Tamora heater fan

[DS1962]

Hi,
I was hoping someone can help as I'm having problems with the fan of my heater in my 2002 Tam not working.
The dash switches light up and seem to be working properly and I've checked the fuse and relays which are ok. I had an intermittent fault with it last year which I traced to a loose connection on the unit which is situated high under the passenger side of the dash (screwed in) but that seems ok too. I've checked the forum and some posts talk about the heater control unit but i can't find that in my car. (I've checked both driver and passenger footwells behind the carpets).
Does anyone know where the control unit is on a Tamora or have any other ideas as to what may be the problem? The fan was running fine before it stopped.
Thanks
Davie

[Pursyluv]

Had the same problem with mine - it was a switch (i think) and it was located high in the passenger footwell, it was showing heat damage around one of the pins, it took the kind gentleman who changed it, about 30 seconds to do so.

[DS1962]

Yeh, that sounds like the problem I had with it last year. I too adjusted the pin/socket to ensure a snug fit and the wire heating/ fan not working problem was sorted. Thought it was the same this time round but doesn't appear to be the case.
Is the unit under the passenger dash (with the 6 pin plug connector and 2 tube shaped things (capacitors?)) the heater control unit?
Cheers
davie

[fredd1e]

DS1962 said:

<snip>
Is the unit under the passenger dash (with the 6 pin plug connector and 2 tube shaped things (capacitors?)) the heater control unit?
Cheers
davie

Sounds like its the heater ECU to me.

[Granturadriver]

Maybe check and change to two electrolytic capacitors, which you could by in any shop for electronic assessoirs.

In Germany these are available from Conrad, in UK maybe in a shop like that?!

[shep1001]

This is the bit that is most likely to be the culprit. Its secured in place with two well hidden screws, don't yank it off thinking its stuck in place!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... amp connector&mid=133104


Here are the bits you need to fix the plug

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... heater amp plugs&mid=133104


If the heater amp is totally cooked, this link tells you where to get it fixed.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Interior fans not working

Edited by shep1001 on Thursday 4th August 17:45

[DS1962]

Thanks for that,confirms I was looking at the right thing. I will strip it out over the weekend and have a look. From previous posts I believe it can be a DIY fix to replace the 2 capacitors with parts from somewhere like Maplins so I will maybe give this consideration in the first instance and let you know how I get on.
Thanks again.
Davie

[DS1962]

Well, I replaced the capacitors to no effect. I noted that there were positive and negative markings on the PCB but no such thing on the capacitors so tried them both way round to no avail.
Is there a way of testing the heater motor (direct feed from the battery?)which bypasses the control unit but does not require stripping the cover from the engine bay to physically get to the motor? I'm now not sure whether the motor or the control unit is at fault.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

[brogenville]

I'm afraid capacitors are polarised. Negative is denoted by the longer leg and the line on the side of the capacitor. I'd check this first.

[shep1001]

DS1962 said:

Well, I replaced the capacitors to no effect. I noted that there were positive and negative markings on the PCB but no such thing on the capacitors so tried them both way round to no avail.
Is there a way of testing the heater motor (direct feed from the battery?)which bypasses the control unit but does not require stripping the cover from the engine bay to physically get to the motor? I'm now not sure whether the motor or the control unit is at fault.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

Have you made sure you have a good contact on all 4 pins of the plug? just because its 'conected' does not insure good contact. I could wiggle mine and the motor would run/stop dependant on if I had a good connection.

Switch the fan on and give the connector the wiggle test! I would also check fuse #28. From memory this is the 20A fuse for the heater (14th fuse up from the bottom of the fuse board)

Shep

[DS1962]

I've checked the connection as I've had trouble with that before. It seems secure and there is power getting to the plug via the green wire. The fuse is ok, as are the relays. I've also checked the connections from the dash switch (via the ribbon cable)to the control unit(?) behind the dash pod but that seems ok too si I'm kinda stumped as to whether it's the motor or control unit.
Cheers
Davie

[DS1962]

Before I strip out the motor is there anyone in the central Scotland area who has a spare heater unit that they would be willing to let me try in my Tam? I am willing to travel from the Glasgow area to meet up and any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Davie

[DS1962]

Finally sorted it out. The brushes on the heater fan motor had worn away (one down to the wire) resulting in no power getting to it.
A nightmare to get the fan out as you have to take the battery out and feel blindly up into the nearside wing to get to it and also remove the heater matrix from the nearside inner wing to get to the securing screws. Still, £5 worth of brushes from my local electrical store was better than a new fan at £130!
Thanks for all your suggestions.
Davie

[Buzz Billsberry]

DS1962 said:

Finally sorted it out. The brushes on the heater fan motor had worn away (one down to the wire) resulting in no power getting to it.
A nightmare to get the fan out as you have to take the battery out and feel blindly up into the nearside wing to get to it and also remove the heater matrix from the nearside inner wing to get to the securing screws. Still, £5 worth of brushes from my local electrical store was better than a new fan at £130!
Thanks for all your suggestions.
Davie

Glad you got sorted Davie and well done Andy (shep1001) at last someone who actually knows about TVRs. I was a pretty disappointed with the technical knowledge of members on the TVR club site they just seem to talk about polishing!! After been with the Westfeild Sport Car Club for the past 11 years the tech support and mechanical knowlegde on there is vast... I do miss the tech chat from the smallest up to the build stuff. Hey ho its a good job we have PH!

Buzz