176 replies to this topic

[fezzasus]

Just checking: - will all heaters fail eventually? - will there be other batches in the future? (my heater is still okay at the moment)

 

Hard to say, the majority seem fine, others are repeat offenders. 

 

I will be able to produce more batches

[Gadget2]

Although my heater works fine, I'll take one and add it to my box of spares for if (not when) the potentiometer fails.

 

Thanks Tom

[NDT]

Hi Tom Will your replacement use the original VX heater knob cable gizmo? The bit that got replaced by the potentiometer?

[fezzasus]

Hi Tom Will your replacement use the original VX heater knob cable gizmo? The bit that got replaced by the potentiometer?

 

Cable is replaced, control is retained or available depending on needs - have located supplier

[2-20]

I voted yes but Quick question : Will it fit lhd cars?

[nicollow]

I'll need one of these. Cars like a sauna

[V220DR]

Same as Nicollow car is roasting!

[fezzasus]

Very short term fix; take the air duct off.

 

These numbers are enough for me to get started. Update soon.

[Chris p]

I think I will need one of these. My heater valve makes a very annoying thumping sound all the time so I unplugged it for now. I assume it's the mechanism in the valve skipping but haven't got round to stripping it down

[GiGo]

Not being funny, but your are basically saying that a part you have supplied in your heaters IS or has a VERY HIGH likely hood of failing and due to this fact you would like to know if people want to spend and additional £40 to make sure the heater they spent £250+ on carries on working?

 

Ok so the original heater was crap, your design has been very popular and it does indeed keep you warm/cool, ie it works!  I expect you have made very little on the supply and assembly of these heaters and I appreciate the 'RnD' that went into these in the first place and it was a brave move to offer these up to forum members such as myself, and I know there was no warranty implied.

 

BUT......

 

If it breaks due to no fault of the user and by your own admission it's the weakest part, then surely you should provide it for free?  Now as a businessman I understand that it would be a financial burden to provide everyone with a free "£40 solution", considering £40 is almost 20% of the original cost.  I wouldn't be prepared to buy a something knowing that it might not work correctly in 6 months, but I can spend more money on making it work.

 

I'm not trying to be negative, Tom you really have done a great job with building a new heater etc... but seriously!  Could something else in the heater then break costing another £40? Or is this the only thing that is weak?  (excluding the plastic screws that were broken when mine arrived).

 

I will just point out that I think the heater is great and it has kept me warm (the one time I actually drove the car ) but for spending more money on the hearter, no thanks, if it breaks I'll find another solution.

[Raptor]

Not being funny but..

[fezzasus]

Not being funny, but your are basically saying that a part you have supplied in your heaters IS or has a VERY HIGH likely hood of failing and due to this fact you would like to know if people want to spend and additional £40 to make sure the heater they spent £250+ on carries on working?

 

Ok so the original heater was crap, your design has been very popular and it does indeed keep you warm/cool, ie it works!  I expect you have made very little on the supply and assembly of these heaters and I appreciate the 'RnD' that went into these in the first place and it was a brave move to offer these up to forum members such as myself, and I know there was no warranty implied.

 

BUT......

 

If it breaks due to no fault of the user and by your own admission it's the weakest part, then surely you should provide it for free?  Now as a businessman I understand that it would be a financial burden to provide everyone with a free "£40 solution", considering £40 is almost 20% of the original cost.  I wouldn't be prepared to buy a something knowing that it might not work correctly in 6 months, but I can spend more money on making it work.

 

I'm not trying to be negative, Tom you really have done a great job with building a new heater etc... but seriously!  Could something else in the heater then break costing another £40? Or is this the only thing that is weak?  (excluding the plastic screws that were broken when mine arrived).

 

I will just point out that I think the heater is great and it has kept me warm (the one time I actually drove the car ) but for spending more money on the hearter, no thanks, if it breaks I'll find another solution.

 

 

1. These heaters haven't been produced since the start of 2014 and just as if this were supplied by a large company, any guarantee would be expired by now.

2. The component in question tends to fail in very early models, which are all up to 5 years old - this is not an age effect, the controller was improved significantly in later models.

2. I have supplied numerous replacements for free to date to address failures

4. If I am to support this heater going forward, i need to establish a cut off for supplying free replacement parts. This cut off is now.

5. Parts are direct from supplier at cost, if you are looking for another solution, this is the cheapest.

Edited by fezzasus, 27 May 2016 - 01:31 PM.

[Acidpopstar]

Tom which version was my 'B' stock heater? It's not blowing at the moment but that may be a ducting failure which I will look at tomorrow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fezzasus]

Tom which version was my 'B' stock heater? It's not blowing at the moment but that may be a ducting failure which I will look at tomorrow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I'm afraid I can't recall, usually I update to the latest configuration if it's 'B stock'. Two things to look for;

 

1. short heater matrix (one is about 30 mm, one is 60mm, shorter is newer)

2. plug  on cable combing from cabin to heater matrix (early ones wired directly into controller - the plug allows a fully potted, watertight controller which has greatly decreased failures) 

[GiGo]

1. These heaters haven't been produced since the start of 2014 and just as if this were supplied by a large company, any guarantee would be expired by now.

2. The component in question tends to fail in very early models, which are all up to 5 years old - this is not an age effect, the controller was improved significantly in later models.

2. I have supplied numerous replacements for free to date to address failures

4. If I am to support this heater going forward, i need to establish a cut off for supplying free replacement parts. This cut off is now.

5. Parts are direct from supplier at cost, if you are looking for another solution, this is the cheapest.

 

 

1. Production and sale is different, if you were a large company the 'contract' starts from purchase/received date, also any guarantee that cover electrical products are covered for 6 years under UK law, but this would depend if you would consider the part electronic or not.

2. Perhaps I didn't read the first post fully and understand which heaters were affected, newer earlier models, I was assuming all of them, my fault for doing so.

3. I realise you have and I was not going against your character as a supplier/provider of the heaters, as I have said very happy with mine!

4. Understood, makes sense.

5. That's good to know and very decent of you to do such a thing! Many people wouldn't!

 

Tom as I have said I wasn't 'having a go' just miffed as to why I might have to spend more money on part that is 2/3 years old, when my original (albeit a heater that didn't really work that well), still operated 'as expected' and that was 13 years old!

[D-Dub]

Tom

If not to late can I order one please

 

[Graeme Lambert]

Me please Tom if not too late

[PHB1969]

Me too please

[Extrapilot]

My heater is working fine, but having read this I suspect catastrophic failure within the next 24 hours, so I will take the required parts. On a completely seperate note what is happening re the light lenses? I now need a rear nearside lens due to someone clunking it in a car park

[Wolfstone]

GMS on here makes and sells rear lenses.