Discussion
My newly aquired W reg 450 has just been to a main agent for a coolant gasket replacment. Doesn't leak coolant any more but came back with no heater fan and it looks like it's down to me to sort it out. The switch clics positively when pressed but the fan doesn't operate at any speed at all.
I'v read some of the older threads and have become a little confused. I hear mention of a heater control unit and a bunch of melted wires. What is a heater control unit? Do I even have one? As far as I can see the only electrical control available is turning the fan on or off, the rest is cable operated unless I am mistaken.
To stand a fighting chance of sorting the problem I need to know what components are involved and where they are located. I will assume that the fan itself is OK as it has not given any previous signs of a problem. My handbook tells me that the fuse is number 14 and should be 15 amp. In the car number 14 has a 20 amp fuse which is fine. With this sort of current I assume that there is a relay involved somewhere but I have no idea where.
Any help would be appreciated - particularly in what items can be checked before I commit myself to taking the dash apart. Many thanks,
Allan
I'v read some of the older threads and have become a little confused. I hear mention of a heater control unit and a bunch of melted wires. What is a heater control unit? Do I even have one? As far as I can see the only electrical control available is turning the fan on or off, the rest is cable operated unless I am mistaken.
To stand a fighting chance of sorting the problem I need to know what components are involved and where they are located. I will assume that the fan itself is OK as it has not given any previous signs of a problem. My handbook tells me that the fuse is number 14 and should be 15 amp. In the car number 14 has a 20 amp fuse which is fine. With this sort of current I assume that there is a relay involved somewhere but I have no idea where.
Any help would be appreciated - particularly in what items can be checked before I commit myself to taking the dash apart. Many thanks,
Allan
I would take it back to the agent and say politely but firmly what have you done to my heater fan and what are you going to do about it.
Yes check fuses and relays but other than that is a big job with the dash and most of the front of the interior to come apart.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Yes check fuses and relays but other than that is a big job with the dash and most of the front of the interior to come apart.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Well that's a lovely thought but I do have to say that they have a valid point. Changing a coolant gasket involves work solely in the engine compartment and the heater controls are all interior to the cabin which they have had nothing to do with. I'm sure I could convince them to do something for me as a good will gesture but without any remote connection to the work that they have done the good will tends to dry up pretty quickly and I am still going to end up with a hefty bill at the end of the day. My experience is that it is just easier to get on with it and do it yourself.
ribol said: Just a daft thought, can we assume the heater blower motor is not accesible from under the bonnet as it is on some cars (have not got a clue, never looked for it)?
Ivan
Correct. The heater unit is in the front passenger wing and is accessible by either the bulb access panel and/or removing the headlamp.
To get to the controls to check that power is getting to the motor, remove the dash. This is a lot easier then getting access to the motor so I would try that first. If air con is fitted it gets a lttle bit more complex....
Steve
>> Edited by shpub on Tuesday 24th December 08:23
Was coming from the direction the garage may have disturbed the wiring going to the blower motor, assuming this is not possible sounds like that idea is a non starter.
I presume the rotary dash switch is some sort of combined on/off and variable resistor switch as it has not got stepped resistance. That being the case there would be no good reason for there being any relays involved other than maybe to supplying the motor via the switch. Assuming this to be true there is either no supply to the switch, the switch has packed up, the fan motor has died or you have a wiring fault. As the dash work sounds rather drastic it may be worth checking that there is enough current actually getting through the fuse and back out of the fuse box before ripping the car apart? Failing that, I cannot see how you can get any further with this without checking the live supply on the back of the switch. Merry Christmas!!
Ivan
I presume the rotary dash switch is some sort of combined on/off and variable resistor switch as it has not got stepped resistance. That being the case there would be no good reason for there being any relays involved other than maybe to supplying the motor via the switch. Assuming this to be true there is either no supply to the switch, the switch has packed up, the fan motor has died or you have a wiring fault. As the dash work sounds rather drastic it may be worth checking that there is enough current actually getting through the fuse and back out of the fuse box before ripping the car apart? Failing that, I cannot see how you can get any further with this without checking the live supply on the back of the switch. Merry Christmas!!
Ivan
Ok do you think it likely they might have disconneted the battery whist working on the car - or looked at or reomved a fuse to isolate something? I have a Griff so I don't know if this is the same on the Chimaera but... in the passenger footwell, to the side, just above where the carpet ends, there is a white block-connector, I once knocked this appart when I had the toe-board out to fiddle with the fuses. Worth a quick look under there with a torch. 
Rich...
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