Heater Fan...

[Alistair]

Hi

Wondered if anyone had any ideas about Mrs Ford's SportKa heater fan - very strange - story below!

This morning the fan would not work when the car was started. After checking the fuse a quick google suggested the heater resistor may be at fault so I pulled that out to check for any signs of scorching or burn out but it appeared to be fine.

Checked all the wiring - no sign of any damage. Time for the multimeter...

Checked voltage at fuse - all OK, checked voltage at resistor - all OK. Checked voltage at the connecter into the blower unit - as soon as I did this the fan burst into life - and I can't break it again to isolate where the fault was! Naturally I suspected a loose wire going into the blower but no amount of pushing/pulling will get the fans to stop.

If anybody has any idea what might have caused this I would be most grateful - as it's almost worse having "fixed" it and not being able to isolate the fault. The only clue I have is that the heater resistor is famous for failing in these cars - but seems to be OK - could measuring the voltage across the circuit at the heater motor have reset something?

Thanks in advance

Alistair

[Gourlay83]

In most cases the Heater Fan bypass the Resistor when the switch is on its maximum setting.

So if the heater works on full, the resistor is faulty.

Alan

[Alistair]

Cheers for that - i think the resistor may be a red herring as when it came back to life all the different speeds were working fine and visually the resistor looks OK.

Alistair

[Ferg]

I know on the focus the fan does some funny things when the heater is set to windscreen demist. It stays on full chat regardless of engine temp, apparantly intentionally from all the searching I did for it which is odd.

Just a wild guess but worth a check.

What position was your heater dial at?

EDIT: I'm talking rubbish after re-reading my post...

[Alistair]

It was in any position - dead as a Dodo!

My gut feeling is that measuring the voltage across the heater motor is what kicked it into life - how - I haven't a clue.

To add to the woes Mrs Ford had a flat tyre on the way home tonight (that's after the Ka's evil twin refusing to start yesterday morning - battery flat and needing replaced I think - not related to heater issue though I could be wrong). It may be due to meet a rather steep cliffside shortly - shame as it is a brilliant car to drive, when it starts, and heats up, and clears the windscreen, and has 4 tyres with air.......

Anyone want to buy a SportKa

[robin]

Neil could use one as a T-car for when his one is broken (i.e. always ).

I might start looking for dodgy earthing - is the earth return on the heater via a cable, or is it bolted to the chassis and the chassis is providing the earth return?

Cheers,
Robin

[Alistair]

Neil could use one as a T-car for when his one is broken (i.e. always ).

I might start looking for dodgy earthing - is the earth return on the heater via a cable, or is it bolted to the chassis and the chassis is providing the earth return?

Cheers,
Robin

I'll need to have look in daylight to check - I had to do all diagnostics via iPhone flashlight this morning at 6.15 which didn't make it any easier!

Thanks for the advice.

More as I have it (and maybe Neil and I could make a good 'un' out of two)

More as we have it........