Heater blower not working.....

[TouringLux]

Hello everyone,

I know this 'heater blower not working' has probably been asked before, but on my late model E30 the access point behind the engine bulkhead looks different than others I have seen on Youtube and on photo threads here.

The model is a 1993 316i Touring Lux; the heater/blower was working normally, began to slow down for a few weeks, then quit altogether - it doesn't work on any speed.

Any ideas of the problem and where to access it on my late model touring?

Thank you!

[Brianmoooore]

Access to the motor is by removing the panel that i part of the bulkhead at the back of the engine compartment. It's fairly well camouflaged, but is held by four small self tapping screws, after unclipping the wiring, etc. attached to it.
Your initial problem was the motor seizing up, but now you may have damaged the resistor pack and its integrated overload protection.
Take the motor out by unclipping the two bands that hold it in place. There's a knack with these, but they're easy enough when you master it.
Free the motor up with something like WD40, then connect it up to 12 volts while holding it in your had. Add more WD40 until the bearings are cleaned out, then allow to dry, and lubricate the bearings with light machine oil, such as "3 in 1", powering up the motor again in your hand, repeating until oil is worked right into the porous bronze bearings.
Refit the motor, and see if the resistor pack has surived.

[TouringLux]

Thanks for the info, Brian,

I had removed the long plastic panel on the bulkhead, but came across a bundle of wiring running horizontally and didn't want to disturb anything. Now I know the access is behind there I'll give it a shot and hope I don't break anything!

[TouringLux]

Okay, a quick progress report:

So I managed to remove the blower and used WD40 on it, wired it up to 12v and tested it - it worked just fine. I put ''3 in 1'' on it and after a few minutes of it sitting in the mild sunshine loosely fitted it in place behind the bulkhead.

I was surprised when the blower didn't work on setting 1 or 2 but did on 3 and 4. The battery on my car needs charging as it's off the road, so I charged the battery and the blower then ran a little faster but still not on setting 1 and 2. I stopped when smoke came from the bulkhead and around the blower which I assume is the WD40 not dried properly or the ''3 in 1''? I lifted it straight out and there was no damage. It is now drying out in the house.

Any more ideas?

[Brianmoooore]

You need to get the motor fully working, powered up in your hand, before refitting in the car. That way you hold the motor at various angles, taking advantage of the end play on the shaft to work the oil right into the bearings, and clean off excess oil before you refit.
Quote from my first post: "but now you may have damaged the resistor pack and its integrated overload protection." It appears that you did leave it too long, and have now burnt out the resistor between speeds 2 and 3.
You'll find the pack inside the cabin, on the LH side of the heater box, partially hidden behind the electric water valve. It's coloured brown, with several wires going to it, and just pulls out after pressing a tab on its side.

[TouringLux]

Thanks, Brian.

Just to clarify, I have had the blower running in my hand before placing back in the car (but not securing). I will try again tomorrow and move it around a bit more.

My car although in France is right hand drive. When you say LH side of heater box, do you mean by opening the glove box and accessing by removing the plastic panel on the right of the open glove box?

I am not quite sure where you mean to actually get in there when you say LH side of heater box......sorry for being a pain.

[Brianmoooore]

You'll be able to see it with the panel on the side of the glove box removed, but access will be better with the centre console removed as well.

[paultv]

All the parts which are handed left and right are designated by standing behind the vehicle and looking at it, hence RHD is on the right and LHD on the left.

This applies to things like handed suspension parts for example, or body panels and so on.

Paul:-)

[TouringLux]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm working on the repair and hope to be able to report the blower working again at some point.