heater issues...

[Vohaul]

my heater is doing some funky stuff......93 aaz jetta

first off, it still heats..but only on speed 4 and speed 2..(ithink)

second...on speed 4 if i wiggle the speed selecor dial..it either goes full blast or 5o percent of.....

and 3 which concerns me more...the fan speed selector dial has gottten burning hot a few times...enough to melt the dial itself in places???

and finally the dials dont light up anymore.....

altohugh its still nice and toasty warm inside:)

Cheers

Paul

[Henchman]

Your blower motor resistor needs replacing.  As well, depending on how much damage has been done to the speed selector (melting, arcing) it may need to be replaced, along with the electrical connector if it has melted.  It's not a big job, the resistor are $20 or so, the climate control unit I sell for $35 on ebay when I have them (and I don't right now).  If your connector is pooched, you can get one out of just about any VW from the 90's that used same/similar climate control.

Ian

[the caveman]

I say replace the fan switch first. They always get hot and destroy themselves.

[Vohaul]

Your blower motor resistor needs replacing.  As well, depending on how much damage has been done to the speed selector (melting, arcing) it may need to be replaced, along with the electrical connector if it has melted.  It's not a big job, the resistor are $20 or so, the climate control unit I sell for $35 on ebay when I have them (and I don't right now).  If your connector is pooched, you can get one out of just about any VW from the 90's that used same/similar climate control.

Ian

do you have the resistors...if so, point me in the direction of your ebay name and a writeup.(for replacing the resistor)..(i already have a spare climate control module...but the way those control cables are hooked up at the back it looks likes its a PITA to replace...

Cheers

Paul

[Henchman]

I say replace the fan switch first. They always get hot and destroy themselves.

But why do they always destroy themselves?

[Henchman]

It seems the prices have changed a bit since last I looked.  Ebay for the blower motor reisistor range new $40-$50.  I would only buy used myself if I could try it first and verify that the heater control was fine (because I believe that the overheating is related to a failing resistor).   I don't carry them as I couldn't make any money on them, but that may have changed.  If I were to start selling them, it would be at $39 prolly.  You should be able to get them at a reasonable prices from the usual online canadian autoparts places, as long as your order is enough to get you free shipping.

Your blower motor resistor needs replacing.  As well, depending on how much damage has been done to the speed selector (melting, arcing) it may need to be replaced, along with the electrical connector if it has melted.  It's not a big job, the resistor are $20 or so, the climate control unit I sell for $35 on ebay when I have them (and I don't right now).  If your connector is pooched, you can get one out of just about any VW from the 90's that used same/similar climate control.

Ian

do you have the resistors...if so, point me in the direction of your ebay name and a writeup.(for replacing the resistor)..(i already have a spare climate control module...but the way those control cables are hooked up at the back it looks likes its a PITA to replace...

Cheers

Paul

[the caveman]

I say replace the fan switch first. They always get hot and destroy themselves.

But why do they always destroy themselves?

The switch is a tab that slides on  copper strips which then determine which speed. They are mounted in plastic. The surfaces get dirty, causing more resistance and making the contact surfaces hot, which melt the plastic, and so the contacts push away from each other-voila, no more turning fan. I found that the switches would wear maybe 20 times more than the resistor. On mk 2's the resistor would wear more because the fan would get dirty and wet from water and dirt falling directly on the bearings, causing the fan to force- causing the thermal resistor in the fan resistor pack to burn. You can fix those by soldering 2 filaments of wire across the burnt thermal resistor.

[Vohaul]

well..the heater finally quit working...only way i can sometmes get heat now is pushin and pulling and turning the fan speed selector switch until i finally get lucky and it works......but only on speed 4 if anything.....

any one know how hard it is to change out the climate control setup?....writeups or tips and tricks etc would be great....


thanks

PAul

[the caveman]

Scrap yard for used switch. Or pull the fan wires out from the switch, and hook up an older style fan switch and place it somewhere below...

[Vohaul]

ya...i broke the switch apart and celaned and bent the contacts a bit.......itll work till i get a new switch.....

[vanagonturbo]

Just for a little clarification, speed 4 usually works when the switch melts down because speed 4 is relayed. the other speeds are not.

On the matter of switch vs. resistor, 99% of the time it is merely the switch causing this failure. Caveman is correct.