Espar Heater Not Working
Confirmed Issue:
The Espar heater stops working and/or the Digi-Max D-1000 thermostat displays a "no flame detect" or "code 52" error message.
Affected Units:
Any Vandoit van with an Eberspaecher Espar Airtronic B4 heater
Issue Explanation:
The Espar heater may stop working for a variety of reasons; this article outlines the most common reasons and how to troubleshoot for them. Typically, the Espar stops working if the gas tank is below 1/4 full. It may also stop working because the thermostat needs to be reset and/or because the fuel line or power cables under the van have been damaged.
Resolution:
Have you set a max run time on your Espar heater? If so, the problem could be as simple as the max run time has expired. See the video in step #3 to check your max run time setting.
1. If the Espar thermostat displays a "no flame detect" or "code 52" error message, follow the steps below. If the thermostat displays a different error message, take a photo of the error code and send it to the Customer Support team by submitting a ticket through the Customer Support portal or emailing support@vandoit.com. You may also wish to look up the error code in the Espar user's manual.
2. Check to make sure the gas tank has more than 1/4 tank of gas. The Espar heater runs on gas and will not run if the tank reaches 1/4 full. If the gas tank is low, refill and try running the Espar. You may need to turn the Espar on a couple of times to let it cycle before it runs properly.
3. If step 2 does not work, reset the Espar controller using this video as a guide if you have the D-1000 thermostat (red and blue arrow buttons): https://youtu.be/mkyhHQyhhD4
If you have the EasyStart Pro thermostat (large black dial with amber display), reset the controller using these steps:
a. Click the middle button and turn the dial until you see a gear icon.
b. Click the middle button to select settings.
c. Hold the “back” button for approximately 5 seconds to engage the setup mode.
d. Turn the dial to “Error Memory.”
e. Turn the dial to “H1 Error” and select “Read” to view the error code. Take a photo of the error code in case the Espar does not resume function and you need to reach out to the Customer Support team.
f. Press the “back” button and then turn the dial to “delete.”
4. If step 3 does not work, physically crawl under the van and make sure the fuel line or power cables haven’t touched the hot exhaust and melted through. Send photos of the fuel line and power cables and a description of the problem to the Customer Support team by submitting a ticket through the Customer Support portal or emailing support@vandoit.com.
To prevent issues with the Espar heater, run it once a month year-round, regardless of temperature.
Also, this video provides a helpful guide to performing a visual inspection of your Espar heater. (Please note that the video shows a different Espar model than the one you have in your van, but the information still applies.)