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Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:56 am

I searched the archives and maybe I missed ...but I couldn't find it

for months my front blower motor would only blow on one speed which was high

now it doesn't blow at all.

I was was wondering where the resistor pack is located.

I would like to change it out first if its easy to get to, to see if that fixes it first.

Does anyone have the part number also?

Thank you in advance.

Mark

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:27 am

If you are talking about the rad fan. The resistor is begind the drivers side head light.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:42 am

No worse...I'm talking the front heater blower motor...the one that keeps you warm in the van

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:58 am

It's in the fan housing, deep in the dash. The top speed is direct wire to fan so the pack has nothing to do with that. Check the switch(they do go bad)and the fuse.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:40 am

thanks I will swap and the rear blower switch out and see if I get it going

I think I'm going to have to pull the freakin dash

so if I do

should

I replace the heater core

blower motor

resistor pack

what else?

Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:59 am

Discussion on what to replace, and some photos of dash removal

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265457

Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:11 pm

The bummer here is that that 3 speed motor resistor is no longer available new--
You'll have to go through all that work and drop a used one back into the front heater box.

I sold the last new one available in north america last week--

Another Vanagon part gone NLA.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:38 pm

kayakwesty wrote: thanks I will swap and the rear blower switch out and see if I get it going

I think I'm going to have to pull the freakin dash

so if I do

should

I replace the heater core

blower motor

resistor pack

what else?

Pulling dash is not as hard as you think, but hopefully it's just the switch as KS points out.

FWIW, I moved my fan resistor pack outside the box up front. (I figured it was original, so it would go before the heater core or fan would. I really should cover those wires.... another thing to do!)

The heater core is also NLA. Thread about possible less expensive substitutes:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=385553&highlight=heater

Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:43 pm

I was wondering how you got to the wire loom inside of the heater box without removing it or opening it up?

Heater cores are available from several different sources---

Check out the samba.com Vanagon parts section--to name one place of availability.
Van Cafe also has them to name another source.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:55 pm

Terry Kay wrote: I was wondering how you got to the wire loom inside of the heater box without removing it or opening it up?

The 3 speed blower motor wires are not exposed externally.

This was done at time of heater box rebuild and mods (for switch to water cooled).

Not my idea. Read of it over on Vanagon.com.

I should check and make sure nothings corroding or what-not with it. It's been out there for about 2 years now.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:13 pm

I'd think of greasing up the connections at the resistor might be a good idea to keep them from corroding out in the open as they are --

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:42 pm

Say hello to my little friend

Here is a quick way to test the fan/resistor pack. These photos show the test with the fan out but you can do this with the fan/dash installed. All you need to do is unplug the connector from the switch.
To test the windings for the fan.
Get an OHM meter connect one wire to a ground source and probe the Yellow wire

You want to see some ### here. This proves the fan isn't shorted.

Next test the low speed resistor winding. This time connect one line to the Yellow wire__the other to the White wire.

Again you want to see ###. No ## = fried resistor.
Medium speed: Yellow and yellow/black.

See how the resistance decreases as the speed increases.
Class dismissed :D

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:43 pm

dealer wants $115 for the resistor pack

I think not...

I will make my own...

and thank you for posting that!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:49 pm

Terry Kay wrote: I'd think of greasing up the connections at the resistor might be a good idea to keep them from corroding out in the open as they are --

Yup. Thanks. I'll break out the dielectric stuff.

KW

there was a thread recently about resistor pack substitutes. :)

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:51 pm

kayakwesty wrote:
I will make my own...

That's what I have been doing all day, playing with resistors.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:55 pm

Quote: there was a thread recently about resistor pack substitutes. Smile

anybody got a link I found nothing in the search ( i think its broke)

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:06 pm

You can use the resistor out of the rear A/C. It uses the same fan motor, x2, plus 2 resistors, one per motor. These are 3 speed resistors not 2 speed like the heater fan resistor, so only use 2 or go ahead and let high speed be a little slower and use all 3. You can use the A/C fan motor as well, slight connection difference.

heater fan- low, med done by resistor, high speed bypasses resistor, 3 speeds total
A/C fan- low, med, med hi, by resistor, high speed bypasses resistor, 4 speeds total

Mark

kayakwesty wrote: Quote: there was a thread recently about resistor pack substitutes. Smile

anybody got a link I found nothing in the search ( i think its broke)

Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:17 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Voltage-Drop-Reduce...35a4fa1c15

It might work good enough!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:32 pm

kayakwesty wrote: Quote: there was a thread recently about resistor pack substitutes. Smile

anybody got a link I found nothing in the search ( i think its broke)

This is the one I was referring to:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=386613&highlight=resistor

Doesn't have as much, if any, relevant info as I thought. My bad.

If you can't find used, (or follow Marks suggestion) maybe one from a Jetta? Seems a Mk2 might do. (pic below)

It shows a similar looking product though you would need to find a way to connect it.

I would imagine the Jetta blower is similar electrically (draw). If it were me, I'd prefer that "pack" type over a coil type. (pic below. late 90's Mazda) Either one gets hot, but depending on where/how it's mounted, the coils look to be a fire hazard to me. But, they seem cheaper. i.e. one for a Jeep is less than $20 and has cage to protect coils.

Neil.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:58 pm

exactly I thinking MKII there are alot at my pull-a-part. I can mount the pack in a remote box too, so the next time its easier to get to

It's starting to pi$$ me off on all the NLA parts hitting us...my van has plenty of life left in it