Heater Motor - Goosed ?
Discussion
Morning chaps.
Well, i had a hair raising journey into work through london this morning. Was sat in traffic, getting a bit chilly so turned the heater on (which i may as well mention only works on setting 2 of the 3). When i turned it on probably about 10 seconds later i noticed a burning smell, then on closer inspection when the traffic stopped i realised quite a bit of smoke was coming from the passenger footwell. NEedless to say i switched the fans securely off, and all went back to normal.
I'm presuming what has happened is that the final setting that was working has now died and that the smoke was the plastic round the wires melting as the current had nowhere to go. Does anyone know if i am right in my thoughts and if not what else could have caused this ?
I've read up on changing the heater blower and that it is a massive pain in the derierre but one bonus is i have a 93 with the inspection hole near the battery. I've read that this makes things easier but still wouldn't have any idea where to start.
My questions are:
- Is it likely that the blower needs replacing, if so does anyone have a part number ?
- Where does one even start in getting it out and replacing it ?
Any help, as always, would be much appreciated. No heaters = the mrs definitely not setting foot in the car. I don't fancy the trip to cornwall in June in the 1.2 polo !!!!!
TIA - AJ
Well, i had a hair raising journey into work through london this morning. Was sat in traffic, getting a bit chilly so turned the heater on (which i may as well mention only works on setting 2 of the 3). When i turned it on probably about 10 seconds later i noticed a burning smell, then on closer inspection when the traffic stopped i realised quite a bit of smoke was coming from the passenger footwell. NEedless to say i switched the fans securely off, and all went back to normal.
I'm presuming what has happened is that the final setting that was working has now died and that the smoke was the plastic round the wires melting as the current had nowhere to go. Does anyone know if i am right in my thoughts and if not what else could have caused this ?
I've read up on changing the heater blower and that it is a massive pain in the derierre but one bonus is i have a 93 with the inspection hole near the battery. I've read that this makes things easier but still wouldn't have any idea where to start.
My questions are:
- Is it likely that the blower needs replacing, if so does anyone have a part number ?
- Where does one even start in getting it out and replacing it ?
Any help, as always, would be much appreciated. No heaters = the mrs definitely not setting foot in the car. I don't fancy the trip to cornwall in June in the 1.2 polo !!!!!
TIA - AJ
Hi,
Not sure of the system on the early Chimaeras as mine has the variable speed dial but on my old Rover, the different speeds were achieved by connecting different resistors in series with the motor. Resistors switched out gave full speed.
The resistors were small coils of resistance wire and were mounted on a small removable panel that fitted into the blower. The blower running kept the coils cool to prevent them from overheating.
As you have already lost one coil and another is smoking, I would suggest that the coils (if this is the type of system) are not being cooled properly or they have corroded due to moisture and have gotten thing causing a hot spot.
Matt
Not sure of the system on the early Chimaeras as mine has the variable speed dial but on my old Rover, the different speeds were achieved by connecting different resistors in series with the motor. Resistors switched out gave full speed.
The resistors were small coils of resistance wire and were mounted on a small removable panel that fitted into the blower. The blower running kept the coils cool to prevent them from overheating.
As you have already lost one coil and another is smoking, I would suggest that the coils (if this is the type of system) are not being cooled properly or they have corroded due to moisture and have gotten thing causing a hot spot.
Matt
taylormj4 said:
Hi,
Not sure of the system on the early Chimaeras as mine has the variable speed dial but on my old Rover, the different speeds were achieved by connecting different resistors in series with the motor. Resistors switched out gave full speed.
The resistors were small coils of resistance wire and were mounted on a small removable panel that fitted into the blower. The blower running kept the coils cool to prevent them from overheating.
As you have already lost one coil and another is smoking, I would suggest that the coils (if this is the type of system) are not being cooled properly or they have corroded due to moisture and have gotten thing causing a hot spot.
Matt
Ahhh, ok matt. You got any idea on if these are changeable or will i need to change the whole unit ? This is a 3 speed unit and number 1 and 3 just do nothing at all. It was only setting 2 that was previously working. I've no experience with heater blowers so any tips would be great. Not sure of the system on the early Chimaeras as mine has the variable speed dial but on my old Rover, the different speeds were achieved by connecting different resistors in series with the motor. Resistors switched out gave full speed.
The resistors were small coils of resistance wire and were mounted on a small removable panel that fitted into the blower. The blower running kept the coils cool to prevent them from overheating.
As you have already lost one coil and another is smoking, I would suggest that the coils (if this is the type of system) are not being cooled properly or they have corroded due to moisture and have gotten thing causing a hot spot.
