Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys (n Gals) newbie to this forum following Purchase of a T25 camper conversion last week. I did register as Dubz but the sign up process is a bit longwinded, and i'd forgotten the password when it came to register so i'm DumDum in the interim!

Anyway, my fan Switch was siezed on full when purchased last week (No issue there) but with my tinkering on Sunday to fix an issue with the rear lights that have been previously codged together, (i put an earth where a live was it seems), when i reconnected the battery, the lights worked fine but i could smell burning...after looking at the fuse box, the blower motor fuse (no.13/20amp) had melted onto the floor, (but not blown!) Pulled that sharpish with a pliers, but then smoke from the dash...As i disconnected the battery i had a small flame, so doused it with my powder extinguisher from the garage....

Sorted the lights issue with the rogue earth wire (same colour as Tail light) but now a couple of questions,

Has anyone seen this issue with a siezed motor/switch (wondering if this is just coincidence to me tinkering with the lights??!) Not had a meter on the wires yet, but if i've cooked it, where can i source a new motor from? I've seen they;re £30/£35 on here from some oyther searches?

Can anyone give me any advice on Dash removal (is it everything out, or 'getatable' from behind the lower blower cover panels?

Any advice (or ribbing for my antics!)from what seems like a friendly place would be most welcome.

Look in the WIKI (menu bar). This has been covered countless times.

Motor is under £40 and yes dash out. About a day in time.

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... eplacement" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Read this thread, you may not have to take out the dash to fix that siezed blower motor. It may be worth a try?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ter+blower" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Timwhy wrote:Read this thread, you may not have to take out the dash to fix that siezed blower motor. It may be worth a try?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ter+blower" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thats quite a genius solution right there, and ideal providing vatcan is used afterwards along with a rubber grommet or two

I would suggest that if things have become that hot, the seized motor solution won't work or at best short-lived. Mine was freed off in a similar fashion but still needs replacement as it now draws an enormous amount of amps when it first starts which puts strain on blower switch and associated wiring. I guess the winding resistance has now changed. For the relatively low cost of a new motor, you'd be better off fitting a new one rather than face a fire under there. Most blowers are already around 25 years old, less efficient and certainly in need of brush replacement.

Also on early vans (ie up to 1985) a broken fuse on the blower takes out the wipers, potentially dangerous in driving rain or snow. The latter point I added as a mod in the WIKI. VW too obviously recognised this and changed the wiring after 1985 when they switched to blade rather than ceramic fuses, putting the blower on its own circuit.

Incidentally, from a technical point of view the motor only has one speed (flat out) and VW fitted resistors to bring that speed down for the various speed options.

I'd been using our blower as an extra aid to cooling on steep climbs when we were in the Picos last month. It had been going fine - if a bit noisy - and then just stopped working without warning. No smell of burning or anything either. Fuse (no. 13) not blown. I was going to get a replacement from Brickwerks but reading the Wiki has left me thinking that it may be retrievable. I guess the only finite way is to get to it and test it but what do people think about the likelihood of it just needing the bearings working on as per the Wiki?

Thanks,

Pete

Check and/or bypass the switch before you rip things apart

Some posts that might help =

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... it=+heater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... r&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and

I must do mine when it comes back from the restoration body shop (whenever they get their bums ion gear and actually crack on with it )