Mack Anthem Wabasto heater not working

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Gentlemanfarmer, Nov 23, 2020.

  1. Gentlemanfarmer

    Gentlemanfarmer Medium Load Member

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    Feb 26, 2010
    Greenville, FL
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    My 2019 Anthem has a factory installed Wabasto heater that isn't working. I have watched videos and read instructions on how to turn the heater on. It has heated twice and then only for five minutes. I even had a Mack mechanic try and he wasn't able to get the heater to fire up. No codes from the digital side and the green light is on. Looking for suggestions or fixes.
     
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  3. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    I had a loose clamp on the fuel line after the fuel filter. Fuel was pumping out onto the ground instead of into the heater.
    No codes, controls looked normal.
     
  4. Gentlemanfarmer

    Gentlemanfarmer Medium Load Member

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    Greenville, FL
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    I looked at the fuel line and it is intact. No leaking fuel. Thanks for the reply.
     
  5. Intd drvr

    Intd drvr Bobtail Member

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    Oct 25, 2015
    Phoenix,Az
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    Try replacing the fuel filter. I had the same problem on a 2020 KW and that fixed it.
     
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  6. jason6541

    jason6541 Road Train Member

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    Omaha, NE
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    If the heater is not turned off and allowed to go thru shut down cycle properly. If ignition switch turned on and heater in a fueling cycle it will flood burner chamber and raw fuel will saturate chamber and at next fire up it will cause excessive smoke and a no start issue. Glow pin will possibly fail from a small explosion in burner chamber. Then what usually happens is the heater gets cycled repeatedly by impatient operators who don’t wait for start and shut down sequence to complete and more fuel fills the chamber. Check fuel pump mounted to one of the fuel tanks. Check if it’s clicking, if so pull the nut on inlet side of pump from tank and look at fine mesh filter, can clean with brake clean etc. Probably looking at a new glow pin, atomizer screen and some patience. Thermo king sells a kit along with the 12 or 14 mm socket (don’t remember exactly) for glow pin removal. Socket has a slot cut to allow for the wires. Can make one yourself from cheap socket.
    after glow pin removal then try to get atomizer screen out. If carboned up bad you will need patience. A small Allen wrench ground to a point works as a makeshift seal pick to get screen out. Normal 90 deg seal pick to big.
    remove screen and use new tool to insert new screen to proper depth. Oh be sure vent hole is clean in atomizer screen bore and screen is inserted fully and below vent hole. Put back together.

    Best to run heater monthly every month of the year for 10 min at max heat to exercise heater and wait for heater to go thru the full start and stop sequence. If you do that and clean fuel filter or replace yearly. The heater will run for years trouble free.
     
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  7. Gentlemanfarmer

    Gentlemanfarmer Medium Load Member

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    Feb 26, 2010
    Greenville, FL
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    I will give that a try cleaning filters and checking glow plug.
     
  8. jason6541

    jason6541 Road Train Member

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    Omaha, NE
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    Look on line and you will find videos on how to disassemble the heater. Easier to remove from truck. 2 nuts , intake, exhaust, and fuel line. When you reinstall heater leave fuel line clamp loose at heater connection to purge air from it. Once you see a steady drip of fuel tighten clamp. Don’t get impatient as you may have to cycle heater a few times. Let it go thru the cycles on it’s own. Then remind yourself before you turn the ignition switch on. To shut the heater down. They are wired direct to the switch to cut power as soon as key is turned to “ON” position.
    Not a hard job just can get frustrating. Have fun
     
  9. Gentlemanfarmer

    Gentlemanfarmer Medium Load Member

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    Feb 26, 2010
    Greenville, FL
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    Thanks to all that responded to my Wabasto issues. I did watch several videos of how to disassemble the heater and what issues to look for. WEL had a short video on common issues and disassembles a heater pointing out the various problems such as clogged intake filter, dead glow plug, clogged fan, etc. Wabasto also has several videos that walk through assembly and disassembly.

    Fortunately I didn't have to get into the disassembly. Underneath my bunk, next to the Wabasto heater, is a green light. When the light is solid green, the heater is ready to operate. If there is a blinking green light, starting with 5 rapid flashes followed by one or several longer flashes, there is a fault in the system. What you need to do is count the long flashes to determine the fault code. I had 12 long flashes which indicated a heater fault lock out. To solve the lockout, disconnect the power to the heater. The long instructions are to turn the heater on, within 10 seconds disconnect the main fuse, turn the heater off, reconnect the fuse and then turn the heater on. This being a Mack, I disconnect the power next to the indicator light and waited 10 seconds. I then turned the heater on from the bunk control station and the heater came on, but wasn't heating. This time the green indicator light flashed 2 long flashes which meant a fuel supply problem. I check the fuel line and filter, both had fuel. I turned the unit on again and the priming worked and heating started immediately. Problem solved.

    Wabasto has an app you can download to your smartphone or tablet called Wabasto Tech Mobile. This will give you fault codes, operating instructions and other valuable information.
     
    spsauerland, uncleal13 and jason6541 Thank this.
  10. jason6541

    jason6541 Road Train Member

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    New
    new information and update on newer heaters, thank you for passing it along.
     
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