Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 13:54:41 -0400
Reply-To: jeff crane <jeffcrane@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: jeff crane <jeffcrane@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject: FW: Front Blower - Help! (while we're on the subject)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
You might want to try first checking your blower motor resistor. This is
normally located in the air plenum for the heater and or A/C system ducts
not far from the blower motor. This resistor is what makes the slower speeds
possible. Sometimes you can get a situation where the resistor fails in such
a way to crate a short within itself. I think this could account for the
changes you speak of as well as general failure of the blower system itself.
It is not uncommon for the blower motor itself to have just spun so much
now that it is shorting itself and therefore your fuses blow. Having been
responsible for a large fleet of very large trucks with a labor contract
that says they do not have to drive with out A/C you learn that it is a good
idea to replace the resistor and switch with the blower. There is also
normally a relay to help you get that highest speed from the blower.
Unfortunately I do not have any vanagon wiring diagrams or enough
experience with how VW does their A/C systems. But it is a good start to
find the resistor, pull it from the plenum(2 screws I bet) and inspect it
visually. Then find the relay if it has one as well. Look it over closely.
Good luck with this, if you find the parts and do not get any further help
with it let me know, I will go read up on it and look at a vanagon and help
you with it if you wish.
take care
jeff/florida
Doug wrote:
The idea of removing the entire dashboard is right up there among the least
appealing ways I could imagine spending a weekend, however I fear it might
be upcoming for me - let me explain...
My front blower switch died some time ago. Symptoms of death: it would click
into position "1" (and the blower would blow on low speed) but wouldn't
click into place on "2" and wouldn't even turn as far as "3". I got a new
switch and installed it - easy enough. The switch went click click click
just fine - "Great!" I thought. I turned on the ignition and tried again -
the blower didn't come on. Hmmm... I tried it again - click to position
"1"... nothing. Click "2"... nothing. Click "3"... nothing... then
POP! The blower fuse was zapped. I repeated this sequence with a few new
fuses and it seems that the fuse will get zapped only if the switch is left
on position "3" for several seconds. The blower does not blow regardless of
switch position.
?????
I can't imagine the blower is bad all of a sudden - it worked on "low"
before I replaced the switch. Prior to that, the switch operated normally
and the blower blew on all three settings. Could it be that the new switch
is defective? I'll try swapping the rear blower switch - I think it's the
same part #. Or maybe I got the wrong part? It plugged right in though, so
that doesn't seem like it would be the case. Perhaps I nicked a wire while
rooting around inside the dashboard? Or maybe the blower failing caused the
old switch to get fried - but if that was the case why wouldn't the fuse
have just blown rather then the switch failing? And why would it work on "1"
with the old switch and not at all with the new switch? Anyone experienced
something similar or have any brilliant theories?
I've become quite adept at modulating the windows to prevent either the
prevailing atmospheric conditions or my Perpetually Panting Passenger (a.k.a
My Mutant Malamute Moisture Machine) from fogging things up, and thanks to
the lovely flow-through ventilation, as long as I'm moving things are fine,
but sometimes despite my best efforts I'm just SOL.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
'90 Syncro
