Heater fan gone - should I replace resistor pack with Jeep spec or PWM controller?

[ManicGTI]

Hi all, my heater fan is seized solid and pops fuse on 2+ speeds, so have new motor and seal/foam pack from BW ready to 'pop in'.

While i'm there is there anything else I should be replacing or checking on the heater box while i'm in there?

In my travels across the interwebs it looks like over in the US it's a reasonably commonly recommended mod to bin the VW resistor pack inside the heater box and fit a Jeep spec resistor pack.  They're much cheaper than the VW parts and can be located in a way they can be  replaced without dash removal in the future.

There's a number of designs, but here's an example, they're 4 speed, easy wiring and fit to the air box easily according to the samba threads: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167593390554

The other obvious option is PMV conversion for fan speed.

I don't 'need' either other above, I just want the heater working again really, but wondering if it's worth tweaking while i'm in there...

[Rik]

I didn't change the resistor when I did my blower recently. And it is working fine now. But it might be easy insurance to do it when you're there anyway. Personal choice I guess.

Check the coolant hoses up there is my advise. Would be annoying if those were to start leaking while underway.

[ManicGTI]

I guessed from the lack of response that it'l likely be fine to keep the OEM resistor pack.

Good point on the heater hoses, will take a look at them once dash off.  They're probably the only original heater hoses left on the van tbh. I wasn just planning on giving the matrix a clean tbh.

Have the dash loose and ready to pop out at the weekend.  Hoping the box rebuild isn't too painful.

[Rik]

Splitting the box can be quite annoying if it hasn't been done before. The rest is very straightforward. I needed to change some of the foam as the old stuff had gone to dust. Good luck