heater fan

Chat about your MKIII (86C) inc GT/G40 Polo
lord_sharpy
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heater fan

Post by lord_sharpy »

my heater fan only goes on speed 3 and makes a bit of a screeching noise, only started doing it today in the freezing cold. is it easy to get to to lubricate doesnt turn on speed 1 or 2!
pettsy
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Post by pettsy »

mine skreeches like a good-un. iirc they're hard to lubricate as the hold is right in the middle of the spinning section and not many things will reach in. im just going to replace the motor!

Pettsy
ste mk1lx
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Re: heater fan

Post by ste mk1lx »

lord_sharpy wrote:my heater fan only goes on speed 3 doesnt turn on speed 1 or 2!
the resistor pack on the side of the heater motor is at fault easy enough to replace
Tahrey1043
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Post by Tahrey1043 »

yeah mines started going squerrrrrrrr.... sounds like a small animal has got trapped in the works. what causes that??
Steve_O
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Re: heater fan

Post by Steve_O »

ste mk1lx wrote:
lord_sharpy wrote:my heater fan only goes on speed 3 doesnt turn on speed 1 or 2!
the resistor pack on the side of the heater motor is at fault easy enough to replace
Yeah, i've had this problem before too. The resistor pack is basically a ceramic shaft with resistive wire wrapped around it. I did actually repair mine with a bit of solder where it burnt out, but a new one is probably peanuts, or free from a scrappy!! :wink:

The reason it still works on full speed is because it bypasses the resistor pack altogether, and just puts full power through to the fan motor.

If you take your scuttle tray out, the resistor pack should be fairly obvious!!
hardhitter
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Post by hardhitter »

The screeching is actually the fan touching part of the casing as it rotates round. You can adjust it (i think) so it stops screeching.
Gareth_GT_Hatch
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Post by Gareth_GT_Hatch »

Tahrey1043 wrote:yeah mines started going squerrrrrrrr.... sounds like a small animal has got trapped in the works. what causes that??
leaves? I dont think its entirely enclosed...
DelG40
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Post by DelG40 »

I have had this problem (the screeching), and my dad solved it! Do not fear, don't replace anything. Simply drill a 20mm hole through the top of the fan housing, give it a good spray of WD40 (it will smell a little while afterwards in the car, but it soon disappears). Once the squeeking has stopped, simply plug the hole with a 20mm blank plug.

Sorted!

(PS. I've also had/have some leaves in the system. Just pick them out from the gap in the side of the fan housing, and/or when they blow up through the heat shafts and come to the fan grille, just pick them out with pliers etc.)
GroovyCarrot
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Post by GroovyCarrot »

I was just about to post exactly the same problem as this :D Already replaced the fan once after the old one drove me nuts with it's squeaking, now the replacement has started squeaking and only works on full speed. Glad to hear it's a fairly simple repair, because those fans are a right bugger to get out..
Tahrey1043
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Post by Tahrey1043 »

moon on a stick time:

where's the fan housing?
GroovyCarrot
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Post by GroovyCarrot »

Back of the engine bay, the tray where the battery / fusebox are kept, under the plastic drip tray, big black plastic thing right in the middle.
lord_sharpy
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Post by lord_sharpy »

i just replaced the resistor pack with one from a scrappy but it still only goes on speed 3, can u test it with a voltmeter or anything to check?
amstrange1
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Post by amstrange1 »

Don't use WD40 to lubricate a squeaky fan, it's a releasing agent/moisture repellant - not a massively effective lubricant. Try using spray white grease instead. Need to get round to doing mine at some stage.
hardhitter
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Post by hardhitter »

I think the best way to stop is squeeling is to remove the housing and take it apart so you can see where it's catching. Then lubricate with some proper grease that will last.

Oh and the resistor pack has a silver inline thermal fuse underneath it. Thats between no's 1 and 2, de-solder and remove it and put a piece of wire in place. Then it will always work on all three speeds without going again.
amstrange1
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Post by amstrange1 »

hardhitter wrote:Oh and the resistor pack has a silver inline thermal fuse underneath it. Thats between no's 1 and 2, de-solder and remove it and put a piece of wire in place. Then it will always work on all three speeds without going again.
Ja, and potentially cause a fire if it gets too hot. You muppet Barningfield! :wink:
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