Before I pull the dash (troubleshooting non-op blower fan)

[YosemiteBound]

Hi folks,

Total newbie here. I finally sourced a dial to try my blower/heater out and it doesn't run... or turn on in any way or do anything. Perhaps this is why the PO removed the dial.

I'm assuming that the first thing I should do is check the fuse. Not pull the dash, right?

Problem is that I have the bentley and i can't find a fuse diagram. there's a diagram for the 86+ - but not previous. I do see the 85 wiring diagram but not one of the fuse box itself. It just kinda says blower fan - 105. Which makes no sense to me. Also, there's no diagram in the manual either. And no mention. It does have a fuse arrangement by number but no mention of the blower fan here.

Anyway, just trying to find the location of the blower fan fuse. Thx for any help

Also, do I need to remove the ground when changing fuses? Thanks!

God, pulling the dash is gonna suck so bad if the fan is dead.

And I promise I've read a ton of posts about the blower fan fuse. Just can't find any mention of where its location is (surely it's in the fuses to the left of the steering wheel but where?).

Is it fuse #10? windshield wiper/washer, blower? if my wipers work the fuse ain't blown, right?

Edit: Changed the thread title as post progressed. thx!

_________________
1985 Westy Round Headlights "Liam"

[shagginwagon83]

number 10. I had to replace my motor as it was seized. There are some who do this mod called mullendore (spelling) port where they drill somewhere to oil the fan without taking apart the dash. But if it probably just needs to be replaced.
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[Ahwahnee]

Sounds like it is not the fuse.

[YosemiteBound]

Thanks Shagginwagon. Yeah, Im so new to electrical and vanagons and all. I probably sound like a doof. I know I do. I just didn't think a blower fan would be on the same fuse as the windshield wipers. Here is what mine looks like. This all looks good right (also what kind of fuses are these? I bought automotive fuses from home depot and they look nothing like these)? As in, nothing needs replacing - i.e. broken?

I did read about the drilling/lubing fix. But I guess since mine isn't making any noise at all. like, switching it on does nothing in any way that it needs to be replaced. Blah.

I called my fav vw shop and he said they don't do the blower motor because it's such a pain in the butt. but if they did it would be a two day job and over a thousand bucks. so looks like i'm going to give it a shot. so scared.

is there anything else to check at all before trying to pull the dash and get in there? besides the fuse?

thank god there are a lot of pulling the dash youtube videos. tho it looks even more daunting after watching them.

Edit: I can see that my fuse photo sucks. It's pretty impossible to see what's broken or not. except number 10. pretty clear that one is okay. And thanks Ahwahnee. Would love to know what kind of fuses these are and where to find them tho - just to triple check before pulling the dash (argh!)
_________________
1985 Westy Round Headlights "Liam"

[shagginwagon83]

yeah buddy there is load of stuff you need to do while you have a dash out.

-Consider jeep resistor mod
-clean and reseal heater box
-inspect, if not replace heater core
-wiper linkage system - clean and lube
-inspect, if not replace windshield wiper hoses - maybe upgrade to dual or tri sprayers
-sound deadner
-inspect, ground trees. clean up
-inspect back of fuse panel for any melted wires
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[Ahwahnee]

Fuses should be available at auto parts stores. Used in VW & Fiats not so long ago.

[YosemiteBound]

[jlrftype7]

[Ahwahnee]

Okay, so you have the stock switch in the dash. I don't think I have ever removed mine but with what you are seeing (blower motor does not run, yet fuse does not blow) I'd want to check the leads to the switch.

Specifically, checking to see if it is getting power and then if it is providing power to the fan motor.

I think you still have a few things to check before you pull the dash.

[YosemiteBound]

Hey guys,

Okay I'm ready to begin troubleshooting the fan. I'm just trying to get a good idea on what to check first... before pulling the dash (the horror!).

So, I've checked the fuse. It looks good. And the wipers work. So not the fuse. I like what Ahwahnee is saying. That maybe I have a few more things to check.

My plan:

I will pull the vent plate with the knobs on it. I will swap out the fan dial switch thing. See if that helps. If not, I am unsure where to go from here. I am not at all mechanically or electrically inclined. But I'm hoping to become more so.

So, I unplug the battery first i think. Right? Then I swap out switches and see if that helps. If it doesn't help - how do I find out if the fan is okay and I have a wiring problem? In other words - how do I get power to the blower fan if it isn't a switch problem?

I just have a normal toolbox with normal toolbox stuff. And a drill. No soldering iron or ohmmeter or anything... yet. But don't hesitate to let me know if I need one
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1985 Westy Round Headlights "Liam"

[T3messie]

Hi,

take out the car stereo if there is one. Then you hace access to the back of your switch. Pull off the back part of the switch with the wires, don´t pull at the wires, it can be a tight fit.
Now you have a plug with 4? wires. On one of them has to be electricity.
You can easy test it with a piece of wire connecting every 4 connections (shortly and one after another) with the ground in your car (bare metal, steering column f.e.). At the right one there is sparkling on your wire and if you connect long enough, the fuse will blow. If there is no sparkling, follow back the wires.
When you found the right one, connect it with every one of the other three (one after another again) by bridging it with your piece of wire.
If the blower turns on at all three connections (slow, middle, full Power), your switch is defekt. If it only turns on full power, the resistor is broken and the switch is broken too.
If it is not blowing at all, the dashboard work begins .

Just try this out first, you can´t do anything wrong except blowing fuse number 10.

Pardon my americanish.

[levi]

Here's my advice, since it looks like you're going to be pulling the dash.

Take LOTS of pictures.

It really isn't so difficult, its just time consuming.
Make sure you get pics of how the 4 cables are routed that control your air vents, etc., and go slow.

_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[markswagen]

There are a lot of words up there, and I'm not great at reading, but.
Pull the fan switch, there's a round plug, with 4 maybe 5 wires, the black with a red trace, or red with a bracket trace, I can't remember which way around it is, that is the power wire for the fan, test it with a volt meter, with luck you have 12v with the ignition on, next test the continuity of the ground wire, if you have continuity there, you need to go further, as it sounds like none of the 3 speeds work, it is most likely the motor rather than the resistor, if you had high speed, but no low or mid speed, it would likely be the resistor, as the high speed doesn't go through the resistor.

Pulling the dash is not so scary, get yourself a BMW brake booster to hand, you night as well do that upgrade while you have it all apart.
_________________
markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[jlrftype7]

[joetiger]

[?Waldo?]

Did I miss the part where the OP has confirmed that power is passing the switch and going to the blower motor and the motor still does not run?

Until that point, talk of pulling the dash is 'sky is falling' diagnostics.

[fxr]

^^^^
Just so. The first step should be to suspect the ground connection to the motor - this is the most likely culprit if the motor won't even run on 'high'.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[crazyvwvanman]

Yes, if the fan fuse is still good. If the motor does nothing on high speed and the fuse never blows then strongly suspect the ground. Pulling the dash is a last resort when diagnosis calls for it.

Mark

[boxer74]

[wesitarz]

On my 88 vanagon it's connected to one of the ground trees behind the fuse box. I knocked mine off when replacing the brake booster.