Blower only works on position 4

[Stuart W]

My heater blower won't work on positions 1-2-3 any more and 4 is a bit noisy to be using all the time, so does anyone have any idea what the problem is?

I don't suppose it could be something as simple as a fuse? I see from the handbook that the blower has two fuses, but of course the diagrams in the manual are totally different to the fuse layout in the car.

I saw something in another VW forum about a resistor - if that's the problem would a mechanically clueless person like myself be able to replace it?

BTW, someone raised the identical problem a good while ago, but there were no replies:

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...ad.php?t=28557

[Quatrelle]

Could be the variable resistor which slows the fan down for positions 1, 2 and 3.

I read about it somewhere, but can't remember where....

[henley_regatta]

I had this happen on my last car (a Volvo). On that, it was a "Resistor pack" that had gone (not a variable resistor; presumably a set of discrete ones).

I paid up and looked big to get it fixed during a service; I don't recall it being too expensive but then at Volvo prices that could be anything under 4 figures so take this with a huge pinch of salt....

[jwturpin]

it's your resistor pack thats gone. Not sure what it looks like in the Passat, or where it's located, however, it normally consists of a big ceramic coated set of resistors, normally two....
One for position 1, one for position 2, and both combined for position 3. Position 4 is direct voltage so no resistor needed.

In my vauxhall, it was £23 + VAT as a part to buy and 30 mins to swap out. Dealer quoted £145 inc VAT and labour.

I then read that its highly unlikely that the resistors would go, more likely the thermal fuse attached to them, indicating the resistor pack had overheated at some point as it blows at 240C

Turns out there's a drainage hole for water draining away from windscreen behind the pollen filter, which gets blocked with leaves and it can make water overflow into cabin and over the fuse causing a short circuit with the resistor, hence overheating.

Now I'm not suggesting this is the case, but I am suggesting your resistor pack has overheated and the thermal fuse has blown.

If this is the case, they are 69p each from Maplins and a quick soldering job sorts the problems out, if you can locate the resistor pack in the first place.

JT

[Stuart W]

Thanks for the replies, particularly JT

Don't fancy shelling out £150 or so, so I'll have to do something short of just leaving it at the dealer and asking them to get on with it.

But with the advice received I can hopefully get a much cheaper alternative - forewarned is forearmed!

[james_tiger_woo]

Have you tried an Indy to check it over?

[Quatrelle]

Have you tried an Indy to check it over?

Or a local Bosch agent?

[martin1810]

Remove glovebox, remove metal plate covering blower motor. You should see resistor pack which unplugs. Buy new one and replace. It's often the overheating fuse thats gone so if you can use a soldering iron and a multimeter it will cost very little to repair. Goodluck

[eob]

Common fault on 5 Series BMWs.
Mines went. Fairly cheap/easy to replace.
Not one of your more, @rse clenching failures.

What age is you VW? Still in warranty? If your car is a B6 I'm still suprised at such an early failure.

[Stuart W]

Remove glovebox, remove metal plate covering blower motor. You should see resistor pack which unplugs. Buy new one and replace. It's often the overheating fuse thats gone so if you can use a soldering iron and a multimeter it will cost very little to repair. Goodluck

Thanks for that Martin, I haven't had a chance to have a proper look yet, but will do soon, although looking at the glovebox and reading past posts on here even getting that out looks a bit tricky. Pity it's not just like my old Mondeo glovebox, which just pulled out.

Luckily the reasonable weather at the moment means I can manage with the thing as it is, but if it was winter time I'd be a bit more hasty about getting it sorted.