Heater Switch

[Sandgrounder]

Strange thing happened today. Been driving in the winter sunshine for about an hour and a half, when suddenly noticed strange gas turbine like sound from behind the dash.

Turns out that all the time I thought my heater fan was just rubbish, it is because it has only ever been working on the low speed.

I took the swith out at start of winter as it previously didn't work at all, and cleaned it, etc. But I hadn't realised that my fix had only sorted the slow speed out.

Unfortunatey, the high speed only worked briefly, but if I press the switch down and hold it, the high speed works again!

So, rather than attempt to fix again, has anybody sourced a replacement?

Thanks

[mep12345]

They come from a mid 80s range rover. Sometimes available. If you search on my posts you'll see I've listed which switches, iirc they are interior light and headlights and you change the picture on the top.

Sorry cant do search for you as o iPhone and it is awkward

ETA:

TKC5089 in the rimmer brothers link below is (I think) the correct one and the same as the RR ones I mentioned above. The headlight moniker on the front will just pop out and can be replaced with the fan moniker off your old switch

Hth

Mark

Edited by mep12345 on Sunday 18th November 15:21

[v8s4me]

Try Rimmer's. These are TR7 but might be similar

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID006239

Or try

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinest...

For alternatives.

[phillpot]

Short term fix...... swap some wires around on the switch so high speed works and not low ?


Have you got rocker switches or the earlier rotary switches ?


Rotary switches have individual wiring terminals, rocker switches may have "multi-plugs" so not so easy to do.

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 18th November 07:57

[RayTVR]

I have the same problem - I can get the fast speed if I wiggle the switch but won't stay on

I looked at the second link - Sure these would work but you'd probably need to do the set.

Anybody got any idea why you'd want a rocker switch with a picture of a tortoise?

[greymrj]

I know you want rocker switches for your S3, but anybody out there who needs a rotary switch for an older S will find that the excellent Car Builder Solutions (CBS had a stand at the NEC) do market a rotary switch which can be adapted. I used parts of the front of my old switch to disguise the new one, you cannot tell it has been changed.

[Gerald-TVR]

Or my approach can be seen here here

[drivingfroggy]

When I changed mine on my S3 a few years ago, it was a TR7 item from Rimmer Bros.

[Sandgrounder]

Gents, many thanks once again for all the support. The switch from Rimmer Brothers looks like it will do nicely. (Assuming it is an Off/1/2 type).
I may phone them to confirm, but fairly sure it is correct.

I still find it amusing that until yesterday, my assumption (based on reading this forum) was that the fan was just total crap. That is the problem with having nothing else to compare with.
I really must arrange to meet up with some S owners to compare notes!!

Thanks again,

Graham

[v8s4me]

Sandgrounder said:

.........the fan was just total crap.

. It is. There's just degrees of crapiness

[Sandgrounder]

Finally got round to replacing the heater switch yesterday. The switch from Rimmers was a very tight fit, but got it in eventually. Also, there were some additional pins compaired to the switch I removed, but it works perfectly!!

Thanks for the link to Rimmers. All I need now is the snow to melt and I can drive in warmth at last!!

[GadgeS3C]

Sandgrounder said:

I still find it amusing that until yesterday, my assumption (based on reading this forum) was that the fan was just total crap.

Had EXACTLY the same experience! I had the centre console out in the summer to look at the mirror wiring. While it was out I gave the switches a clean up and got a shock when I flicked the fan switch to "fast" position - nearly deafened me! In fact it still amazes me driving how loud it is.

I did think the switches were quite chunky and easy to strip clean so might be worth having another go with the old so you have a spare.

It'd still be nice to have a heating system that puts some heat somewhere useful instead of mostly out the screen vents but maybe it's just mine that does that too

[v8s4me]

GadgeS3C said:

It'd still be nice to have a heating system that puts some heat somewhere useful instead of mostly out the screen vents but maybe it's just mine that does that too

Have you had a look under/behind the dash to see where the plastic tubes from the heater go? You might find they're not connected to the foot-well ducts and so just blowing air randomly around behind the dash. If they are connected, you'll find they are a very sloppy fit so taping over the joins will help keep the air in the pipe and on its way to the outlets.

[seb400]

I'd second the 'take it apart and have a look' option. The same switch on my old wedge failed. It was easy to take apart, even for a clumbsy oaf like me, clean and realign the copper connections - worked fine afterwards.

Steve

[S2Mike]

Just stumbled across this thread. The trunking has dropped off the dash vents on mine, so now I have side windows that steam up, but have a nice amount of warm air blowing at my nether regions, which was a blessing this weekend when we had an early meeting of S's at Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb Venue.
Incidentally how far North West are you, afew of us, maybe myself as well are heading to RAF Cosford on the 17 th March, see the events diary on the sticky at the top of the forum.

[v8s4me]

S2Mike said:

The trunking has dropped off the dash vents on mine, .....

Try replacing them with the flexible tubes from a hoover. Much more flexible and easier to fit. If you find the right size they will fit inside the "eyeball" vents and not fall out.

[S2Mike]

Ahh, excellent I have to rummage under there to re carpet, I will do this up grade, Thanks for the post.
.
May wait for the warmer weather though, a warm nether region is quite something in an S .

[v8s4me]

v8s4me said:

S2Mike said:

.....the dash vents on mine, .....

Opps... I did this bodge on my centre console vents but it might work on the dash vents as well if they are fed by plastic ducting on the S2. On my V8S warm(ish) air is directed to the screen by a flap on top of the heater box. The diameter of the hoover tubes is smaller than the original plastic ones so you'll need to keep that in mind.