Club 80-90 Forums

I have just bought a Propex compact 1600 on Fleebay.
I have given it gas and 12 volts
The thermostat lights up and the fan blows for about 15 seconds but no heat
It just clicks once.

I have read the various forum posts that suggest the red thermostat light should flash a number of times to indicate the fault.
My thermostat light just stays on, no flashing.

The unit definitely has enough gas and enough voltage.
How do i trouble shoot this ?

Mine does this too exactly as you describe when on 12v. I contacted Propex whow were unable to help. However, it works perfectly when I use the hook up. I wondered if it is s'posed to work on 12v or is this some safety cut-out to prevent the gas flowing when the battery is flat. I too would be interested in some info on this.

Palomino wrote:Mine does this too exactly as you describe when on 12v. I contacted Propex whow were unable to help. However, it works perfectly when I use the hook up. I wondered if it is s'posed to work on 12v or is this some safety cut-out to prevent the gas flowing when the battery is flat. I too would be interested in some info on this.

There is defiantly a fail save for low battery voltage. Have you ever used a volt meter to see what voltage your getting with and without the hookup?

According to my propex (Heatsource HS2000) manual which utilises the same thermostat control unit, no flashing means the pcb is not powered up which is caused by either a thermostat fault or a very poor d.c supply

This may help.

http://www.propexheatsource.co.uk/pdf/P ... ns%232.pdf

I have read all the instructions on the Propex web site. i have also bypassed the thermostat and still no fire in the box.

I have uploaded a video to http://www.youtube.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; if this helps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZje_g0s ... ature=uenh

Just watched the vid and I see what you mean. It's not giving you much of a clue. I'm thinking it may possibly be a problem with the actual ignition module.

I would personally try it with a different battery just for my own piece of mind.

Other than making sure it has gas and power I don't think there's really much else you can do.

I think the next step would be to ring Propex themselves and tell them what the symptoms are. I've never had to deal with them personally but everyone I know who has says they're absolutely brilliant and couldn't be more helpful.

dont know if its the same but when i had a eberspacer in my old splitty it would not fire up if the batt voltage dropped below 12 volt on start up spent hours trying to start it gave up and as soon as i started driving batt charged up and it started up changed the battery and never had a problem after that

to see if it is the battery just run the van when you try it..the split charge will compensate

also..on my propex(its the earlier one i think) i have to put the switch to the left to run hot air..the thermostat looks the same from the front as mine but mines a bit smaller

ade700 wrote:dont know if its the same but when i had a eberspacer in my old splitty it would not fire up if the batt voltage dropped below 12 volt on start up spent hours trying to start it gave up and as soon as i started driving batt charged up and it started up changed the battery and never had a problem after that

Indeed. Although the ebers need a massive amount of current at startup to get the glow plugs hot. Propex doesn't need much as it's only a spark ignition.

My igniter clicks several times in rapid sucession until it fires up. Not just once as with this problem. Which makes me think either battery, which in theory has been ruled out but I'd try another one anyway, or the ignition module itself.

But then I'm far from being an expert. In fact I only fitted mine about 2 weeks ago and have only used it once for about 5 minutes.

Its defiantly not a lack of voltage. I have 12.5 volts, I have tried with the engine running, on the vehicle battery, the leisure battery and the two connected with jumper leads.

I noticed on the video that it's resting on the inlet or exhaust pipe - that might effect things?

Have you checked the gas regulator is ok by running something other than the propex off it?

Have a read through this http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=672489

Sounds like similar symptoms to yours and at seems like blowing the unit through with an airline or air pump did the trick.

I seem to remember someone on here having success doing the same thing a while ago.

alan.lane3 wrote:Its defiantly not a lack of voltage. I have 12.5 volts, I have tried with the engine running, on the vehicle battery, the leisure battery and the two connected with jumper leads.

You may well have 12.5v at the battery (which is a little low) but what voltage do you have at the heater (as I always have to ask people with Eberspachers and Webastos that will not work). Poor connections etc. can cause the voltage to be around 11.5v which leads to startup failure. Someone with a Propex may know the drop-out voltage for these units.

Oldiebut goodie wrote:Someone with a Propex may know the drop-out voltage for these units.

10v according to the manual