Technical Fault code P053C

[Skelboy]

Hi I am new to the forum and have a problem with my Fiat Ducato.

Its a 2017 Burstner motorhome 130 hp combi 3 with 9000 miles on the clock.

Was out yesterday 5 mins driving when the engine management light came on so I pulled over.
Noticed the fan ran on for a couple of minutes after shutting the engine off.
Left it for 5 mins and started up again and the light was off so drove home.

Put the OBD reader on and got the code P053C positive crankcase ventilation heater control circuit high.

Just have a few questions

I know the fault is in the memory but was it transient problem now the light is out or has the system just reset itself and the problem is still there?

I was thinking of looking at it myself but can't find any info on location of the PCV valve and associated wiring any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much in advance

 

[Anthony489]

Hi Skelboy

In older Ducatos (e.g. 2008), the PCV heater was fitted to vehicles sold in colder regions, e.g. Northern Europe. The idea was that an electrical heater (20 watt resistor) was placed within one of the "breather" hoses to ensure that any fine oil droplets in the crankcase fumes were fully vapourised before being fed back into the engine. These heaters ran all the time the engine was running.

I suspect that more modern Ducatos have something along the same lines, though maybe the power to them is electronically controlled. Look for the heater (not a valve) as being associated with an electrical connector on the side of one of the breather hoses. These hoses are typically 25 mm in diameter.

Be aware that codes can be a bit ambiguous, and Fiat may have chosen a subtly different meaning for P053C being logged, compared to its generic meaning.

 

[Communicator]

PCV is an abbreviation of Positive Crankcase Ventilation, but I am uncertain as to the precise interpretation of positive in this context.

My understanding is that the role of the oil vapour heater is to prevent the condensation or perhaps freezing of water vapour, which will be present in the blow by gases.

As Anthony has stated the exact meaning of the alarm is open to some speculation.

I could make a logical case that "high" is this context means that the the heater or its connections are faulty. This would be relatively easy to prove, if the heater is located and unplugged.

 

[Skelboy]

Hi Anthony and Communicator, thanks for the replies and sharing your knowledge.

The code is quite ambiguous as is the help in the owners manual, as far as I can see just about anything will trigger the engine management light. I think as long as it isn't a problem with the PCV valve , which I have managed to locate I am fairly happy.

As I said the light is now out and I am wondering if it was just transient and I should reset the code and see if it happens again.

I will try and find the heater and the electrical connections associated and check them out.

Thanks once again for the insight and help it really is appreciated .