Does anyone know if it is physically easy to fit the electric heating element in to a Mk3 Octavia? According to Skoda, it can't be retrofitted, it can only be done at the factory. However, suppose your element broke, it has to be removable or replacable. So I figured if it's easy to get to, I could just take a 100amp feed direct to the battery via a switched relay and mount a switch somewhere. Not a "proper" retrofit, but better than nothing.

Anyone any ideas? Or even better still, anyone any ideas on how to do it properly?

 

thanks

 

Nick

Do a Webasto / Eberspächer. Either way, I suspect you're looking at the thick end of €1k. 

 

 - Bret

33 minutes ago, brettikivi said:

Do a Webasto / Eberspächer. Either way, I suspect you're looking at the thick end of €1k. 

 

 - Bret

I can get the element for £30. But I don't know where to put it (polite answers only please!). I assume it is behind the dash somewhere. I'll have to get a torch and poke around. They come in a plastic housing, like a pollen filter, so it must slot in somewhere obvious...

It'll slot into the HVAC system somewhere near the normal heater matrix.

 

You can see it labelled as part 40 here: https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/octavia/oct/2015-753/8/819-819010/

 

edit:

Be warned, it appears the housing (part 20) differs for 7E0 (no aux heat) and 7E6 (electric aux heat) so there might not be a space for it.

Edited 18 February, 20197 yr by langers2k

8 hours ago, NikTheGeek said:

I could just take a 100amp feed direct to the battery via a switched relay and mount a switch somewhere. Not a "proper" retrofit, but better than nothing.

 

If you do that it will cause all kinds of mayhem. Taking any load (let alone 100A) direct from the battery without going through the BCM will leave the car less than happy. Just go back through the threads of stereo installs that have done just that.

 

Only way to put things like that in cars like these is to fit it as it is meant to be and code it.

 

7 hours ago, brettikivi said:

Do a Webasto / Eberspächer. Either way, I suspect you're looking at the thick end of €1k.

 

Absolutely wonderful bits of kit, especially "thermocall"  the machines I have fitted with them get lots of use, even in the 'balmy south' 

 

It's either that, put a thermostatic patio heater in the boot on an extension lead, or get a petrol 

 

 

42 minutes ago, flybynite said:

 

If you do that it will cause all kinds of mayhem. Taking any load (let alone 100A) direct from the battery without going through the BCM will leave the car less than happy. Just go back through the threads of stereo installs that have done just that.

 

Only way to put things like that in cars like these is to fit it as it is meant to be and code it.

 

 

Absolutely wonderful bits of kit, especially "thermocall"  the machines I have fitted with them get lots of use, even in the 'balmy south' 

 

It's either that, put a thermostatic patio heater in the boot on an extension lead, or get a petrol 

 

 

Oh well, back to the drawing board then. I did look for a Webasto fitter after having had one from factory in my Rover 75 and I loved it. But aside from the expense, I can't actually find anyone in the NW that fits them (I will be moving to Devon soon, but still not aware on anyone there either). I might just have to go electric and go for a Calix or Defa engine pre-heater and cabin fan and plug my car in. That only really helps with defrosting it and starting warm. It doesn't keep me warm whilst driving, but I suppose it helps it get to temerature faster...

 

thanks

 

Nick

32 minutes ago, NikTheGeek said:

Oh well, back to the drawing board then. I did look for a Webasto fitter after having had one from factory in my Rover 75 and I loved it. But aside from the expense, I can't actually find anyone in the NW that fits them (I will be moving to Devon soon, but still not aware on anyone there either). I might just have to go electric and go for a Calix or Defa engine pre-heater and cabin fan and plug my car in. That only really helps with defrosting it and starting warm. It doesn't keep me warm whilst driving, but I suppose it helps it get to temerature faster...

 

thanks

 

Nick

If your moving to Devon, Espar in Plymouth are a major eberspacher dealer. I use them for air heaters at work. Really helpful people. Worth giving them a call. 

One question....why do you want a supplementary heater?

28 minutes ago, MrAdamwood said:

If your moving to Devon, Espar in Plymouth are a major eberspacher dealer. I use them for air heaters at work. Really helpful people. Worth giving them a call. 

