My heater fan is not coming on - something simple?

[holti]

Hi there,

My 1999 Chim 400 heater fan has not come on for a couple of months now. It was temperamental before (coming on rarely) which I suspected might mean a loose connection somewhere. Is it simple to fix myself or am I going to have to spend a small fortune at a TVR garage?

Also, and maybe connected to the above problem, my car wont restart after short journies, particularly if it's got a little hot. Extremely embarrassing at petrol forecourts having to push your gorgeous TVR out the way of the queues when 5 mins earlier they were admiring it (and you)! Fuel pumps prime but nothing else.

Please help if you can!
Cheers
Chris

[tvr keith]

Hi Chris,
this is a very common problem and is known as "the hot start problem".
The wires feeding the starter solenoid are not up to the job and the problem is rectified easily and at low cost my fitting the Modwise hot start kit.
This uses a relay to overcome the problem. Failing that you are looking at a recon starter motor.
Don't know about the heater blower, have you checked the fuses which are located over the battery behind the pull out panel in the front of the passenger footwell?

[holti]

Hi Keith,

Great news, I will invest in a Modwise hot start kit. Are these simple to fit myself or should I take it to a local garage?

Regarding the fuses, I have checked these and they seem fine. The fact that it used to come on some times and not other I guess rules out the fuse as well.

Thank you for your input on the starting issue.

[andy-w]

Take the top of your dash off and you will be able to get at the wires on the back of the heater on off switch...it is probably one of them come lose!!!

[buzzsaw]

Heater fan not working happenned to mine (97 450). Needed a new electronic module gizmo which got replaced under warranty (would have been approx £150 otherwise).

[andy-w]

Holti,

YHM!!!

[tvr keith]

holti said:

Hi Keith,

Great news, I will invest in a Modwise hot start kit. Are these simple to fit myself or should I take it to a local garage?

Not done it myself, plenty of people on here have, anyone advise here please?
I think it's fairly simple.
By the way, when you mentioned TVR garages, find yourself a good indy, TVR dealers are tending to be expensive. Where are you, someone will know one in your area?
If you don't need one now, you are bound to in the future, good to have it sorted

[Cider Andy]

The heater motor has an ECU mounted under the dash top. The most likely thing is the contacts on the multiplug that feeds it have burnt. If you're confident with a spanner and a screwdriver, do a search on 'dash removal' and 'heater' in this forum, you'll find all the info you need and probably some photos too.

[andy-w]

Cider Andy said:

The heater motor has an ECU mounted under the dash top.

I thought they were just a vauxhall twist switch with 4 settings off, weak, pathetic and half ad feeble???

[Paulathome]

On a 99 Chim the heater switch controls a electronic module that gives an infinitely variable fan speed.
Take you dash top off and follow the ribbon cable from the switch to the module.
Then look at the main connector that has about 8 wires going into it.
You will probably find that the main feed wire is melted inside the connector itself.
New connectors are available from RS components but I decided to replace the
connector as this isn't really up to the current rating required by the fan hence it melts.
I cut the old one off and soldered wires direct to the circuit board and fitted spade connectors on the other end. I then cut the connector off the car loom and fitted spades on them. Never had a problem since.
Cheers
Paul