Heater lever stuck and dead back fans, any thoughts?

[CatBusFreda]

Morning guys,

Another little task to add to the Freda to do list. I was cleaning in there last night (is there an award for the dirtiest van? Only I think we may have bought it.) And whilst doing the dashboard I noticed that the lever on the fan, the one that changes it from air being circulated around the car to air being circulated from outside is stuck about a third of the way across.

Also, the front fans work a treat but the back fans are dead, there seems to be a green light above the controls which doesn't even come on. We have made sure they are on on the front and the rear switch is flicked.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[CatBusFreda]

Anyone?

[mikeonb4c]

I think you've got to go on the diagnostics trail. Geoff is our wiring guru so hopefully he'll spot this post and reply soon but the green light might at least suggest its an intact system. Is there a fuse that can be checked? Can you access the fan to see if putting 12v across it makes the motor work etc. Does the master switch in the front illuminate when you switch it to on etc. Do you have a multimeter (essential bit of kit) to check voltages at key points etc. You refer to fans (plural) but assume you know there is one fan in the front and one in the back, and that the front fan must be in positions 1-4 (i.e. ON) and the master switch on the lower panel to the right of the steering wheel must be on also, before rear fan will operate.

[CatBusFreda]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I know it is one fan, it was the two vent holes that got me making it plural. The switch on the dashboard is on, as are the blowers on the front panel. The back blowers are switched on but the green light doesn't illuminate.

Also, the lever that switches between circulating air around the car to bringing in air from outside is stuck at about the halfway mark.

Our air con light does come on though, but doesn't blow cold so guessing at no gas.

Hope that helps.

[jimmo62]

Check here for the relevant fuse http://www.g8dhe.net/bwm/default.htm (select the"by fuse problem" link)

[CatBusFreda]

Thanks for that and something I forgot from my description. Changed that on Monday.

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I know it is one fan, it was the two vent holes that got me making it plural. The switch on the dashboard is on, as are the blowers on the front panel. The back blowers are switched on but the green light doesn't illuminate.

Also, the lever that switches between circulating air around the car to bringing in air from outside is stuck at about the halfway mark.

Our air con light does come on though, but doesn't blow cold so guessing at no gas.

Hope that helps.

Sorry, i misread the green light thing. Lights might need i think to be on before it illuminates though so check that.

The recirc lever stuff is mechanical so you want to have a look at whats happening with the air scoop box under the bonnet whilst trying to operate it. There's a torsion spring to assist it i think so check that is present and working.

Aircon - most specialists will i think test to see if it is pressurising and charge little for that if it isnt. Another thing to check is that the aircon belt is present and working.

[CatBusFreda]

Okay, with the front heater control lever I did a bit of investigation at lunch time and it seems the linkage on the back of the heater controls and goes under the bonnet to direct the air flow is super stiff. I sprayed some wd40 on any parts that looked like the moved but no real improvement.