One question....why do you want a supplementary heater? 

 

Because I'm dead nesh. I sit in a fleece all day at work. Only take it off if it gets to 30'. My feet are freezing driving in to work and I have a parka on all the way. I'm only happy (temperature-wise) when I'm in Greece. Or maybe the odd-day over here in summer. In fact I'm drinking neat Ouzo right now to take the edge off!

 

Stupid bloody efficient diesels....   :(

Edited 18 February, 20197 yr by NikTheGeek

DEFA and Termini work very well to get to temp, they can't necessarily keep it there, though. But your block should also get to temp faster. Might be enough and it's a €200 fix.

 

 - Bret

21 minutes ago, NikTheGeek said:

 

In fact I'm drinking neat Ouzo right now to take the edge off!

 

 

A man after my own heart, but I've run out of the Plomari.

How much do these Webasto kits cost? They look really good but the fact that their website gives no indication of cost makes me think they're too expensive.

10 hours ago, NikTheGeek said:

Because I'm dead nesh. I sit in a fleece all day at work. Only take it off if it gets to 30'. My feet are freezing driving in to work and I have a parka on all the way. I'm only happy (temperature-wise) when I'm in Greece. Or maybe the odd-day over here in summer. In fact I'm drinking neat Ouzo right now to take the edge off!

 

You need a proper powerful pre-heater.  

 

(photo taken first frosty morning of last year)

 

Had it going this morning. Car was toasty when I got in.

 

It's even better with electric (the red car). It pre-heats on a timer in the morning, then I can also start pre-heat remotely in the afternoon. Even if you forget to preheat, it blows out hot air the moment you start the car. Best part is that all EV will blow out hot air the moment you start the car as standard.

2 hours ago, ian_feel_keepin_it_reel said:

How much do these Webasto kits cost? They look really good but the fact that their website gives no indication of cost makes me think they're too expensive.

 

I've emailed that place in Plymouth with my car details. When they tell me, I'll let you know. It was the best thing I ever had on a car. But I think the c£200 electric one will do...

11 hours ago, brettikivi said:

DEFA and Termini work very well to get to temp, they can't necessarily keep it there, though. But your block should also get to temp faster. Might be enough and it's a €200 fix.

 

 - Bret

 

Have you fitted one Bret? I know I have to cut the coolant hose somewhere and then route cables in to the cabin - and also locate the heater. But it doesn't look anywhere near as bad as a diesel heater! It's a shame I can't get the Skoda one retrofitted...

I have one in the A2, we had one in the 307 and FI, and have one in the Swift. They're absolutely normal up here... 

 

There are at least two variants of the heater element. One bolts to the sump (which is less effective but faster to fit) and the other involves heating coolant, so you'd need to splice it into the system somehow. I fitted the interior socket on the A2 and it was fiddly but doable; the connectors are all standard and there's just a T behind the input in my case.  The engine part is generally pretty simple, but draining coolant and replacing it with g13 is more of a pain. 

 

The list of parts is here: http://old.defa.com/en/automotive/warmup/find_your_engine_heater/ 

 

you will find instructions there, too. A Termini will only heat to around 10-15C and / or xC above ambient, it won't cook the car (there's a thermal cutout in it) but it will bring the interior up to temp and keep it there. There's also a very convenient Clas Ohlson

timer we use which changes the time based on temperature; this: 36-4284.

 

 - Bret

2 hours ago, NikTheGeek said:

 

I've emailed that place in Plymouth with my car details. When they tell me, I'll let you know. It was the best thing I ever had on a car. But I think the c£200 electric one will do...

 

£1950 plus vat.

 

So I think I'll leave that option alone!! 

13 minutes ago, NikTheGeek said:

 

£1950 plus vat.

 

So I think I'll leave that option alone!! 

ahaha portable space heater and an extension cord it is then.

