FBH - Despair, then hope, then Victory.

[FROGGY]

Lovely day today, 25°C, so decided to see if my FBH works.


It's a 98570B (had to remove the FBH from its bracket to find the number, sticker was on too low). So stuck an earth onto pin 3 and....nothing, no sounds of any description. Bummer.


Next step, check for power at the 2-way plug on the FBH.........nothing. Bummer.


All diagrams show fuse 8 in the underbonnet fuse box as the correct one, so checked - fuse already in, tests OK. Bummer.


Did a continuity test between output side of fuse 8 and Orange/Red in FBH plug and......nothing. Even bigger bummer.


This is getting serious, it's one of the shortest wires on the car, and not particularly easy to get at. So, fusebox out (just like that, yeah), multiplug off the back, no continuity.





Stuck my probe through the insulation half way along, continuity. So I now Know where the problem is, don't I? Well yes, eventually. Had to remove miles of PVC tape to split the loom open, and found this....





Long story short, repaired it (worried as to why it was like this).
Put everything back together and I have power at the FBH plug. Stuck it back in, stuck an earth onto Pin 3, and ............we have lift-off (that's what it sounded like to me). Left it running for half an hour, nothing caught fire as far as I could see, water got hot, FBH I think turned on and off a couple of times, so all in all a good end to the day.

Couple of questions:
1) The FBH exhaust has no heat-proofing round it. Should it have? It's very near the turbo feed pipe.
2) What options do I have for controlling it? It's not very likely to fire up on its own over here, but it would be nice to either fire it up 10 minutes before using the car, or when setting off. A switch is obviously one answer, anything else (cheap).

Mick

[billnick]

Hi Mick, couple of options here for you, http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=25778

bill.

[FROGGY]

Thanks Bill

Saw that but way too pricey for what I need.

I think a switch with timer is probably best, if I can find something suitable.

Mick

[Jules]

Good fault finding there.

BTW That's a very shiny ZT Foggy!!!
Has it per chance had a block of clay near it?

[Keith]

If you check on ebay a lot of the long Boat supply companies do exhaust lagging not really necessary though, the intercooler pipes only need to be about half an inch away so no need to go mad

Before fitting a telestart I fitted a waterproof switch (with a rubber boot on it) to the trap door in the wheel arch liner to switch it on and off

That is about as simple as you can get

[FROGGY]

Originally Posted by Jules

Good fault finding there.

BTW That's a very shiny ZT Foggy!!!
Has it per chance had a block of clay near it?

Not yet !!!
Soon though.
Have used Zaino products for a long time, does a good job.

Mick

[FROGGY]

Originally Posted by Keith

If you check on ebay a lot of the long Boat supply companies do exhaust lagging not really necessary though, the intercooler pipes only need to be about half an inch away so no need to go mad

Before fitting a telestart I fitted a waterproof switch (with a rubber boot on it) to the trap door in the wheel arch liner to switch it on and off

That is about as simple as you can get

Thanks Keith, will look.
Am thinking about fitting a switch with an LED next to the Cruise switch if I can find one, then fire it up when I have started the car. I discovered the hard way yesterday that the FBH knocks hell out of your battery!

Mick

[black olive]

Froggy, the FBH shouldnt drain your battery. they consume less than 42 watts at full chat, once the coolant is warm they back right off and consume less power.

I used the simplest solution of all, a small toggle switch that I mounted in the criss cross plastic bit of the plenum cover behind the bonnet at the nearside. Ths switch earthed one of the pins ( pin 3 I think)didnt need to drill any holes, and on a cool mornign just popped outside and switched the heater on when I came downstairs in the morning, and switched it off again before setting off for work. the davantage of this is you dont have to start getting in and out of the car.

[Jules]

Agree with Steve, FBH hardly touches the battery drainwise. (maybe your Batt is on the way out ??). The sound system uses more juice, than the FBH.
Or maybe if the internal blower was on quite high, that would drain it quite quick.
I can vouch for Steve's switch mod..........worked very well, and quite inconspicuous too