Heater not working

[dezzy]

During the Borders run on Saturday, when we made a stop at Carter Bar, my heaters did not come back on after I switched the engine back on. After a few minutes of driving, they eventually came back on, but minus anything from the no.2 setting. No.1 and No.3 worked fine. Heat was fine and direction fine.

Now, after a wee blast in the car today, the heater has stopped working completely. I think it's just the fan, as I'm sure i can feel some heat. There's just no air flowing through it and out of the vents.

Anyone ever experienced this? Known problem?

Have tried it again after letting the car cool down for a few hours, but still not working. Might just be a blown fuse, but will need to check in the morning when light. According to the manual, the fuse for the heater is in the passenger footwell. That's going to be interesting getting in and out of the footwell, upside down!

I really hope this is just the fuse and not *another* fecking problem to add to the ever-increasing list.

Cheers,
D

[simon]

That's going to be interesting getting in and out of the footwell, upside down!

That's the Lotus position, get used to it

[dezzy]

Okay, after adopting aforesaid Lotus Position , I managed to check the fuse and it's fine.

Great, so having had the car back for a total of 5 days, it's fooked again. It's kinda difficult to drive (and see out your windows!) in this kind of weather without heaters! Issue No. 27 to add to the list that has already been sent to Lotus.

I seriously don't know what to do . . . I'm really thinking of getting rid of this car again. It has just been so much fecking hassle. 5 days out the garage and another problem. I'm living in fear every day of another thing going wrong. Is the quality control at Lotus really that bad? Why can't they just make something that fecking works??!!!!

[jj]

Mine did the same once. No fans atall when the switch was at 1, 2 or 3.

It mysteriously went away a couple of days later and has been fine since.

Is lotus ownership for you dezzy? It does seem like your car has been a bit of a lemon so far though. Stick with it.

[Sanjøy]

Airbourne antics on the run knock a connector ?

[alicrozier]

Dezzy,
Mine did similar last week, it had been particularly heavy rain so don't know if that could be a cause... Basically no fan in position 1,2, or 3 and it had to be the day it was raining. Windows open and wiping the inside of the windscreen is no fun.

I planned to check the fuse next morning but mysteriously it worked.
I'm sure it'll wait to fail again at the most inopportune moment...

[Rich H]

Nope it's not the fues it's the resistor pack. The fan speed is simply controlled by big resistors which has been known to go pop. sounds like you have lost one of the resistors, there are 2 and IIRC they are part of the fan assembly therefore expensive. Search on SELCOCK technical there are a few similar on there.

HTH
Rich

[dezzy]

Just been to Glasgow MMC and they said it's the resistor. Now need to get it booked into Edinburgh MMC (for the 6th time in 9 weeks!) as it's a clam off job.

JJ, regarding Lotus ownership . . . I've always wanted to own a Lotus and I do accept that this kind of car has a few wee niggles, rattles, squeaks, etc. But, FFS, the amount of problems I've had with this one are way beyond a few wee niggles.

I love the car and I love driving it, but this is taking the p!ss. Regardless of hand-built or whatever, nobody should expect to pay that amount of money for a car and have this many things go wrong with it. It seems Lotus are completely incapable of making the simple things work. FFS, it's just a heater! The same goes for most of the things that have went wrong with the car.

Either I got a lemon or Lotus quality control is absolutely terrible. Why should we have to put up with crap quality, just because it's a Lotus? We should expect better quality because it's a Lotus!

I'm not giving up on Lotus ownership, but I'm really getting to the point now that I'm thinking of getting lawyers involved to return the car and get a replacement or my money back.

[Rich H]

Wait a minute, I'll take a look at mine, pretty sure it's not a clam off....

Be back in a mo...

[Rich H]

Yours is an S2 isn't it

S1 is a piece of piss, you cansee the fan and resisor pack in the front compartment. S2 you have that silly bolt down panel stuff...

Ah well clam off then

[dezzy]

Heaters working again!

Bizarre!

Now, I can't really remember much from my university physics courses, but how can a resistor or motor stop working and then just start working again?

Derek happy again!

(although not letting happiness stop me from following up my complaint with Lotus/MMC!!!)

Thanks for listening to all my moans guys and for all your help/advice . . . again!

[dezzy]

Just spoke to Bill at Edinburgh MMC and he advises that I should still get it replaced even though it's working again now. He says it has been known to happen and expects it will probably fail again at some point.

At least if this can keep me going for the next week or so, I can try to get the car booked in sometime soon.

Bill's a really helpful guy, BTW.

D

[Derek]

On the bright side, it looks like you and Andy will get an invite to the MMC staff party this year since you are there as often as the mechanics.

[Andy G]

Mine seems to be okay now...touch wood.

Only 15 visits this year so far

[tadltd]

Is it possible that there's rain/water/condensation getting in the back of it, i.e. onto the motor (not familiar with the S2 so I'm not sure if water could get into this area)? If so however, it could short the motor thereby stopping it functioning. Once the water evaporates or dries out the short disappears and it works again...