Boxster 981 - Airco and heating stopped working

[monamimate]

It's Friday evening and the weather has just turned cold so of course, my heater has packed up.

All the little screens and numbers still appear, but nothing happens.

No change in temperature, no fan at all, even on maximum setting, so it's window open to demist!

Anyone had similar, and any idea if it's a simple/ expensive fix?

Earliest I can get to the dealer is Wednesday...

[rObArtes]

just a thought but might be worth checking to see if any fuses have blown?

[monamimate]

rObArtes said:

just a thought but might be worth checking to see if any fuses have blown?

I was hoping it might just be that, but they look fine... unfortunately. Guess I'd better get ready for a big bill... (out of warranty!)

[robj4]

Strangely two people I have met recently who have 981 Boxters have had similar problems, within warranty. One called Porsche Assist out on reaching his destination.. and it then all worked fine when the tech tired it. The other checked fuses, found nothing and started the car again for everything to work as normal.

OPC Cambridge told one of the above that if the car is left unused for a period (not specified) it can need a re-set after starting if the fan doesn't run. Turn car off and on again.

Your problem may not be the same, but the above all seemed a bit odd to me.

[monamimate]

robj4 said:

Strangely two people I have met recently who have 981 Boxters have had similar problems, within warranty. One called Porsche Assist out on reaching his destination.. and it then all worked fine when the tech tired it. The other checked fuses, found nothing and started the car again for everything to work as normal.

OPC Cambridge told one of the above that if the car is left unused for a period (not specified) it can need a re-set after starting if the fan doesn't run. Turn car off and on again.

Your problem may not be the same, but the above all seemed a bit odd to me.

Thanks for that. Car has sat outside for a good week or so, but so far restarting has made no difference.

I suspect it's something electric, as nothing works at all. If it was mechanical, I'd expect one part to fail (eg heating) but others (eg fan) still to work.

Fingers crossed that it will be a simple fix..

[Demort]

Its unlikely to be a fuse as the panel still works , it may be that the control unit has basically gone to sleep and is not wakeing up .. it needs a reset kinda like turning a computer off and on.

The dealership can do whats called a vehicle handover which wakes all control units up from new or after replacement , this may kick the A/C back into life.

worse way it may need the A/C control unit replaceing .

Unfortunatly software causes a fair few problems on modern cars

[Gouldian]

It happened to me during first year and a number of other 981 owners. Hot day no air con, checked all possibilities, nothing, then after about 5 miles all started working again by itself. Dealer said not uncommon it is the fan sticking and only ever happens once and never again. Seems right, as no problems in past 2 years and same story from others I've spoken to.

[Pope]

The brushes stick within the motor; open the bonnet, lift the cover and locate the pre-filter (it curls upwards on the nearside). Lift the plastic lid that covers it and you see the fan inside - maybe need a torch. Reach in - ignition off! - and spin the fan by hand - if it's indeed stuck it will free off with a gentle twist.

Test system, refit covers.

The fan has been modified in the last year or so to counteract the issue

[monamimate]

Thanks for all the tips.

I'll be bringing it in to the dealer next week, and I hope it turns out to a simple reset or so... don't fancy the cost of them replacing the whole unit!

NB - unfortunately it's not just the fan not working - nothing happens at all (no heating, no cooling either...).

[Pope]

Rare for the 'entire' system tray pack up; have you tried moving the fan - it is the same one for hot or cold. ....

[monamimate]

Pope said:

Rare for the 'entire' system tray pack up; have you tried moving the fan - it is the same one for hot or cold. ....

No, not too keen to start poking around at things (two left thumbs and all that..)

[Oi U]

Gouldian said:

It happened to me during first year and a number of other 981 owners. Hot day no air con, checked all possibilities, nothing, then after about 5 miles all started working again by itself. Dealer said not uncommon it is the fan sticking and only ever happens once and never again. Seems right, as no problems in past 2 years and same story from others I've spoken to.

+1.
Mine stopped working then when I eventually managed to secure an appointment at the OPC it started working again en route to the dealership. That was over a year ago and it has been working ever since. It seems that the threat of oily hands and pokey things was enough.

[monamimate]

Pope said:

The brushes stick within the motor; open the bonnet, lift the cover and locate the pre-filter (it curls upwards on the nearside). Lift the plastic lid that covers it and you see the fan inside - maybe need a torch. Reach in - ignition off! - and spin the fan by hand - if it's indeed stuck it will free off with a gentle twist.

Test system, refit covers.

The fan has been modified in the last year or so to counteract the issue

Perfect!

I plucked up the courage to go fiddling under the covers and your suggestion was spot on.

Strangely, I felt no resistance at all from the fan, yet it worked again as soon as I tried it, so that must have been the problem.


A virtual pint for that man!

Thanks.

[Gouldian]

Excellent news, and no expensive labour at an OPC. I understand a bumpy road may also sort it!

[Stirlings]

I ve had 2 991's where the heater gave out no hot air
there was a recall that was done FOC that cured the problem

[bcr5784]

I've just had the fan stick on my 2014 981 - and used the tip above to fix it (Thanks!!). I can live with it happening once a year, but if it happens on a regular basis, it becomes a real pain. Anyone have the motor replaced under warranty - seems like a design fault?

[bcr5784]

Answering my own question, I rang up my OPC and they have booked it in for a warranty fix with no question. They obviously knew exactly what the issue was because they have ordered the part.

So, hopefully, issue solved.

[monamimate]

bcr5784 said:

Answering my own question, I rang up my OPC and they have booked it in for a warranty fix with no question. They obviously knew exactly what the issue was because they have ordered the part.

So, hopefully, issue solved.

Lucky you - mine happened after warranty ran out... and it's done it 3 times in as many months...! I wonder how much needs to be removed to get access to the fan...

[bcr5784]

monamimate said:

Lucky you - mine happened after warranty ran out... and it's done it 3 times in as many months...! I wonder how much needs to be removed to get access to the fan...

Got even luckier - salesman at OPC rang me up and asked me what courtesy car I'd like - so I'll be giving the new 911 a go. Not sure which variant, and I think they only have the one yet. A GTS with RWS would be interesting, but I'll take pot luck.

[b2tus]

bcr5784 said:

Answering my own question, I rang up my OPC and they have booked it in for a warranty fix with no question. They obviously knew exactly what the issue was because they have ordered the part.

So, hopefully, issue solved.

It has just happened to my 981b.

Car had been garaged for a while (on a CTEK) as SWMBO decided that we needed some sun and off we jetted to the Indian Ocean. Back from the sun, fired the car up yesterday morning and all was fine until I noticed the AC/heater fan was not working. All day I tried to "unstick" it but despite numerous stop/starts and flicking of the switch, no luck so put it back to bed in the garage.

Couldn't be bothered to try the DIY method and bearing in mind it is still under warranty, I decided to call Porsche Tonbridge. They recognised the problem immediately, said yes we have had others with the same problem so bring it in and we will sort it while you wait. So, off I go this morning to visit the dealer and within 200 metres of leaving home, the fan burst into life. Called the dealer who said no point in coming up now it's working and we will order a new updated fan motor today. It should be in within 3 days and we will then fit it while you wait.

Excellent service from the dealer and none of this "see if it will do it again and we will look at it". A new upgraded fan motor will be fitted under the warranty. Not sure how much these motors cost, but reckon it could be a reasonable amount towards the cost of the extended warranty.