90 blower resistor blew up AGAIN

[Bhatti, Mohammed]

This question seems to come up often and I'm glad since it's one of the few
things that I've BTDT and have some experience off.

I have an 88 80q and it is a known issue with the early versions of the fan
drawing more current than the resistor could handle.  Apparently it was
fixed for late 89+ models.

I have installed a used blower motor from a 1990 90 which lasted about 18
months before the squirrel cage came loose.  I then replaced it with blower
motor from a late 1987 80 and it's been in there for about 2 years on the
same resistor.  So far, the resistor has not blown so I think I've been
lucky in getting a blower motor that didn't have the problem.

Anyway, it chirps a lot which I figure I can cure with some oil squirted
into the blower motor.  BTW, it's not all that difficult removing/installing
the blower motor.  Removing the glove box is fairly straight forward.  After
the second failure, I've just left it off.  Who needs a glove box anyway.

The tricky part is removing the actual blower motor since there is very
little room to manevur under the dash but can be done with some pushing and
pulling on the dash.

hth

mohammed
88 80q

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> i'm hoping for a little btdt: i replaced my blower resistor about 5
months
> ago. it's recently gotten heavy useage as its been rainy and i need to
leave
> the ac on so the car doesnt fog up. last night the resistor died [hi
speed
> fan only]. that seems like an awfully short service life.. anyone know
of
> any usual suspects before i start digging into it? any common upstream
> problems that will cause this thing to break so quickly? the cars
witing is
> al stock but has no other glitches [knocking on audi-branded wood].
>
> or did i maybe get a bum resistor. the blower was replaced by dealer a
few
> years ago [should be ok]..

Hmmm... I was *going* to reply that the rumors I have heard are that the
old fans chew up resistors and the new ones are better.  My fan has been
chirping for years now in the winter and the resistor was bad when I got
the car.  I am *not* looking forward to replacing the stupid fan, so I'm
trying to make it until I need a heater core, too...

At least the resistors are cheap (or *should* be - they are an old VW
part, under $20 for mine)

Maybe you got one of the "old" fans, I have no idea how to tell the
difference.

I'd just replace the resistor pack and cross my fingers for now, if I
were you.

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/
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