Espar heater out of control

I have pretty limited experience with the newer Espar heaters and it's been years since we played with one, but I did have to buy a code reader at one point because if the unit senses something amiss it locks the controls and goes into "cool down" mode.  We had one that would only do what you described... heat for a short time (poor heat) and then cool off and stop.  We had to clear a bunch of fault codes, replace the glow plug and tinker with the fuel metering pump to get it working properly.

My heater was in my 1969  and would get so hot you could hardly stand it and you would burn your fingers and then when you shut it down the fan would continue to run until the unit cooled then it would stop.  If I remember right David you had to wait for this to happen before turning it on again. 

Sometimes the spark plug, would go foul on some units but I never experienced that. 

Other than that, I never had much problems with it, except maybe the inability to use it without nearly getting my knees burned.  

David:  If you can build your own airplane, you'll solve this heater issue.

Sorry I can be of no help here.

I can't be of much help, either.  My "controller" is an on/off switch, a Hi/Lo switch for fuel pump output and a thermostat.  Yours sounds far more sophisticated than what I have.  Mine can put out heat as Ray describes, but I have it running at a lower level, more like the output of my Nissan heater.

The tech manuals are available - if you can find the model # on yours.

https://esparparts.com/techsupport/index.htm

Thanks, Lads. I did a lot of research last night on the subject and realized i could very quickly get in over my head with this problem. Got lucky today and a Thermo King dealer took me in right away. They had to correct some unusual wiring techniques and then do a diagnostic with a new controller in place. Turned out the problem was some dodgy wiring coupled with a faulty Mini controller. They installed a new Digi Max controller and all is good. Turns out the heater is an Espar D2 ( I couldn't even find the label ) and is quite sufficient. $256 US for the fix and I'm quite ok with that. 

First DIY would be to square away the switches - my OCD would go full tilt with they being askew.  Maybe make the panel larger and move cigarette light to it rather than as a separate hang down.

Good idea, Greg. I'll build a new panel painted wrinkle black to house the new controller, the air flow diverter and incorporate the cig adapter. 

I found the local Thermo King shop (just down the street from a huge truck stop) and the techs there were way more than helpful once I showed them photos of what the heater was in.    Tech tips, troubleshooting tips, quick tips on how the heater actually works, even a few free parts and fuel line tubing somehow found their way into my car.  

I now have them on “Speed-Dial”!  I stop by every once in a while just to say thank you again.  

$250 for all that diagnostic work AND getting a working heater is fabulous, in my book......

That car keeps getting better and better, Dave!

BTW;  Those D2 heaters put out GOBS of heat.  They’re designed to heat Semi-Tractor sleeper cabs (lots larger than a tiny Speedster) and do it automatically, with lots of safety parameters built in.  While they look complicated, lots of truckers use them and they’re usually reliable as hell.

If your not worried about the heat IM does a lot of metal plates and then covers them with leather matching the interior. 

Also, Cig Adapters I find if located where your knees go can be a problem.  

I located one way underneath the dash for this reason.  I leave a USB cable adapter plugged in and ran the cable up the middle under the carpet edge to charge my phone...  just saying  

Thanks, Gordon. I feel much better tonight. I just took Francine out to the garage to witness one more test of the system. Bang on perfect. I'm getting a bit better at making decisions based on my ( age ) abilities rather than relying on intuition or lack of patience. It's slowly becoming an easier and more satisfying pill to swallow. 

I'm always careful when pulling into a shop looking for help with the Speedster ...now Roadster but one needs help now and then. I explained early in the conversation today that I needed help with something I'm not good at working on and was quick to explain that this is not a legit Porsche. That seemed to break the ice pretty easy today with the Thermo King group and the tech that worked on it did so right thru his lunch hour. He was a Barbadian and quick with a relaxed sense of humour and was impressed with my knowledge of the Lesser Antilles. One or two other techs would come over to learn a bit from him or help and I was allowed to stay with them in the shop to learn a bit myself. It was a good day. 

That does sound like a good day, Dave. Congrats.