Date:         Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:09:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Helmut Blong <helmut.blong@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Helmut Blong <helmut.blong@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Fwd: Front Blower... resistor? Long babble
In-Reply-To:  <20060920041331.46588.qmail@web37308.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Good summary, Joel. I will be tackling this sometime before the rime lays
thick on the lea.

mordo

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joel Cort <joel_cort@yahoo.com>
Date: Sep 20, 2006 12:13 AM
Subject: Re: Front Blower... resistor?  Long babble
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com

Hi Doug,

First you can do some diagnostics without pulling much stuff out of the
dash.

1) The fan control switch can be removed and tested.
It is plastic and prone to meltdowns if there are any overheating issues
like a bad resistor or frozen blower motor.  You say it is OK so lets move
on....

2) Ok so the fan control switch is good, the next thing to test is for the
conductivity of the resistor.  The resistor takes up the difference to allow
the three stages in the blower speeds (low-medium-high).  High setting on
the switch is the default voltage pass-through.  If the resistor is
defective the fan may not work on low or medium but it should definitely
spin on the high setting.  To replace the resistor see part three.

3) If you have tried all these simple diagnostics... hu! did you check the
fuse while trying to get the blower to work? ....  Ok all the simple stuff
is over, now for the difficult work.  It is most likely the fan blower motor
that is defective.

Unfortunately the big resistor is located on the heater box housing right
near the fan blower.  You will need to remove the dash to get to the heater
box. This is a good afternoon's worth of work, just to figure out what is
defective.

When you have the dash out you will be able to work on the heater box.  If
it is the fan blower motor, then you must also remove the heater box and
replace the blower motor.  From what I remember, you will need to split the
heater box into the two halves to get to the blower motor and replace
it.  At this time you have the opportunity to check the heater core for
leaks.  If there are any replace it now and save yourself the additional
agony later.

I did a write up not too long ago, on removing the dash and getting to the
heater box to service it.  Look in the archives or I can forward that info
to you if you wish.

This is a good weekend job.  Just have the parts ready to do the job
right.  Check the list vendors for the blower resistor, blower motor and the
heater core.

Now if LL Bean carried VW parts..... you could go and pick up a heater
blower at 3 in the morning on your way to a campout.......   sorry I
devirted from the story....but what a concept?

If you split the heater case in half, and it is still original from the
factory, you will have to cut the glued sections apart.  VW sell fastening
clips to repair this seal. There are 11 available from the dealer.  Or you
can re-glue the two half, but have to wait for the glue to set. If the
heater has previously been serviced for blower or core then the halves
should be easier to split and separate and you may have these clips holding
the sections on.

Good luck and contact me if you need any further details that I may be able
to share from my past experience.

Joel Cort
jcort@rochester.rr.com
89 Syncro Westy
Rochester NY
Westies at Watkins

Doug Fitz-Randolph <fitzr@SUSCOM-MAINE.NET> wrote:
My blower stopped working about 6 years ago and I'm thinking I might get
to fixing it someday soon. It isn't the switch, I checked that. Turning
the blower on will blow the fuse every time. Does anyone know where the
resistor for the front blower motor is located? Is it part of the motor?
Is there one at all? There must be. I couldn't find a part# in ETKA,
but I seem to recall many years ago hearing that sometimes when your
front blower does not work it is the resistor that has failed rather
than the blower itself. I could very well have completely invented this
memory, though, but thought I'd ask and make sure!

Thanks,
Doug Fitz-Randolph
Freeport, ME



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