon that requires special clamps.
http://www.goodyearrubberproducts.co...s/page0027.pdf

[shepherd57]

Bob
Where is the aux heater in you 32.5. I have the switch on the dash but no heater. The PO mlght have removed it

My coach has a 110 volt and engine heat water heater but no propane

[bobmiller1]

If you are talking about the hot water heater, it is located under the kitchen sink, the original hot water heater is only propane with a heater hose connection to heat the water while you are driving. The auxiliary heater for comfort is located under the couch, rearward. It has a separate control cable to regulate the temperature and the high and low speed fan switch is located on the dashboard. If someone has removed it...too bad, it's a nice feature... There might still be wiring for the fan under the couch, also check for the holes for the heater hoses coming through the floor from underneath just aft of the propane tank. Side note...the factory doorbell is also located under the couch in the middle on the wall. Regards, Bob

[bobmiller1]

[Keyair]

Where did you get the silicon hose Bob?

[bobmiller1]

Napa

[streamquest]

As I had previously discovered there is nothing under the couch on the 370 except for the doorbell, which doesn't work either, but save that for another time.
The sliding cable controls a valve that apparently cuts off water flow to the heating unit. That valve and cable arrangement seems to be frozen in position. The group of wires that I believe may be the power for the two speed fan have been poorly routed, and almost severed by the actuation arm that is attached to that valve. Need to check for power and possibly blown fuse. Got to wonder where that fuse might be. The 370 is half Gillig and half airstream so nothing is where it would be on the 345/ p30.

On top that, there is a kink in the water line due to it having been bent too sharply. It's a leak just waiting to happen. Basically there is just way too much going on in a cramped space. I think the next step is to try removing the bottom from the cabinet above, or at least cutting an access door into it. The thought of removing the countertop containing the sink and range in order to disassemble the bank of cabinets is too much to ponder.




Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[bkahler]

Charly, is your coach missing the auxiliary heater?

If so I "might" still have the one I pulled from the 345. If you're interested let me know and I'll look in the barn the next time I go up there.

Brad

[streamquest]

Brad,

Thanks for the generous offer.

I'm fairly sure I'm going to find it inside that black box on the left side of the photo. Those copper pipes have to be going somewhere. Right???
The problem is that the entire unit is sandwiched between the floor and the cabinet bottom. I'm encouraged by the fact that there's a metal grill in the cabinet's toe kick where someday heat will come out! ….. Someday.

Charly

[Keyair]

Charly, i know that your 370 is very different to what we have seen, but the heater valve is the same. Mine was frozen too, but its a cheap and easy part to replace. I think in my refurb thread I have a detailed pic of it.
I agree, that is you aux heater right there... hiding!