Bloody cold .... no heater

[rabowman]

Have to use my 4.5 every day at the moment, and the heater blower has stopped working.
Fuse number 14 is ok as per owners manual and so are the ones to the left and right of it, checked just in case.

The fan is obviously not jammed, so do any of you astute band of technicians have a quick fix for me.

Thanks

Rob

[dogbucket]

There is a control box under the dash which is known for failing. I think it is fixable with some electronics knowhow or replacement can be bought. Or maybe the blower motor itself.

[Rossco2010]

Could just be the switch. Not too bad to get to, if you can get the dashboard top off.

Mine burnt out due to corrosion, but was rescued with a bit of polishing of the terminals.

[rabowman]

Tks, I know you have to take the dash top off (did it when I fitted Pro Start) to acsess the switch, but where exactly is the heater control unit?

[dogbucket]

Just a loose black box behind the heater dials. ie just dash top off

Edited by dogbucket on Sunday 12th December 20:37

[zx6rscotty]

i hav the same problem, but im not sure if the motor is jammed on mine as it was not working when i bought the car. ill be interested to know how you get on. as im going to have a look at mine soon as well. so any info or pic or tips would be appreciated

[rabowman]

-6 in Hampshire this morning, but had to use the Chim.
Went quite fast over my cattle grid and the heater fan started working again.

I had let the car warm up for a couple of minutes, does the fan have a cut out so that you don't get freezing air on start up?

[Cider Andy]

No cut out on the fan.

What colour's the fan control switch, black or silver? Original cars had a Vauxhall switch with three positions. Speed control is achieved by a set of wirewound resistors. Later cars had a silver switch, rotary with a push button function. This controls speed via an ECU under the dash top. The connector to this can burn out: easy fix if you're handy with a soldering iron.

But the usual problem is caused by the fan seizing.

[rabowman]

Later silver switch. The fan is running sweetly with no 'about to seize' noise.
As it has started working again, and it is so effing cold, I will leave it until fault re appears.
Tks
Rob

[rickprice]

There is a known fault on the power wire on the block connector. Several people have posted on how to re-wire past the burnt contact.

Have a search and it'll come up.

Did for me, anyway.

Rich

[rabowman]

Stopped working again today.
Thought I would check the blower motor wiring before taking off the dash top. Bible says it is found in the inspection hatch in front of o/s wheel.
Not on my car !!!!
I also do not have the aux fan that is mentioned in the book.
Anyone know where the main one is located?
Thanks
Rob

[Cider Andy]

The hatch is behind the nearside wheel, not in front of the offside wheel. I didn't think mine had it 'til I looked closely. It's a rectangular panel on mine, fixed with rivets and the edges sealed over, never been removed. You wouldn't notice it unless you were looking for it.

[rabowman]

Thanks Cider Andy, but isn't that for the aux blower and not the main one?
I think the aux was fitted to Griffs (to keap the darlings warm !!) and 5 litre Chims. Mine is a 97 4.5

[Cider Andy]

Mine's only got the Vauxhall Astra heater box, no auxiliary one. I've never had the panel off but I know the heater box is in the area behind it.

[rabowman]

You are so right C.A I must have had a very senior moment and got off side and near side muddled.

Fan is fine, it was the power supply plug from the control that was burnt. Followed your suggestion and soldered a by pass leed in.

All ok now, hood is down and i'm off to Bournemouth.

Rob