Help With Front Blower

[Wrighty73]

Evening

 

I hope i am not asking a question that has been asked and answered many times before. I have done a quick search of the forum and haven't managed to find an answer for my problem.

 

We have a 2000 V Reg Galaxy and have started to have major problems with the front blower. About 6 months ago it would only work on setting 4, so i got a secondhand resistor from ebay and all was fine other than a little whine when the blower was on setting 1 and 2.

 

Now over the last couple of weeks there has been a slight burning smell coming from the heaters when you first start them. Now this is my wifes daily car and she doesn't always tell me about the problems until they are major. So i get a call from her this morning telling me the heaters no longer work at all.

 

I have been out and had a look tonight and you turn them on, they run for a little while and then slow down and stop. You have to turn them off, wait a few minutes and then it does they same thing, only running for a few seconds each time.

 

I am hoping that this is something simple, but as it starts up first i am not sure whether it is the resistor again or now something more major like the motor itself.

 

Please can someone point me in the right direction so that i can avoid wasting more money on parts that i don't actually need (this is something that has happened for a number of other issues with this car).

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Wrighty

[dlt1617]

I'd be inclined to check the blower resistor again as it could be overheating causing the smell and only working when it has cooled.

Heater blower motors tend to just stop rather than work when they have cooled down

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

[Wrighty73]

I'd be inclined to check the blower resistor again as it could be overheating causing the smell and only working when it has cooled.

Heater blower motors tend to just stop rather than work when they have cooled down

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

 

Thanks, will see if i can find one. Would it still overheat thou in a matter of seconds when you turn it on?

 

Smell isnt there anymore

[bj2004]

if this helps the readings for a new front blower resistor pack looking at green connector at bottom are

counting pins 1-4 from left

 

1-2 2.7 ohms

1-3 1.2 ohms

1-4 1.0 ohms

2-3 2.3 ohms

2-4 3.2 ohms

3-4 1.6 ohms

 

you should be ok as long as theese are within 10-20 %

 

have fun

[seatkid]

Most likely that something is laid on the resistor pack, maybe a wire. The pack gets stinking hot during operation and this would melt insulation on wires or plastics causing the smell. Also, I'm not sure, but the pack should be fixed to a steel bracket or bodywork which should act as a heatsink - did you reinstall as original?

 

Strip and inspect.

Edited January 19, 2012 by seatkid

[Wrighty73]

Right i got my meter out and crawled under the dashboard to test the resistor. Readings i got were:-

 

1-2 = 2.6

1-3 = 1.6

1-4 = 0.8

2-3 = 1.5

2-4 = 3.2

3-4 = 1.9

 

Now i know that some of these are out of range based on the previous post but would it really affect it that much?

 

I then thought as i was down there, if there was no resistor would the fan then cut out like it had been. So with it unplugged i turned the blowers on. As before they ran for a short while and then the fan slowed down to a stop and then wouldnt start again for a while. Now i don't really know much about the diagnostics of problems like this, hence why i am on here looking for help.

 

So the ultimate question is, do i replace the resistor or the motor? Obviously the resistor would be the easier one to replace as i have done this before and wouldn't need to get the manual out for it.

 

Please give me some guidance.

 

Thanks

[Wrighty73]

Most likely that something is laid on the resistor pack, maybe a wire. The pack gets stinking hot during operation and this would melt insulation on wires or plastics causing the smell. Also, I'm not sure, but the pack should be fixed to a steel bracket or bodywork which should act as a heatsink - did you reinstall as original?

 

Strip and inspect.

 

 

Haven't removed the resistor from the car yet, but it is mounted exactly the same as the original was. Of course it was a secondhand one, so you never know how long they will last.

 

I am not sure there are any wires that would touch the resistor on the inside, outside doesn't have anything touching.

 

Thanks

[bj2004]

No at those values i would expect some differences the pack sounds good

unless you can see or feel that the fan can turn freely id cant help anymore unless the switch is faulty

good luck

[Wrighty73]

Havent taken the cover off the fan unit yet. (wife's car and she has gone out. Will still moan that i haven't fixed it though).

 

You can sometimes hear a wump wump (thinks thats the type of noise) as the motor slows and it also sounds very laboured.. I think the switch on the dash is fine (if thats the one your talking about) as the motor slows and stops after a while of working. If the switch was faulty i would expect it to not start at all. Or am i wrong with my thinking

[bj2004]

hmm

i would agree switch sounds fine you need to look at motor might be obstruction to blades or dry bearing causing it to overheat and cut out

[richardman101]

hmm

i would agree switch sounds fine you need to look at motor might be obstruction to blades or dry bearing causing it to overheat and cut out

it would be a good idea to check / replace your cabin filter if you havent done so in a while - these can severely restrict airflow into the fan blower assembly when they get old and blocked - could end up costing you a fortune in replacemenr resistors! (voice of experience, 2 resistors later......)

[bj2004]

Technicaly lack of air due to a blocked filter would cause fan to run faster as there is less resistance to air flow hence resistor pack failing starting to sound like motor impeeded

[Wrighty73]

Thanks for all your responses.

 

Had a child home from school sick today so that meant i couldnt go to work. Wife left me the car and i was able to have a proper look at it. As the posts above suggested it was a seizing blower bearing (or at least thats the way it looked).

 

A few hours later, some phone calls, internet searching and a 30 mile round trip and i have a secondhand working fitted blower. The wife will be pleased when she comes home from work.

 

As for the cabin filter, it is due for replacement and i have to do a full service on the car anyway.

 

Thanks again everyone

[ashok]

I had the same problem. Blower working in the rear but not in the front. I read all the information and it all points to the resistor pack,. Anyway, I took the glove compartment off - with difficulty I might add - and was suprised to discover no green box housing the resistor. Mine had a RED box(Marked Valeo IJO 907 521) which I managed to remove.....(incidentally, the ' screw' is not philips/flat but requires the multi pointed 'star' variety which can be found in the selection of drill bits from most pound shops - I happened to have it in my toolbox.). The box was covered on the reverse with little steel rods !! Turns out to be identical to the resistor pack found on Audi's and Volkswagens....I have ordered one from Ebay for £10 Seeing as the current was at plug , I'm hoping my problem will be solved.

 

Ash

Edited December 13, 2012 by ashok