Matt
AJ
AJV8 said:
taylormj4 said:
Hi,
Not sure of the system on the early Chimaeras as mine has the variable speed dial but on my old Rover, the different speeds were achieved by connecting different resistors in series with the motor. Resistors switched out gave full speed.
The resistors were small coils of resistance wire and were mounted on a small removable panel that fitted into the blower. The blower running kept the coils cool to prevent them from overheating.
As you have already lost one coil and another is smoking, I would suggest that the coils (if this is the type of system) are not being cooled properly or they have corroded due to moisture and have gotten thing causing a hot spot.
Matt
Ahhh, ok matt. You got any idea on if these are changeable or will i need to change the whole unit ? This is a 3 speed unit and number 1 and 3 just do nothing at all. It was only setting 2 that was previously working. I've no experience with heater blowers so any tips would be great. Not sure of the system on the early Chimaeras as mine has the variable speed dial but on my old Rover, the different speeds were achieved by connecting different resistors in series with the motor. Resistors switched out gave full speed.
The resistors were small coils of resistance wire and were mounted on a small removable panel that fitted into the blower. The blower running kept the coils cool to prevent them from overheating.
As you have already lost one coil and another is smoking, I would suggest that the coils (if this is the type of system) are not being cooled properly or they have corroded due to moisture and have gotten thing causing a hot spot.
Matt
AJ
oSimon says said:
o 3 should be direst i.e no resistor/full 12v so maybe your motor is dieing or the bearings are failing causing it to heat up o
When the one on my Rover packed up, Rover tried to sell me a whole motor too ! oLuckily the resistor pack could be unscrewed and withdrawn from the motor and I made up a new resistor coil using resistance wire. I wound it around a pencil to make a coil and then kept trimming the wire down until I got what seemed to be about the right speed.
However, if 3 speed is full speed with no resistance and that isn't working, then maybe there is a different kind of fault. I think you need to check out the wiring loom joints and maybe run it on the "smoking setting" briefly to identify where the smoke is coming from.
Cheers, Matt
James, is it easy to get the unit out ? I'm going to give it a go tonight/tomorrow i think. I'm a bit aprehensive though as i've never even looked at trying to. Is it inside the hatch that i need to be looking in the footwell ?
Simon, thing is that was strange is that is was working fine, was getting quite a bit of squeeling from time to time though so maybe it's just finally given up with no lube. I'm hoping that's what it is anyway.
Matt, yea, i was thinking that might be the best solution. Just VERY apprehensive of this as this is what happened to my last car that started smouldering whilst i was driving it ...
Simon, thing is that was strange is that is was working fine, was getting quite a bit of squeeling from time to time though so maybe it's just finally given up with no lube. I'm hoping that's what it is anyway.
Matt, yea, i was thinking that might be the best solution. Just VERY apprehensive of this as this is what happened to my last car that started smouldering whilst i was driving it ...
Wow, i can see why your concerned squealing usually indicates dry/worn bearings and the motor will continue to do its best to overcome the friction along with overheating itself in the process, i would proceed to remove the motor if its noisy anyway you can then backtrack from there to find the cause of the smoke.
Wow, i can see why your concerned squealing usually indicates dry/worn bearings and the motor will continue to do its best to overcome the friction along with overheating itself in the process, i would proceed to remove the motor if its noisy anyway you can then backtrack from there to find the cause of the smoke.
Simon says said:
Wow, i can see why your concerned squealing usually indicates dry/worn bearings and the motor will continue to do its best to overcome the friction along with overheating itself in the process, i would proceed to remove the motor if its noisy anyway you can then backtrack from there to find the cause of the smoke.
Yea, that's why i'm not too keen to start smouldering the wires to locate the issue, would rather replace the whole thing. To be honest i think it's probably had it anyway as the first 2 setting simply weren't working before the 2nd managed to start smoking. Any ideas where to start in getting the thing out ? I haven't really looked yet so i should be patient and wait until i get home, and can stick my head in the footwell and check myself, but any tips before i get going (presuming this is something that you've done before) ??
Cheers,
AJ
Getting it out is a bit of a pig, but only because of the lack of space and blood rush to the head 
. Once the battery and 'birds nest' is out of the way the complete fan panel can be un-screwed and pulled free................ once you slice the silicone seal........................and release the the top of the panel which has become jammed between the heater pipes 
and find the right removal 'angle'
I've done worse jobs TBH but don't expect an easy ride
. Once the battery and 'birds nest' is out of the way the complete fan panel can be un-screwed and pulled free................ once you slice the silicone seal........................and release the the top of the panel which has become jammed between the heater pipes and find the right removal 'angle'I've done worse jobs TBH but don't expect an easy ride
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