No fan 99T A4-B5 tdi

[Jabez]

Hi
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem.
I've got digital air-con and a couple of weeks ago I stalled my car, upon re-starting the fan didn't work... but the next day it was all okay agin so thought no more of it.... But... stalled it again yesterday ( Wouldn't believe I'd been driving for 25 years) and the the fan stopped working again and hasn't as of yet come back to life... the digtal display is working fine, and if I increase or decrease the temp controls in auto mode the little indicators that show how quick the fan is running increase automatically as if the fan was working but it ain't.
Anyone got any idears before I get to involved or even end up at the main dealer....
Cheers
mcc

[Mackenzie_Mark]

Hi MCC,

I've got exactly the same problem with my 1998 A4 1.8. I don't think has anything to do with you current bad luck with stalling the car, I think that is just coincidence.

The problem is probably the blower motor brushes are worn out. The quick fix is to remove the blower motor and reverse the brushes (I did mine tonight 30-40 min job) and the fan is working fine now. I'm currently looking on the intenet to fine a company that sells the right sized brushes (8mm Wide x 8mm High x 12 to 15 mm Length). This is no easy task as everyone wants to sell you a new motor at £75-£100 rather than £5 for new brushes.

How To Remove Blower Motor

1. Remove 5 x 8mm bolts holding the glovebox in place.
   1. 3 x Bolts inside the glove box
   2. Remove cover on LHS of glove box (it's where the fuses would be located if it was a laeft hand drive)
   3. The remaining 2 bolts are located behind this cover
   4. Remove the cable to the glovebox light
2. In front of you, you will now see the plastic housing for the motor, it has 4 posi screws remove them.
3. Before you can remove the fan you will see a bracket which is obstructuing the removal off the fan housing, you will need to remove the 4 x 10mm bolts (pointing up) DO NOT REMOVE THE HORIZONTAL BOLTS IT JUST WASTES TIME (I speak from experience).
4. Remove the 2 electric connectors (Blue & Brown) and with a bit or wiggling the fan will now slide out.
5. You can now remove the wires to the housing by twisting the piece of locating plactic holding the wire in place.
6. Next you need to use a flat headed screwdriver to push free the 3 pieces of rubber holding the motor in place - the motor will now be free from the fan housing.
7. On the bottom of the motor you will see 2 metal clips that hold the motor brushes in place, take these off.
8. Slide the springs and motor brushes out, turn the brushes through 180 degrees and replace the springs and metal covers.
9. Put everything back together in the reverse order to removel.

When/If I find some replacement brushes I'll update this post so you can fix the problem long-term, but this solution should a least get you through the summer with some Air Con.

Don't be put off by the amount of detail I have given in this reply (it's my first time I've done this) because it really is an easy job and it's much better than paying a garage £130-180 to fit a new motor you don't really need.

If you have any problems update this string and I'll try to help.

Mark

[Jabez]

Hi
Many thanks for your detailed reply... I'll be having a look later this week....
Cheers
mcc

[Mackenzie_Mark]

I've e-mailed a company in London that supplies carbon brushes for lots of electric motors.......just awaiting their response.
Parts are likely to be about £10-12.
Mark

[Mackenzie_Mark]

To update from the previous posts, I've now found a couple of companies that sell carbon brushes. I haven't followed up the e-mails I've sent to anglocarbon because my blower is working fine at the moment so I haven't felt the need to really chase them.

http://www.repcoinc.com/carbon_brush...on_brushes.asp

http://www.anglocarbon.com/

If anyone else manages to source the right size brushes (from the links above) could you please update this thread with the part no.

Thanks

Mark

[rich100]

Many thanks to Mark for the detailed instructions.

I have just followed them and I can get the fan to work but it needs a little nudge to get it started and when put back in the housing still wont work just from the control unit, the brushes seemed very worn from approx 8mm one side to 2mm mayby even as low as 1mm on the other side. I have no idea what these brushes should be like does anyone have any ideas to help?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rich

[Jabez]

Hi
Thanks Mark... When I got round to turning my brushes round your instruction's were spot.... and now the fan works like new.... I've got to admit they were really badly worn.... I completely drenched the motor etc with electrical contact cleaner and now perfect....
Thanks again
mcc

[MattA4Tdi]

Top marks to Mark for those instructions !! The heaters been gone on mine for a while n was starting to annoy me! followed his steps and now I have one fixed heater, for free!!
Just one minor addition if I may be so bold, I didnt have to undo any of the 10mm bolts above the unit just the 4 forward facing philips ones, undid the wires and the unit slipped out a treat. I have a 96 A4 Tdi Avante incase it makes any difference to any1.

Again nice one Mark keep it up

[humphanwyl]

Thanks for the detailed advice on the heater blower,did exactly as you described and it works great,If anyone has advice on how to get hold of some new brushes I would be a verry happy Audi owner,Thanks again Nigel

Hi MCC,

I've got exactly the same problem with my 1998 A4 1.8. I don't think has anything to do with you current bad luck with stalling the car, I think that is just coincidence.

The problem is probably the blower motor brushes are worn out. The quick fix is to remove the blower motor and reverse the brushes (I did mine tonight 30-40 min job) and the fan is working fine now. I'm currently looking on the intenet to fine a company that sells the right sized brushes (8mm Wide x 8mm High x 12 to 15 mm Length). This is no easy task as everyone wants to sell you a new motor at £75-£100 rather than £5 for new brushes.

How To Remove Blower Motor

1. Remove 5 x 8mm bolts holding the glovebox in place.
   1. 3 x Bolts inside the glove box
   2. Remove cover on LHS of glove box (it's where the fuses would be located if it was a laeft hand drive)
   3. The remaining 2 bolts are located behind this cover
   4. Remove the cable to the glovebox light
2. In front of you, you will now see the plastic housing for the motor, it has 4 posi screws remove them.
3. Before you can remove the fan you will see a bracket which is obstructuing the removal off the fan housing, you will need to remove the 4 x 10mm bolts (pointing up) DO NOT REMOVE THE HORIZONTAL BOLTS IT JUST WASTES TIME (I speak from experience).
4. Remove the 2 electric connectors (Blue & Brown) and with a bit or wiggling the fan will now slide out.
5. You can now remove the wires to the housing by twisting the piece of locating plactic holding the wire in place.
6. Next you need to use a flat headed screwdriver to push free the 3 pieces of rubber holding the motor in place - the motor will now be free from the fan housing.
7. On the bottom of the motor you will see 2 metal clips that hold the motor brushes in place, take these off.
8. Slide the springs and motor brushes out, turn the brushes through 180 degrees and replace the springs and metal covers.
9. Put everything back together in the reverse order to removel.

When/If I find some replacement brushes I'll update this post so you can fix the problem long-term, but this solution should a least get you through the summer with some Air Con.

Don't be put off by the amount of detail I have given in this reply (it's my first time I've done this) because it really is an easy job and it's much better than paying a garage £130-180 to fit a new motor you don't really need.

If you have any problems update this string and I'll try to help.

Mark

[humphanwyl]

Anyone having the same problems,I did have to remove the 10mm bolts holding the bracket as there was not quite enough room,but it is very simple,good luck