Heater/fan Problems

[turbo_rolla]

Hey guys, having some issues with my interior fan (heater & cool). For the last week or so it hasnt wanted to work. Up until a few weeks ago, it would ocassionally just stop working when it was turned on, would only work when it was on "high" or not work at all. Obviously not getting power, but checked fuses and all appears to be well. Have also taken out glovebox compartment etc and checked all plugs around it are plugged in, which they appear to be. I had the ECU for my 4age mounted behind the glovebox inbetween the back of the glovebox and the blower unit/A/c cooling unit (snug fit, can only just shut glovebox), and thought this might be the case (ie knocked a plug out or something) but it doesnt look like thats the case?

 

Any assistance in the matter would be appreciated :)

[Trev]

Hey guys, having some issues with my interior fan (heater & cool). For the last week or so it hasnt wanted to work. Up until a few weeks ago, it would ocassionally just stop working when it was turned on, would only work when it was on "high" or not work at all. Obviously not getting power, but checked fuses and all appears to be well. Have also taken out glovebox compartment etc and checked all plugs around it are plugged in, which they appear to be. I had the ECU for my 4age mounted behind the glovebox inbetween the back of the glovebox and the blower unit/A/c cooling unit (snug fit, can only just shut glovebox), and thought this might be the case (ie knocked a plug out or something) but it doesnt look like thats the case?

 

Any assistance in the matter would be appreciated :)

 

This is a common problem problem with the AE82's, I have never been bothered to look but apparently you change a resistor and its fine again.

[turbo_rolla]

cool, thanks for that Trev. will look into it a bit further then! :)

 

did a search on twincam.org and found the following useful info:

discussion on ae82 fans & resistors

 

Was gonna check it now but its just started to belt down with rain, so will have to wait til later :cool:

Edited July 7, 2007 by turbo_rolla

[turbo_rolla]

okay, went searching for the fan resistor today and eventually found it (actually rang toyota on a price and they told me where it was located - bottom of the heater box held in by 2 screws). So, tried to get the resistor out but couldnt get just that out, and then spent 45 minutes taking the bottom section of the heater box off. This is what i ended up with:

 

 

Took the silver top off and all the bushings etc are in it, so I'm guessing that is the actual resistor? Toyota quoted $88 (can prob get discount through aunty who works there), but it'd take 3 weeks to get it in. Was thinking though, should i actually test the resistor to see if that's the problem? (ie hook up a couple of wires to it off a battery or something and see if she spins???). Would be pissed to buy a new one and find out that wasnt the problem? Thoughts? :yes:

 

Also, would it be worth going to u-pull-it or something and grabbing a second hand one instead? depends how much they'd want for it i guess?

 

Thanks! :yes:

[Rollaboy2608]

okay, went searching for the fan resistor today and eventually found it (actually rang toyota on a price and they told me where it was located - bottom of the heater box held in by 2 screws). So, tried to get the resistor out but couldnt get just that out, and then spent 45 minutes taking the bottom section of the heater box off. This is what i ended up with:

 

 

Took the silver top off and all the bushings etc are in it, so I'm guessing that is the actual resistor? Toyota quoted $88 (can prob get discount through aunty who works there), but it'd take 3 weeks to get it in. Was thinking though, should i actually test the resistor to see if that's the problem? (ie hook up a couple of wires to it off a battery or something and see if she spins???). Would be pissed to buy a new one and find out that wasnt the problem? Thoughts? :yes:

 

Also, would it be worth going to u-pull-it or something and grabbing a second hand one instead? depends how much they'd want for it i guess?

 

Thanks! :yes:

could also be the variable fan resistor which is normally mounted behind the fan speed switch. Very common fault on most vehicles, as some speeds are used alot more regularly than others(especially speeds 1 and 2) and the contacts just wear out

[turbo_rolla]

could also be the variable fan resistor which is normally mounted behind the fan speed switch. Very common fault on most vehicles, as some speeds are used alot more regularly than others(especially speeds 1 and 2) and the contacts just wear out

yeah, thought it could be something like that but because it isnt working on any of the settings now I'm sussing out the resistor first. have got the dash surrounding off though so will suss that out too because just before it died it wouldnt work on 1-3 but would on 4? :yes: Thanks!

