Elan heater motor stopped working :-(

PostPost by: terryp » Thu Feb 11, 2016 5:21 pm

Out picking up one of my daughters today from school and suddenly noticed the blower wasn't working.
I checked the switch and the earth and the supply and all were OK.
Obviously removal without the dash being removed is out of the question but has anyone drilled a small hole in the casing and tried some WD40?

Thanks
Terry
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PostPost by: billwill » Thu Feb 11, 2016 6:05 pm

I doubt tha that would help. It is most likely to be the brushes worn out or a break in the wiring caused by vibration.

So it's dash out, I'm afraid.
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PostPost by: elanfan1 » Fri Feb 12, 2016 12:53 am

Monsieur Teerreee,

I suspect you are unlikely to find it just needs some lubrication and eventually it will have to be dash out. However if you want to try it I don't think you need to be drilling any holes. The easiest way would be a long thin tube and get it around the bend in the plenum chamber via the air intake in front of the screen. Will be hit and miss though.

Alternatively could you access via the heater box flaps with a thin tube by passing the heater matrix or much harder - through the seal plenum to heater but you probably cannot access it that way due to a lack of room.
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PostPost by: Elan45 » Fri Feb 12, 2016 2:04 pm

And time to clean out the heater cores and clean and paint the box they all go into. There may be 40+ years of accumulation inside. An this stuff causes the box to rust from the inside.
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PostPost by: terryp » Fri Feb 12, 2016 2:25 pm

I'll try the straw and a hammer blow first!
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PostPost by: billwill » Fri Feb 12, 2016 4:50 pm

If its possible to reach the fan blades with a long prodder, you can see if they turn.

If they do, your problem is not seized up bearings.
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PostPost by: terryp » Fri Feb 12, 2016 4:54 pm

Now that's a good idea Bill!
Thanks
Terry
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PostPost by: terryp » Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:55 am

Managed to drop the lower casing slightly and hoover out crud. Then turned impeller that was very very free :-(
So it's new motor time. Thanks Steve for supplier :-)

Terry
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PostPost by: terryp » Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:19 pm

Just found out some stuff. I have a rheostat in the chamber, could it be that?
If I bypass I could have one speed?

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PostPost by: elanfan1 » Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:28 pm

Think that's right but isn't the rheostat just a resistor with no moving/breakable bits so unlikely to be the problem?
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PostPost by: terryp » Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:38 pm

:( I thought it was a chance not to take my nice new dash out! :(
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PostPost by: john.p.clegg » Sun Feb 14, 2016 8:39 pm

But I thought "I checked the switch and the earth and the supply and all were OK." where did you check it..at the wires feeding the motor I hope?

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PostPost by: terryp » Sun Feb 14, 2016 9:00 pm

The ones at the back of the switch, the ones on the motor side of the rheostat are deep on the plenum chamber
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PostPost by: terryp » Sat Mar 05, 2016 2:52 pm

Ok this is weird!
3 weeks ago, i opened the panels on the LH side and drilled the motor casing and shoved loads of WD40 in. I also slightly opened the plenum chamber , shoved a rubber hose connected to a Hoover and sucked out all the old crud. Tested everything and the motor was as dead as a dodo so I purchased a new old stock motor for ?45.
Went on holiday for a week and today is the first time the car has been driven since 3 weeks ago.
I took the car for a run and I thought I heard the heater. Then suddenly loads of old leaves burst out of the vents and the motor sprang into life sounding like a new motor!
It's working now and my new motor hasn't even arrived!
Terry
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PostPost by: billwill » Sat Mar 05, 2016 3:55 pm

Oh well, at least you will have a spare.

Time to fit a fine mesh under the decorative grill to stop more leave getting in. :)
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