Heater fan/blower suddenly stopped

[RedThunder]

Hey guys, wondering if anyone can shed some light or opinions on this for me...

Fan for the heater suddenly stopped yesterday, drover it home (5 miles) from herselfs place, was in mine for about 20 minutes getting breakfast etc. then when I went to leave for training kaput! Fan wouldn't work at all.

Now there was still heat coming from the vents when I turned the heat up, but settings 1-4 on the switch made no differences, no more air at all. Though I could see the lights dimming when I put it up to setting 4 so I think its a problem with the fan?

Any ideas what to check for this? Can't go without that going into winter

Thanks

[Cloud]

Could it be the switch? I have exactly the same problem.
I'm going to replace the switch today, I'll let you know how it goes.

[RedThunder]

I don't think its the switch - when I turn the switch from off to number 4 I can see the headlights/dash lights dimming as if power is being moved elsewhere so I think its the fan.

Been searching and found a few threads with similar problems, going to try get in and look at the fan and see if its blocked or anything.

[RedThunder]

Quick update - went in and had a bash at the heater motor, turns out it was just stuck.

Will get back to it take it out and grease it up another day to keep it going but for now it kind of works, haha.

It won't turn on to 1 from off but it goes from off to 2,3 or 4 and from there once it has started moving it can be put back to 1 and will stay on. Simple enough fix thank god.

[aj_mckay]

how easily accessible is the motor? mine seems a bit 'sticky' at the moment and sometimes slows down or stops

[RedThunder]

It's not too bad actually - theres 4 small hexagonal screws that need to be removed from the firewall just under the windshield right in the centre, you will probably need to shift/unclip some wires from the front of it (mine were cable tied to it, could have just been mine though as someone had been in there previously) then just remove that and you are looking at the motor.

There is covers on the actual fan part itself they just clip off though with a little force. I didn't remove mine but could give it a shove to get it going from the way I had it. I will need to take it out and WD40 the crap out of it to keep it going as it was sputtering a bit on me this evening.

[aj_mckay]

I suppose they naturally get gunked up after a few years similar to how the wiper motor does - similar location too by the sound of it! maybe needs re-greasing or something. Or just replacing

[RedThunder]

*Sigh*

I spoke WAY too soon. The day after I first "fixed" it it stopped working again. It randomly came on later that day though after some sputtering about but this was short lived as the next day it was gone again and its been gone since.

Took the motor out completely there and gave it a good clean and lashing of WD40 but no joy at all, wont work from speeds 1-4 at all. Then I went at the resistor like I have been reading about on here, took a bit of work to get into it as its not accessible from where the motor is on my car (320i) so had to get in through the glove box. Took that out and gave that a clean and WD40 but still no joy.

Think the motor has finally given up so going to try source one from a breakers now, hopefully get it today. This morning was a nightmare with ice and condensed windows... can't hack many more of them

[aj_mckay]

Yea, not the best of times for the motor to pack in! Stick a post in the wanted section on here - might be easier than trawling through breakers yards for a motor that might not work either!

Good luck...

[gerrard]

Hi, I'm having a similar problem where the fan only works on position 4.
I've got right at the motor but the brown resistor board I've read about isn't present at the bottom of the motor.
I disconnected the motor and tested the voltage to it at the wires. Power only present at position 4.
I think the resistor must be somewhere else?
It's a 318is 1990.
Paul.

[aj_mckay]

I disconnected the motor and tested the voltage to it at the wires. Power only present at position 4.
I think the resistor must be somewhere else?
It's a 318is 1990.
Paul.

I'm no electrician but could that indicate a fault with the switch in the dash?

[gerrard]

okay well any ideas how I get the dash apart to look at the switch?

[aj_mckay]

I don't know about that unfortunately. I'd hang fire to see if anyone else thinks the same before you go ripping bits off your dash though because, as i mentioned, i'm no expert. Just seems to indicate the switch to me...

[Stage3GTI]

I too have the problem with the blower only working on switch-setting 4.... I had the motor out and cleaned it up this weekend and no joy. I was looking for the resistor board that the US websites describe but it isn't there on both of my UK E30s.
Can somebody tell us if the resistor pack is that little box near the heater core? And if it is...how do we get it out for replacement/repair?

[Brianmoooore]

Resistor pack is almost behind the electric heater valve on the LH side of the heater box. Take off the RH access panel of the glovebox, and you will see it. Brown in colour, with several wires going into it, and held in place by a simple clip.