Weird Fan problem

[aussiebeano]

Looking for ideas how to fix. The heater fan works fine on speeds 1 and 2. When put on speed 3, it stops working. The air con light stays on when this happens. Not a big problem, I just stay on speed 2, it's just annoying. Car is 2004 111R

[minor5]

could be the switch or (a resistor if the heater fan motor still uses that type of wiring system)cant tell without a wiring diagram!
hope its not common as ive got a 111r 2004 as well!

[bertie]

Welcome to the world of the failing fan resistor pack!

And great news is it's a front clam off job to get to it.

Just done mine, absolute sod, Lotus have a new version 3 service fix kit out, lets hope version 3 is OK.

[minor5]

bugger i wish you haden't said that!

[aussiebeano]

double bugger. So the resistor pack can even partially fail since my fan runs on all settings except for the highest speed?

[bertie]

Oh yes, it's a belting bit of design.

There are 3 incarnations but both the first 2 sit underneath the fan against the bottom of the car, effectively they sit in a tray with no way for the water to get out and just rot. If I can find my hosting log on I'll post you the pics of my 2005 car when I did mine.

Beware, it's not a pretty sight in there!

[bertie]

OK, First of all take your pride and into a thousand pieces so it looks like this.....



The grapple for hours trying to get the fan out, tearing your knuckles to shreds, once it's out you'll find that underneath in the wet and crap is the resistor pack which looks like this. Note the corroded and burnt wires....



Here's a close up.......



Mmmmm, lovely isn't it!

Basicly it sits under the fan in a puddle of water all it's life. Any water that goes in through the front grills sits in the front compatrment and their is no way out for it.




Good news is that the new service kit blanks off the old position at the bottom of the fan, uses decent chunky power resistors and puts them on a new fan mounting plate inside the fan and high up away from any lying water, so it should be a whole lot better.

And don't forget to drill some drain holes in the floor while you are there as per the lotus service notes.

I understand it's a £600 job at a dealer due to the labour involved, having done mine myself, that sounds a bargain!

Good luck!

Edited by bertie on Sunday 23 March 11:02

[mylesmcd]

a quick and unrelated question;


jacking the car up? where is best to place the jack?

[bertie]

mylesmcd said:

a quick and unrelated question;


jacking the car up? where is best to place the jack?

If you look underneath the car there are 4 round blue stickers which are the jacking points.

The front is roughly in line with the front wheel arch, the rear is in about at the door shut IIRC.

But do make sure you jack up on these points not other places underneath as you can bend things.

It's in the manual too and on the SELOC Techwiki.

HTH

[mylesmcd]

cheers fella