Ever drove home with heater not working, in sleet!

[chris watton]

Just come back from picking Tam up after having the C/R box fitted, started to drive home, put heater on, didn't come on straight away, as usual, hey ho, I thought, it'll burst into life any second, but, as the windscreen and door windows started to steam up very badly, I started to worry!!! The heater didn't come on at all during the 6 miles home, in the sleet and rain!!! Was the worst drive of my life, and I was dying to try out the gearbox a little, as it turned out, didn't even get out of 2nd!!!
What is it with these heater/blower things? That was so dangerous!!! Is there any settings in the menu that could help??

(gearbox seems cool though!!!, trouble was, so was my windows!!)

[Targarama]

You should have dropped the roof and the windows would have cleared. Some people ...

I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell you how to adjust the flaps in the setup menu. Mind you, if it's not working at all and it was working when you took it in to the garage is the fuse blown? Are the little lights on the heater control panel working?

[chris watton]

Targarama said:

You should have dropped the roof and the windows would have cleared. Some people ... I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell you how to adjust the flaps in the setup menu. Mind you, if it's not working at all and it was working when you took it in to the garage is the fuse blown? Are the little lights on the heater control panel working?

LOL,, yes, thank you for that 'advice' Targ!! lol,,, yes, all the lights are working when I turn the dials, it's done this before, but it usually comes on after a minite or so, not this time, oh no,, not when my life depended on it!!! typical!, at least I was following Chan in her Clio, otherwise I don't think I could have carried on!

[chris watton]

Just had another check and a fiddle, the flaps are working OK, all the lights on the heater and temp dials work fine, it's just not blowing at all though, could this be a fuse, do you think?, and where is the blower motor situated?

Cheers

[jonlane]

Not sure about the fuse or motor, however it won't be the control panel settings that need changing as all these do is change the way the heater blows, but it won't stop blowing.

Could the garage have accidentally loosened a connection whilst working on your gearbox?

[chris watton]

jonlane said:

Not sure about the fuse or motor, however it won't be the control panel settings that need changing as all these do is change the way the heater blows, but it won't stop blowing. Could the garage have accidentally loosened a connection whilst working on your gearbox?

I asked the guy who changed the gearbox, and he said he didn't touch any wires, indeed, he even fixed my reverse switch, so I have a reverse light that works for probably the first time in my car's life!
I will check the fuse in a while, failing that, it's down to County TVR, as I haven't a clue where to look or what to do!
Why do these things happen always when you need them most??

[neil.b]

I think the ECU for the heating is in the side of the passenger footwell, pop it out and check the connections. Could be a dirty contact or lose wire.

[chris watton]

Cheers Neil, I'll have a look

(Nice car, btw, looks like an Audi TT, but for men!, perfectly proportioned )

[neil.b]

No problem

[chris watton]

OK, checked the ecu and changed the 20 amp fuse, still nothing!!! I give up, to the dealers it goes then!!

[r5cer]

Chris,

I had the same problem when I had a Tamora, as long as they haven't changed where they put the blower motor it is in the passenger side, under glove box (not literally), bascially in footwell. Quite far back. The plug that goes into the motor (which carries the elec) kept coming lose, I would push back in and all fine.

Hope this helps

[chris watton]

r5cer said:

Chris, I had the same problem when I had a Tamora, as long as they haven't changed where they put the blower motor it is in the passenger side, under glove box (not literally), bascially in footwell. Quite far back. The plug that goes into the motor (which carries the elec) kept coming lose, I would push back in and all fine. Hope this helps

Thank you for that r5cer , I'll check that

[chris watton]

Have just checked, lots of wires, all connected though, however, the sat nav hide away unit is also under the passenger side dash, and I wonder if the connector for the heater/motor/blower is behind that, daredn't shift it though!!

[r5cer]

Bum, you may be right regarding the sat nav unit being in front. Baically the blower motor had a rectangle plug that seemed as though it was in but wasn't. I would start the car, turn on the fan and then push it in. Hope you get it sorted.

[chris watton]

r5cer said:

Bum, you may be right regarding the sat nav unit being in front. Baically the blower motor had a rectangle plug that seemed as though it was in but wasn't. I would start the car, turn on the fan and then push it in. Hope you get it sorted.

I will have another look tomorrow, tried moving the hide away unit last night, but am sure the audio specialists that fitted it spot welded the thing in place!!! lol

[Fly Boy]

Chris
I've got the same prob with my TAM ( now blower for a couple of months now )
All the LEDs work & knob settings etc but no air.
Occasionally (1%) it'll will, which makes me sure its a bad/ loose connection rather than a fuse.
BTW the fuse is a 20A IIRC. Mine was fine.
I was told the blower unit is located above the battery, accessed from the wheel well.
I've had the nsf wheel off & took the bat compartment cover off to have a look but theres now way I can get my hand in there...
If its nice tomorrow I'll search under the dash like as been suggested, I'll let you know if it works.

[chris watton]

OK, have had a guy look at mine for me, and result!
The problem more than likely is a faulty diode in the heater control unit located in the dash unit. We have bypassed this problem by attaching the heater wire directly to a 12V wire from the battery, and it works!
I will be on the hunt for a new heater control unit though, but the guy said if it continues to work OK, they'll be no need. He took off the canopy's where the heater matrix is located, and he managed to test the motor for the fan, which was fine, all wireing was fine, checked the heater switches, all fine! So, it's a faulty heater control unit!
We need to find out if these are all the same for Tuscan's, etc, if so, getting one from a breakers wouldn't be a prob!
Only prob I have now is I can't use the Tam in rain until the canopy's are re-sealed , but my blower works!!

[SHIFTY]

Chris

Is the canopy that you are refereing to under the bonnet on the near side?.

[chris watton]

SHIFTY said:

Chris Is the canopy that you are refereing to under the bonnet on the near side?.

yes, didnt know what else to call it last night!!! lol They are by the windscreen, on the passenger side, hte outer one is the heater matrix, and the one nearest the wing is the blower box, with the actual fan and motor in the wing! Not easy to get to!
I should have called them covers, not canopy's!! idiot!! lol
FlyBoy, if your's is the same problem in the heater control unit (faulty diode), we'll put it on the FAQ on the Tam forum

>> Edited by chris watton on Sunday 30th January 15:43