Alde Heating Kettling - Lunar Clubman
Posted on another forum by me.
Posted Today, 12:47 AM
I bought a Lunar Clubman ES in April 2012 with Alde heating. On our first trip out the pump was a little noisy due to air in the system. I dropped the front end of the van and bled air from the radiator in the bathroom - problem solved. Over the 12 weeks
or so we toured during that year we used the heating on 2Kw and 1Kw electric and all was fine. There was a little audible pump noise but nothing remarkable. However at Christmas and, initially with the door open to the awning when cooking, we found that the
system was kettling on 2Kw but seemed fine on 1Kw. I mentioned the problem to the dealer at the April annual service but obviously did not emphasise it. (I hadn't been well 
).
The problem also manifested itself within 20 minutes when run on gas.
We were away in April/May and the problem was still there. I spoke to the dealer and arranged to take the van in 30th August as we had trips planned. The dealer (quite rightly) assumed that there was a problem with the concentration of antifreeze in the
heating circuit being too low. They drained the system and flushed four or five times, also replaced the pump. Problem still there but now apparent on 1Kw as we;; they reported. They asked if they could wait until Alde UK returned from an annual closure in
order to consult and I collected the van. I also e-mailed to suggest that maybe involving an Alde engineer would be worthwhile.
The dealer came back to me when Alde were back and said that the draining and refilling on this model was not quite straightforward. I had the option of taking it back to the dealer or travelling 160 mile to Alde UK. I chose to take it to Alde. This involved
an overnight stay at a lovely CL about 6 miles from Alde. At Alde when I arrived at 8.45am I was greeted warmly. They too suspected that it was a problem with concentration of antifreeze which they said should be around 50%. They checked and it was 11.3%.
There service manager explained the problem in refilling the particular system on my van and their work round.
After having the system refilled with a 5 year life mix (and receiving a hat and pen) The problem seemed to be resolved. I was told to run the system for 10/20 hours and lift the pump several times and shake to remove micro bubbles and all would be well.
Having since done that and having the 'van door open to stop the heating achieving 30 degrees and running continually I went into the van. The pump is in the wardrobe in the end washroom and the washroom door was open. With a slight breeze blowing outside
the van and the door open I had to open the wardrobe door to check that the pump was still running! On a revisit with the caravan door closed and sitting on the front bunks with OH I could just discern the slightest hum from the pump with the washroom door
open. This is from a guy who, sitting on site in June, wondered what the noise was he could hear. It was 3 young rabbits some 50 feet away tearing grass as they ate.
Pleased? You bet.
The trip cost me £85 in fuel including a few trips out whilst on site, £9 for my nights stay and £15 for a meal and a beer out. The welcome and hospitality of the friendly folk at Alde UK almost made the 320 mile round trip worthwhile on its own. I am more
than happy with my dealer (Leisure Sales at Brereton near Holmes Chapel) and also Lunar who paid for the work and via Leisure Sales have provided a voucher for a free annual service next year. As I am off on holiday next Thursday for a month I wanted the problem
resolved ASAP and hence, although I feel sure that with info from Alde the dealer would have sorted it, I was happy to make the journey and pleased with the dealers suggestion.
Well done to Alde, Leisure Sales and Lunar.