Heater Fan stopped working… 991.1 C2S

[MadMark911]

So pulling out of the drive this am - the windscreen blower didn't come on when I hit the button. Which I thought was odd - so I switched it off and increased the fan in the "normal" setting. Nothing.

I thought the battery could be low as it's been cold and I haven't used the car for 2 weeks. So I did 5 miles. Idled it for 30 mins, turned it off and on twice and then did a 10 mile run with the engine properly hot - using lots of high revs and full throttle. Home = still no blower and according to the battery charger, the battery is now full!

I'm about to go and check the fuses - but do these give problems in anyone's humble experience?

MM.

[Twinfan]

Very common fault on 981s, so I assume it's the same thing:

• remove scuttle cover under the bonnet
• locate airbox looking item in front of the passenger seat directly below the screen next to the washer bottle filler
• unclip the lid all round and lift up
• reach in and rotate the fan by hand to free it off

2 minute fix, sorted. Make sure the engine and electrics are off and the key is in your pocket!

[Hian]

Twinfan said:

Very common fault on 981s, so I assume it's the same thing:

• remove scuttle cover under the bonnet
• locate airbox looking item in front of the passenger seat directly below the screen next to the washer bottle filler
• unclip the lid all round and lift up
• reach in and rotate the fan by hand to free it off

2 minute fix, sorted. Make sure the engine and electrics are off and the key is in your pocket!

Had this happen on my 2016 991.2 this week. Above 'fix' worked. Any ideas on how to stop it happening in the future. Worth noting I've had valves/solenoids replaced under warranty a couple of years ago.

[2010spy]

Same thing happened on my 991.2 this week. Took it to the OPC and followed the procedure described above. It only took them two minutes but they said if it happens 3 times they would replace the fan, but it has to be fixed by the OPC rather than yourself.

[Twinfan]

The "fix" is to use the car. The fan sticks if stood for a while in cold and damp conditions.

[2010spy]

You can’t fix it just by driving it. I tried that. It needs a nudge by hand. And just in case you are referring to people not using their cars, I drive mine every day. Just sat for a couple of days over Christmas.

[Twinfan]

I meant using the car not leaving it standing, but only two days is a bit unlucky. I would have thought it needed more time sat than that to get stuck.

It does seem that these fans are prone to it in certain conditions, and as the part number hasn't changed I'm not sure it's worth getting it replaced unless you can get it done under warranty, but even then I'm not sure it's worth the bother. Mine has done it twice in the last few weeks for the first times in nearly 4 years of ownership. I'm just going to keep freeing it off and see if the problem goes away as the weather warms and dries up.

[Pope]

If you have AC memory it's worth parking the car up with the blower on MAX in the winter months imo; the motor is supplied with full voltage as the car is restarted and can unstick itself 8/10 times - setting the ventilation to recirc before switch off also closes off the airbox which can help too.

[MadMark911]

Twinfan said:

Very common fault on 981s, so I assume it's the same thing:

• remove scuttle cover under the bonnet
• locate airbox looking item in front of the passenger seat directly below the screen next to the washer bottle filler
• unclip the lid all round and lift up
• reach in and rotate the fan by hand to free it off

2 minute fix, sorted. Make sure the engine and electrics are off and the key is in your pocket!

Thanks Twinfan - you were spot on and it worked!

Of course, like everyone else, I'm wondering why it happens at a certain age or in specific weather conditions? I have the Porsche warranty, so I think I should pressurise them into replacing it ......

[Twinfan]

Great stuff

[branko]

Have the same car Feb 2013 which I picked up on 9th Nov 2019 (my 3rd 911 with a 997.1 and 997.2 before). The same thing happened to me two weeks after bringing it home - also on a cold morning and thought it was the fuse but they were fine and then air con came on a few mins later which I thought was most odd.

Car then stood for a week and same again. Googled and in addition to the fix identified above there was chat re the battery being low and providing power to things in sequence with the aircon not being high priority.

Battery was original Banner brand and so replaced it with a Mercedes/Varta one (850CCA/92ah/AGM) and cost £137 and heavy at 26kg!!) and heh presto problem sorted - two cold morning starts days apart and car and air con fired up instantly. Great link on replacing it should anyone need this:-

https://rennlist.com/forums/991/1041412-991-1-batt...

[mrnicklight]

Hi folks,

just to say this worked for me too on a 2013 991.1 C2S. Initially restarting the engine had worked but then stopped doing so. But as the guide says, 2 minute job and it did the trick.

Thanks so much.

[The JM]

Thanks for this, I just did the "fix" on my 991.2 GT3 and it worked! I had only used the car 2 days ago and it was working fine so not sure why it got stuck. It only took a tiny touch on the fan to free it.

[nudgerwilliams]

I don't have one of these cars so have not tried this, but I would apply the generic fix to all things that are a bit sticky and squirt WD40 on it.

[David W.]

Could fan be nudged into life by back feeding some air into a vent with a vacuum cleaner pipe on blow?
Used to have to do this on the pickup when it got some straw in the fan that made an annoying racket.

[Pope]

nudgerwilliams said:

I don't have one of these cars so have not tried this, but I would apply the generic fix to all things that are a bit sticky and squirt WD40 on it.

JUST IN CASE YOU WEREN'T JOKING.......

The 'sticky bits' are the motor brushes where they fuse to the commutator; DO NOT spray a flammable liquid/propellant directly onto it unless you like fiery drama!!!!

Small air gaps between the brushes and the commutator as it spins may create sparks.......

[AB]

Glad I found this and fingers crossed this works on mine when I try it later on. Had to put the roof down to clear the windscreen this morning after I didn't get anything from the vents. It's been standing for a few weeks and it has been particularly cold.

Hopefully bumping this helps a few more people after the weather we've had.

[mdb55]

This has happened 3 times now on my 3Yr old 718. I've found the biggest factor is how long the car has been sat stationary (often 2-3 weeks), vs the outside air temperature.

[Pope]

It's very much a UK climate thing; it's a yearly occurrence once the damp and cold weather sets in. We've had nearly a decade of the same work-around and the same advice stands as previously mentioned; no guarantees but it all helps:

- Set air recirculation ON before switch-off - the flap mechanism blocks the external intake (if it's practical just leave recirc on generally)

- Set the fan speed to max during the type of weather that exacerbates the sticking; when the car is restarted the fan is given a kick which can free off a lightly stuck motor

- If it happens and you free it off leave the fan on MAX for a few minutes (or while driving) to clean up any residue off of the rotating parts that can lead to a repeat event

[mikees]

MadMark911 said:

Twinfan said:

Very common fault on 981s, so I assume it's the same thing:

• remove scuttle cover under the bonnet
• locate airbox looking item in front of the passenger seat directly below the screen next to the washer bottle filler
• unclip the lid all round and lift up
• reach in and rotate the fan by hand to free it off

2 minute fix, sorted. Make sure the engine and electrics are off and the key is in your pocket!

Thanks Twinfan - you were spot on and it worked!

Of course, like everyone else, I'm wondering why it happens at a certain age or in specific weather conditions? I have the Porsche warranty, so I think I should pressurise them into replacing it ......

Big thanks to Twinfan, had this yesterday after 991 laid up over Xmas (prob 2 weeks). Was feeling glum at the prospect of a OPC Warranty argument. Tried this out and its fixed.

The power of Pistonheads!