Club 80-90 Forums

Can anybody tell me the location of the fuse for the heater blower on a Westy Atlantic? Mine has stopped working and i am not sure which one to check

Have a look at this info on Brick-yard for fuse numbers (depends on if you have old or new type fuses)?

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... /fuses.htm

Or it could be the switch, earth or motor. There is a section on this topic in the wiki at the top of the page.

Seizure not uncommon if not used frequently.

Just read the Vanagon manual and i am thinking its position S13 which is 20AMPs. My van is in storage until I collect at Xmas. Going away in the new year so would be nice it it were just the fuse

Andy,
It is not unusual for the 25 year old blower motor to partially/fully seize (squeaking noises on lower speeds). Combine this with tarnished contacts in the blower switch and the extra load created by the partially seizing fan, which then generates excess heat in the switch resulting in a melted switch.

The 'long term prognosis is a new motor plus switch and repaired wiring to the switch (this also tends to melt).
Dash out job...at some point.

However, you might get away with just a fuse and maybe a switch at this point. This doesn't change the overall prognosis though.
Note* will also effect the wipers as they use the same fuse.

Martin

California Dreamin wrote: However, you might get away with just a fuse and maybe a switch at this point. This doesn't change the overall prognosis though.
Note* will also effect the wipers as they use the same fuse.
Martin

Matin,
Very thorough advice there. Thanks . I would imagine the problem isn't the fuse as the wipers are working if I remember correctly from the last use

Giving the panel in front of the gearstick a good thumping worked for me!

Switch melted on mine......repaired some wires and connections, replaced the switch and all worked again. However, I suspect that it is only a matter of time before the motor needs doing as well...at least doing the repair has given it a a year or two more life.

There is a thread somewhere that describes another temporary option of drilling a hole in the front grill to lubricate the outer bearing. It's an option..

Martin

nordberg wrote:

Note* will also effect the wipers as they use the same fuse.

I would imagine the problem isn't the fuse as the wipers are working if I remember correctly from the last use

Just popped here to say that, unless Westy's are different, and they may well be, on the later blade fuse equipped vans, the fuse for the heater is not the same as the fuse for the wipers.

California Dreamin wrote: There is a thread somewhere that describes another temporary option of drilling a hole in the front grill to lubricate the outer bearing. It's an option..

I couldn't find the thread, but I have pic of where you drill the hole. I tried this a few years ago on my van. I drilled 2 holes, one to point a (long) squirty tube attached to my can of aerosol grease through, and another to look through to see where I was spraying. I also dangled an indicator bulb, with wires soldered to it, down behind the gap that is right at the top of that panel, this helped a lot !! After finishing I simply put some "Gaffer tape" over the holes. It is still safely in place a few years later.

The "fix" only lasted a couple of months though - I then bit the bullet and fitted a new heater motor.

Pic = (Not my van = hope the owner of the pic doesn't mind )

ghost123uk wrote:

nordberg wrote:

Note* will also effect the wipers as they use the same fuse.

I would imagine the problem isn't the fuse as the wipers are working if I remember correctly from the last use

Just popped here to say that, unless Westy's are different, and they may well be, on the later blade fuse equipped vans, the fuse for the heater is not the same as the fuse for the wipers.

Cheers John...that's what you get for quoting others without checking out what they say is correct doh!

Martin

Hi there,
Just an update on this topic. I located the 20AMP fuse that's inline with the fan blower motor and sure enough it had gone pop (meaning the wipers are in fact on a separate blade as they were still operable). I changed it for a new fuse and tried the switch again but it was only a matter of seconds before the fuse popped again meaning something is awry. I am assuming from the feedback here that the motor is jammed , a resistor fault or a breakdown with the switch itself, and anticipating it's going to be a protracted job I have ordered the following from Brickwerks.

Heater Motor Fan
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... d-fan.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Heater Resistor repair kit - T3
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... -pair.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are out of stock on the switch itself . i must admit I had a heck of a job trying to clear my window screen this morning. Lots of ice on the inside. Mind you, I couldn't get my drivers side door open, or wind my window down either as they had frozen shut

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heater-Blower ... 541550db98" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The switch is the easiest of things to get to. Check the wiring going to the switch and look for heat damage (melting of the terminals and hardening of the wires because the insulation has melted).

Martin

California Dreamin wrote:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heater-Blower ... 541550db98

The switch is the easiest of things to get to. Check the wiring going to the switch and look for heat damage (melting of the terminals and hardening of the wires because the insulation has melted).

Martin

Just ordered. Thanks Martin