Heater problems

[ju1es1970]

Hey peeps. My Audi A4 1997 has a heater problem, which is a real pain in the butt in this weather. It generally doesn't blow :s But if you go over a big bump it MIGHT start to work, but then as soon as you go over another big bump it WILL stop working again. I was thinking loose wire, but my luck never allows things to be that straight forward. Any ideas guys? Thanks.

[Crasher]

You need to replace the blower motor or if you don’t mind spending some time rebuilding the motor, fit new brushes which you can find on fleaBay.

[burkey1]

Thats an unusual one!! Do you think the brushes are so worn that they are not be making contact with commutator, these normally have springs on them to push them all the way in.

You have obviously seen it before but I would have thought that as it is switching on and off as it goes over bumps, that the brushes are ok and that would have indicated a power loss scenario, i.e. poor connection.

[Crasher]

Not unusual at all, I do about one a month and they are easily available from GSF off the shelf. The brushes have worn out.

[ju1es1970]

Hi guys thanx for the advice im going to replace the motor i think.
My next question is where and how do i get to the motor and remove it?
Any help would be great thanx.:beerchug:

[Axios]

remove the glove box and there is a big black box behind it.
this is your fan.
you want to remove the 3 screws on the left, remve the plug and with a bit of wiggleing the fan will come out.

when i did mine, i removed some of the air bag mounting brackets to make it easier.

[ni88les]

Hi... I have a similar issue...

I bought my 1998 A4 Avant TDi a few weeks back, the blower motor wasn't working at all so i bought a recon one from a scrap yard on line and replaced it. All seemed ok for a week but not it's intermittently stopping but if I give the glove box a bang, roughly where the large square duct comes off from the motor, it'll start up. Is this likely to be the same problem with the brushes. If it is then I'm going to get my money back from the place i bought it cos it comes with a three month warrenty.

Also, I have another heat problem... lack of it to be precise!! Again, not good in this weather. Basically, i only get luke warm heat blowing, it never gets any hotter. Will this be a problem with the Heater Matrix, if so what the best resolution and can I do it myself or would it be best to get an Audi specialist to do it... or is it likely to be something other than the matrix?

Thanks all

Ni88les

[Crasher]

Unfortunately with the lack of heat you potentially have a nightmare on your hands, they are very prone to blocked heater matrixes and no amount of flushing, back blowing, chemicals or anything will shift the sludge. The only solution is a new matrix and that is dash out, deeply unpleasant and a good two days work.

[ni88les]

That sounds like a nightmare! is there really nothing I can try first? I take it that i'll be a costly job if I ask for a specialist to look at it?

Any idea about the motor issue?

Thanks

[Crasher]

I have tried everything on the 8D matrix to avoid replacing them as I do not enjoy the job one bit. I have tried every chemical I can think of, blowing them through with a pressure wash, air line and nothing will make them work again. The Golf 2 suffers from the same problem but on those it is only three hours work to fit a new one. The 8E A4 is also developing the same habit but on those the matrix slides out from the driver’s side and only takes about two hours to change.

The motor will be worn bushes, plain and simple-I change loads of them on Passat’s, A4 and Superb.

[ni88les]

thanks for the info, doesn't sound good.... if I wanted to try and clear the block, how would I do that... sorry, I'm a bit of a novice? Thanks!

[Crasher]

You could try a chemical additive coolant system flush then blast the matrix trough at the bulkhead pipes with a pressure wash. As you are in Nottingham I could do it for you but I am making no promises.

[ni88les]

Well, if you think it might work then it's got to be worth a try. When can you do it and for how much? I actually live in Ilkeston but work just off Junction 26 on the A610. Thanks again for this mate.

[Crasher]

To flush it out and blow it through will take an hour so £85 ish including additive and antifreeze afterwards. We could do it some time next week, talk to John or Roy on 01159785740.

We are just of the A610 before Canning Circus.

[ni88les]

ok mate, I will do, thanks!

[netdef]

i will say bushes, my exactly same problem done mine about a month ago, £12 of ebay for new bushes. they jsut get worn down over the years until the spring cannot push then close enough to the motor.
onlt with mine is that i dont believe that it is blowing hard enough, i can litteraly put a piece of paper on top oh my window heater vent have the fans on full and it will stay there, altohugh it clears the mist i still think something not right

[ni88les]

Thanks, are they easy to replace?.... I've seen some on ebay, can you tell me if they're the right ones for my car, A4 Avant 1998?

Thanks again

[ni88les]

I've just found the ones on ebay for £10, they've sold thousands so it must be the one you were talking about plus it comes with fitting instructions too..... bonus :)

[netdef]

you might find they are a very tight fit at frist, and the fand night be noisy for a few months as they grind down to the shape of the motor. i did take some picks but never got to post them and connot fing now.

some screww drivers and a good socket set is all you need.

not sure if an other sensors in that area which can be checked at same time.

only advice is mark the power connetors so you know which way it goes back not sure if you got them wrong way around it would spin fan in wrong direction

[ju1es1970]

Hi guys.
ok thanx for the help,im going to have a go tommorrow and c where i get.
cheers again :beerchug:

[Tha_Doff]

i had the same problem with no heat from My A4 tdi, and all it was, ws a duff thermostat, (£8) from DA factors 15 minute job to fit :approve:

[ju1es1970]

Hi guys.
took the motor out and turned the brushes around and put it all back together and it was working fine for about 3 days until 1 very cold morning when i put the heater on and nothink come on lol. So just brought a new 1 and now is all fine.
Anyways thanx for the help guys:beerchug:

[dsgrnmcm]

i had the same problem with no heat from My A4 tdi, and all it was, ws a duff thermostat, (£8) from DA factors 15 minute job to fit :approve:


Hi team

just drove back from town, oil & coolant guage reading ok, all climate controls ok, just no fan?

having read some posts is it the fan blower or engine thermostat?

Dan

[Tha_Doff]

Hi team

just drove back from town, oil & coolant guage reading ok, all climate controls ok, just no fan?

having read some posts is it the fan blower or engine thermostat?

Dan


Depends on a few things

1- Does your engine temp gauge go upto normal operating temp:
No- most likely thermostat
yes- most likey some to do with the heater

[Crasher]

If there is no air movement, hot or cold, then there is a problem with the fan, which is usually worn brushes. Get under the glovebox and with the blower set to on, whack the bottom of the heater box with your hand. If the blower comes on, you need new brushes or a new fan; if it does not work, it may be a faulty fan controller.

[dsgrnmcm]

sorted, took it back to the garage i got it from, new fan. jobs a good un!

[jimicks]

I had same problem with mine last winter, sometimes worked,I replaced the heater, there is a step by step guide somewhere on this forum really helpful, should take about 40mins.

[Withnail]

Having had the same problem with the heater blower on my '96, I'd suggest changing the complete motor. I had intended to change the brushes, but fortunately hadn't got as far as ordering them off EBay. When I got the motor out and extracted the commutator (with the idea of skimming it in the lathe) I found it was so worn that the contact segments were heavily stepped and almost down to the insulating layer underneath. I went for the cheaper of GSF's motors @ £51 VAT inc. It went in fine and blows air with more force than the old one has in years.

[netdef]

remove the glove box and there is a big black box behind it.
this is your fan.
you want to remove the 3 screws on the left, remve the plug and with a bit of wiggleing the fan will come out.

when i did mine, i removed some of the air bag mounting brackets to make it easier.

i have found a couple of old photos I took when i did it.

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/http://i56.tinypic.com/343nt6q.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/zsu2p2.jpg


http://i54.tinypic.com/j5l5xy.jpg