Listed as standard on 500X Cross Plus is a PTC heater.

Anybody know what it is ?

Google is giving conflicting answers.

theshootist said:

Listed as standard on 500X Cross Plus is a PTC heater.



Anybody know what it is ?



Google is giving conflicting answers.

Click to expand...

Something to do with the Auto Climate Control?

theshootist said:

Listed as standard on 500X Cross Plus is a PTC heater.

Anybody know what it is ?

Google is giving conflicting answers.

Click to expand...

hi,

it appears to be an auxiliary electrical element heater.

http://www.ebay.it/itm/77366499-ori...zelement-PTC-Fiat-500L-0-9-1-3D-/361385032953

modern efficient cars don't produce HOT coolant like they used to..
and it's a BIG air volume


interesting it's DENSO - but seems to mention EBERSPACHER..

It stands for Positive Temperature Coefficient. Its basically a silicon rubber mat with copper fused inside. Pop an electric current through it and it warms up. You don't need the engine running, but beware a flat battery.

azafran said:

It stands for Positive Temperature Coefficient. Its basically a silicon rubber mat with copper fused inside. Pop an electric current through it and it warms up. You don't need the engine running, but beware a flat battery.

Click to expand...

For heating the cabin ?

Or pre heating engine in extreme cold ?

theshootist said:

For heating the cabin ?

Or pre heating engine in extreme cold ?

Click to expand...

so when I said BIG AIR VOLUME.. which of those do you suppose applies

Can't help with the 500 but my Tipo has a ptc under the carburettor that heats the fuel when the engine is started from cold ,then as the engine wharms up this in turn heats up the ptc and the current flow through it is reduced by its increasing resistance due to temperature effectively Turning off the heater.

These appeared mostly in the eighties, as inlet manifolds got longer. To help airflow and keep the fuel atomised, so not condensing on its way into the cylinder, a heater was placed in the manifold. As said above, they were called 'positive temprerature coefficient' heaters.

They occasionally have a habit of holding debris, then letting it go, so if any engine failure has occurred, it is imperative to remove the PTC and ensure it is perfectly clean.

Maestro/Monteg 1.3 suffered with this, and soem Rover 820s. Engine goes bang, some debris is thrown out the inlet port, to catch in the 'fingers' of the PTC. Transferred to new engine without cleaning, sucked in at startup, new engine ruined. Not a warranty defect with the replacement engine, despite the garage protestations. Especially as the engines had a label on them advising to clean the PTC!

No reason to worry, or even think about it, unless there are cold start and run problems. Once running and warm, PTC shuts off.

Since it is listed under "Comfort and Functionality" I doubt it is anything to do with the engine. When it's chilly, the climate control blows warm air after a a minute or two - way before the coolant has warmed. I'd wondered about this, and a PTC heater would explain it.
Petrol models have a water cooled turbo, which will heat up the coolant quicker, but not as quickly as I have noticed on mine.

theshootist said:

For heating the cabin ?

Or pre heating engine in extreme cold ?

Click to expand...

It's for heating the cabin.

Early Stilos had them as standard, and fitted inside the heater/climate control housing adjacent to the heater radiator (matrix). It may be in a different position on the 500.
.

Many thanks.

Davren said:

It's for heating the cabin.

Early Stilos had them as standard, and fitted inside the heater/climate control housing adjacent to the heater radiator (matrix). It may be in a different position on the 500.
.

Click to expand...

They used to have petrol pre-heaters in Russia, fired up on a timer. These were optional on Lada cars sold here, but I've never actually encountered one. As they were very popular in Russia I assume they were reliable, but I think if I had one set to light up, I might park it off the drive.