Sheesh, please drop the fan heater idea. There's no protection on it, it can fall over and overheat / melt stuff and you will have no clue that it happened. A DEFA connector is waterproof / IP68, I believe, and the Termini is clipped into a foot, which itself is screwed into place. It's also set for warming but stops heating when the car is "too" warm, which is something like 10-15C or so. Admitting to your insurance company "my car burned down because I'm a wuss and wanted it at 26C so balanced a fan heater on full blast on a Starbucks cup and last week's chinese aluminium tins overnight in the passenger footwell, not sure how the fire started though, must have been an electrical fault" - yeah, there's entertainment value, but not necessarily monetary.

 

The DEFA installation for a simple kit isn't that hard or time-consuming, I'd personally assume 3-4 hours on the drive or 1.5 for a pro.

 

Webastos should be around €1000-1250 fitted, new as an option they're around that.

 

 - Bret

Edited 19 February, 20197 yr by brettikivi

How does the Defa fan mount in the cabin? Does it have to be screwed against the footwell (on the passenger side) or can it be mounted under the seat? Ive looked under the seat and there's loads of space and I gather they can be mounted upside down.

 

Nick

Possible mounting options: https://www.defa.com/product/termini-ii-1700/

 

44 minutes ago, brettikivi said:

Sheesh, please drop the fan heater idea. There's no protection on it, it can fall over and overheat / melt stuff and you will have no clue that it happened. A DEFA connector is waterproof / IP68, I believe, and the Termini is clipped into a foot, which itself is screwed into place. It's also set for warming but stops heating when the car is "too" warm, which is something like 10-15C or so. Admitting to your insurance company "my car burned down because I'm a wuss and wanted it at 26C so balanced a fan heater on full blast on a Starbucks cup and last week's chinese aluminium tins overnight in the passenger footwell, not sure how the fire started though, must have been an electrical fault" - yeah, there's entertainment value, but not necessarily monetary.

 

Of course no one is going to be stupid enough to balance a space heater in the footwell.

 

I have used heat resistant tape to strap my space heater onto cardboard base, the cardboard base has been re-shapped to perfectly fit over the rear centre armrest. Whole thing is secure and stays in place even while driving. My heater will draw air from the side and blow forward into the area between front seats, good clearance for hot air to circulate. The cable into the car is rain-proofed by a wind deflector, with the wind deflector, the window doesn't need to jam the cable so the cable doesn't get stressed at the point going into the car. Other end of the cable is plugged into a IP66 outdoor socket with which is supplied by armoured 40amp cable from consumer unit. 

(I'll try to remember to get a photo of my heater setup)

 

I've thought this through. I'd gladly take constructive criticism on any weak points.

I've used a 2kw fan heater for over 20 years in my car, even fitted a caravan plug on the side of an old Passat estate to power it. The current set up is an extension lead through the seal at the bottom of the door on a timer and a 30ma trip. It works a treat, 30 minutes at 1kw is normally sufficient for the hardest frost, snow takes a bit longer.

1 hour ago, NikTheGeek said:

How does the Defa fan mount in the cabin? Does it have to be screwed against the footwell (on the passenger side) or can it be mounted under the seat? Ive looked under the seat and there's loads of space and I gather they can be mounted upside down.

 

Nick

Most of us mount in the passenger footwell. The mount plate looks like this (and you can see the price): https://www.motonet.fi/fi/tuote/455008/Defa-Termini-sisatilanlammittimen-kiinnityslevy-418070

and screwing it into place is the smart way to do it. The fan heater itself then clips in, hard. Difficult to dislodge with a foot. A small 1kW Termini is this: https://www.motonet.fi/fi/tuote/455047/Defa-Termini-II-1000-sisatilanlammitin-1000-W-430072; the plug cable is long enough to go across the footwell. This is your kit for splitting and the socket to be attached on the inside (underneath the glovebox is generally favoured); https://www.motonet.fi/fi/tuote/4012550/Defa-haaroitussarja and the element will come with the input socket and a shorter cable from there to the heater element itself. 

 

I don't agree with using household stuff outside in the car when there are correct alternatives available. I certainly don't agree with tape and cardboard and I'm sure your insurance company wouldn't, either. The correct way to do it isn't expensive so why take the risk? 

 

 - Bret