Blower switch / Fan switch

[Fozzie]

Autumn. A working heater fan is about to become very important, but ours has never worked properly since getting the van, and packed up completely some months back, so now's the time to sort it. I suspect the book says if it doesn't work chuck it and renew, but I found it's quicker to fix it.

I couldn't find any specific advice on here, so I tackled the job blind, and thought I might document what I did in case it may help someone else (or me, next time I have to tackle it and have forgotten what I did). This is just what I did, so if you do this and your van doors fall off it's not my fault. And yes I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but I didn't take any, so here's a thousand words instead.

First lesson for me was that, if you can get the radio out easily, it's not necessary to remove the instrument pod to remove the main blower switch. I learnt this too late of course.

You can remove the heater controls fascia by pulling it gently forward (to ease out the plastic covered lugs at the back which hold it in place) revealing the switch behind. (You'll need to pull the knob off the fan switch first, but shouldn't need to remove the heater knobs.) Next push in the retaining spring at the right side of the switch (either through the hole where the radio was, or from the top if you removed the instrument pod), and pull the switch towards you. At this point you can separate the switch from the connector block behind it. Note it is a tight fit, and as you do this you tend to lift one or more of the four connection tags - more on this in a moment.

You have 4 tags marked +, I, II and III. On mine a voltmeter (set to measure resistance) showed only one worked as it should.

Use the blade of a small screwdriver to open the lugs and prise the switch apart. At this point the whole thing springs up at you and bits fall on the floor. Well, maybe not you, but that's what happened to me. You should end up with: the switch body; the connector inside which rotates and holds the copper contact mounted on springs; two tiny steel slivers with punched points which hold the splined bit of the rotating connector (to give you that pop-pop-pop feel as you turn the knob); and the cap which holds the tags.

Clean off all the contact points with emery paper (a borrowed emery board worked for me) and smear a tiny bit of petroleum jelly on them.

Now to reassemble... First drop the two steel springs into the locating holes in the switch body, ensuring the raised points are facing each other. This is actually easier than it sounds; a SLIGHTLY magnetic screwdriver helps to fit them. Then drop the rotating connector gently into place between them - it might take a couple of goes. This needs to go the right way round; the side of the copper with a tiny a depression goes nearest to the flat part of the otherwise round body. Finally offer up the cap, rotate to line up the flats on cap and body, and press into place.

Check again with the voltmeter. If one of the contacts seems not to work check whether that tag became raised when you separated the switch. If so use a screwdriver to press it firmly down again (so that it makes proper contact with the rotating connector underneath).

Phew. Easier to do than to describe so well worth it. I now have a 3-speed fan for the first time in ages... Roll on frosty mornings.

[Cruz]

Great write up. Here's my method I did 4 years ago.

Problem: Turn on fan switch. Only top speed works.

Solution: Drive to GSF. Purchase new switch for £4.00 (as per 2005)

Current part number and price 93495 Heater Blow.Motor Switch T25 5/17> £5.00+vat

Remedy: Fit new switch. Revel in 3 fan operating speeds.

[slim_adi]

ooops - sorry - wrong thread !!!

[Cafnod]

Hey Jim
Mine only runs on 1 and 3 how about doing mail order service exchange?

[Fozzie]

Hey Jim
Mine only runs on 1 and 3 how about doing mail order service exchange?

Sorry - only do onsite fixes!

[Cafnod]

There are several answers to that Jim, wouldnt you rather be boating than fixing heater switches is only one of them.

[rottenrobin]

Wish I'd read this 4 weeks ago, Brrrrrrrr!!!