Blower fan acting crazy - solved

[Gryffindor]

... This requires four hands, a 12 inch tall assistant, and the ability to levitate upside down...

"You'll like this... not a lot, but you'll like it!" said Paul Daniels to Debbie McGee, as he led an elephant wearing a tutu onto the stage.

[Sol]

Haha yep

[Sol]

So, update on proceedings.

After a hunt round local motor factors, arguing over part numbers (my reg brings up the wrong exact model a lot of the time) and not wanting to get it via eBay, I decided to take JJ's advice and try oiling the bearings. Every motor factor actually has access to the Febi Bilstein equivalent to the Denso fan motor but Febi have no stock due to covid restrictions. Ah well. Others can be had at 3 times the price of Febi. No thanks unless desperate.

All motor factors also showed me the fan motor with the alloy transistor controller onboard, so that error isn't confined to catcar, it must exist in the Citroen database. I had to say listen, ignore the reg number, look up this part number...6441AS...and eventually they found it. Some weren't keen, as they go by a script = tell me your registration number Sir and I'll tell you the part you need....

Me = not this time matey, thanks.

So I drilled two access holes in the fan nose-cone near the bearing, have to not go too deep in case you hit the motor itself. (Two opposing holes to prevent creating an imbalance in the impeller from removing material)

A drop of 3 in 1 oil, and then a gentle spray of 3 in 1 with PTFE finally got into the bearing and once the other end was done, I stuck it on test at full speed in the house.

It started at 7A, and dropped quickly down in stages to 5.6A and stayed there even when restarted. This was measure with my Fluke clamp meter.

I ran it for a full 5 minutes and it was quiet and strong. Back into the van it went, with a new resistor (which the local motor factor kept on the shelf) and it seems fine now. If it lasts a few weeks or months, I'll get a new one when restrictions are less severe and things hopefully have returned to more normal settings in commerce. If they will ever be the same again.

Went out for a drive, all good. 15 mins of running at full heat and fan 2, ran fine and no more weird noises or speeding up and slowing down. Tried all speeds, all fine. 1 is so quiet you have to feel the vents to know it's on.

Thanks again @jj9, the voice of reason. When it's my own car, I overthink things.

One note for anyone doing the resistor (or both) it makes a massive difference to access if you take the accelerator pedal out first, and put it back last.

And, the resistor unclips by sliding it firmly towards the door, and clips back again by sliding firmly towards the pedals, till it clicks positively. Not obvious untill you are putting it back, and the screw holes don't line up..... hmmm I thought why is this ...and I'd had to file a small bit off to get it to slot in like a lot of people had to. Once it was in and the holes wouldn't line up for the retaining screw, the penny dropped and I pulled it in the direction of said screw hole and CLICK it went into position.

It would still need a small bit filed off anyway, don't know why this is but a lot of people found the same issue.

[jj9]

Good the hear that the fan has loosened up, I hope it lasts you as long as the one I oiled    

I sympathise with you, trying to get past  "What's the Reg" can be very hard work so well done for sticking it out.

I'm glad the fan is working and I hope it stays that way. 



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[Gryffindor]

Well what goes round comes around as they say, especially when it comes to electric fans.

My PC's video card fan began whining a couple of days ago, so I thought I'd check its hub out. It was certainly wobbly to the touch. Couldn't pull it off with my fingers, so used a pair of pliers... only to find that it isn't meant to be pulled off and I'd broken it!

So, 3 days without a PC; ordered a cheap card using my phone from Amazon with extortionate next-day del, and am now back up and running.

I bet this brings a smile to your face, Zion! It didn't mine!

[Sol]

I never feel happy at others' misfortune mate - glad to hear it's working again! Fans eh, who'd have em...

[Gryffindor]

Thanks for your kind words.

The new card is a passive one - much better.

How's your oiled fan doing?

[Sol]

Not bad, whistles a bit when cold but quietens down once the air has warmed up. I can see me needing a new one in a bit. But, working for now. Like you I would have liked to pull the impeller off to get properly at the bearings but I think it's a one shot deal.

[Gryffindor]

Aye, indeed.

[Sol]

As a final end to this story, that fan worked perfectly until January 2022 when (still working) I traded the van in and bought a car.

As a testament to JJ9, the oiled bearings worked a treat. Never had to touch it again. I did of course have to swap out the toasted fan speed control resistor but that was a given anyway.