[Medicine_Man]

I can confirm your problem is the fan speed resistor, Because they heat up they eventually burn out. It is common to lose single speeds at times if one of the resistor coils burns itself out. It is located in the blower box as it needs cooling from the fan in that pic you put up. It is not behind the switches so don't bother pulling them out. Start ripping the blower box out.. You could have easily confirmed the blower fan was not the isse by powering it up with 12V.. You can buy generic fan speed resistors to suit if you can't just grab one out of a car at a wreckers. (KE70/AE71 fan speed resistors are held into the blower box by one screw).

 

 

Front/Rear views of the blower box with Fan Speed Resistor pointed out..

[turbo_rolla]

Thanks heaps for that justin! Will get onto that tomorrow :yes: thanks for putting the post in the right area also! :y: can't wait to get it sorted so i can start driving my car again (havent been driving it to work as the windows are all frosted and its difficult to see :yes: ). Cheers again! :hmm:

[turbo_rolla]

bit of an update - went to the wrecker yesterday and picked up a new resistor ($25 ;)), and this morning ripped out the blower unit and pulled out said resistor as advised by justin:

 

 

Left side is the "new" one, and the right side is how a burnt out resistor should look :( Gonna slap the new one in there and see how she goes! (just gotta remember how it all goes back togehter :hmm: :) ).

 

Almost got my fan back!!!!! :)

[turbo_rolla]

:) ;) :( another update.

 

put new resistor in the slot and put the fan back together and plugged in all relevant plugs - turned key in ignition and then hit the fan switch expecting to hear it running.............nothing :no2: So, the joy has gone to disappointment pretty quickly :)

 

Could the issue be that i fiddled with part of the blower motor when i initially took it apart not knowing what i needed to replace (see red arrow on pic)? I took the "cover" off the following and as a result, i think the components inside it might not be where they're supposed to be?

 

 

Is there any way to test this motor without hooking the whole thing up to see if it works (ie make up a plug and run some power through it off a battery??)

 

Tempted to go to a wrecker and pay the $40 to get a complete blower setup now, but thought i'd put something up here before i did :hmm:

Edited July 14, 2007 by turbo_rolla

[turbo_rolla]

ended up getting the blower motor ($25) from a wrecker. Hooked it up, mounted it all back in place and hit the fan switch. nothing on 1, 2 or 3, but then goes nuts on 4 :) then goes off, then on again, then off. if i hold the fan switch down it stays on, so this now makes me think it might be a contact problem on the switches. so will try and take that panel off (tried the other night to no avail :)) and clean them up and see how we go. its blowing atleast now, so that's alright! Will see how we go ;)

[Raven]

Come on dan, you're an expert. Shoulda been fixed by now. Chop chop!

[turbo_rolla]

Okie dokie, last post in the thread for me i think. I've pulled the control panel for the fan apart and got in behind it and found the source of the problem. turned the fan on and it worked - held the little switch for the fan speed in tight and it worked, let go and it didnt??? ;) Anyway, turns out one of the wires coming into the rear of that switch has come away from the solder, SO, am off to micks now to solder that f$#ker up and have my fan back! Spent $50 on stuff i probably didnt need (in hindsight :)), but that's now things i wont have to replace later on! Thankyou to all who have offered advice and assistance! :)

[Medicine_Man]

Wow, I would have thought it was the resistor, The switches don't normally have issues..

 

Good to hear you are on your way to getting it all sorted...

[turbo_rolla]

all sorted now so its all good! the way the resistor looked though i was glad i replaced it cause it would've had to have been done eventually. Could've been the resistor all along though and i just pulled the wire off the solder when i was fiddling around? Either way, its working so thats the main thing! thanks for your help! :evil: