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MG MGF Technical - blower/heater

Hi! A few days ago, the blowers made a strange noise, as if something was stuck in the fan. I thought it might be leaves in the system, or something like that. But, since yesterday, the blowers simply do not work when the knob is on position 1 or 2. (on position 3 and 4, it works).
The voltage arriving to the motor is approx. 8 V in position 1, 5 V in position 2, and then 12 V in positions 3 & 4.
I checked the current (bridging the fuse with a multi-meter), and measured 0 A in position 1 or 2, then a current in positions 3 and 4.

-> Has anybody experienced this? How can I fix it?
Thanks!

Loic

Mine doesn't do anything in position 1. never has.

Think its a common fault though. will check archives.
paul weatherill

The rheostat coils have burnt out on these positions - this has affected a few people over the years. As Paul says, there's more info in the archives, and also on Dieter's web site, see http://www.mgfcar.de/heater/heater.htm
Rob Bell

Have these dodgy looking resistor coils been replaced in later models?

Anyone got a price for a "resistor" pack?

Thanks for info Rob.

Paul
paul weatherill

Hi,

Loic, got your email. I'm sorry, read the thread yeaterday, but thought it would be clear.
The resistorpack location is shown here.
http://www.mgfcar.de/heater/dcp_3923.jpg
http://www.mgfcar.de/heater/dcp_3925.jpg

removed
http://www.mgfcar.de/heater/dcp_3930.jpg

You need to bolt off the footwell cover on the (LHD) drivers side.
The pack is bolted on with Pozidrive head screws (like Philips)

I think the parts price may be about 10 quid.
Anyone knowing better ?

HTH
Dieter
Dieter K.

>>Have these dodgy looking resistor coils been replaced in later models?<<

Nope. They are cheap. They work (for most of the time). So MGR can see no need to change them.

Bless 'em!

Dieter, haven't you got details on the cheap DIY fix? This is definitely in the archives Paul.
Rob Bell

And they work by using resistance wire, which has to be cooled by the incomming air.
So when you had leaves stuck in the intake, no good airflow, burnet out wires
Will Munns

It's Sod's Law. I read this post this morning just before I went out. Driving along, the windows misted up. Turned on the blower nothing from position 1 or 2, on position 3 it souded like something was caught in the fan. A little later it cleared, but still nothing from position 1 or 2.

Just about to go out and have a look, with the benefit of Dieter's pics. What would we do without him????

Just hope that the dealer has the part in stock.
Pete Fincher

Job Done. Fortunately the dealer was expecting the Resistor pack and it arrived this afternoon. Fairly straightforward to fit,thanks to Dieter's instructions, otherwise I wouldn't have known where to find the fault or where it was situated.
In case anyone else has the same problem the Resistor Pack is part No JGM100060 and cost £12.09 inc vat. Bargain!

Instructions at http://www.mgfcar.de/heater/heater.htm
Pete Fincher

Thats a bit of piece of mind. The Resistor pack went on a Mazda MX6 ( 1996 ) I once owned and they wanted £67 + vat and that didnt include fitting !!!!!....cleaned the terminals and it worked again.... PHEW !
D Jamieson

Hi again!
Thanks to all for your valuable help, especially Dieter's pictures. I found the resitor pack, took it off and indeed 2 resistors were burnt. I ordered the resistor pack from my swiss dealer, and I got it this morning for CHF 44, that is approx. £18...
Now, I just have to put it back in the car!

By the way, I took the opportunity to check the resistors:

H - Eh <-> 0.8 Ohms
H - M <-> 1.3 Ohms
M - L <-> 2.3 Ohms
L - Eh <-> 3.5 Ohms (should be the sum of the previous 3, but that's difference between practise and theory!!!).

Loic
Loic

Nice one Loic! :o)

Take some pictures as you perform the work - I'd love to see how the replacement is performed :o)
Rob Bell

Stop stop stop.
Don't use those resistances!
The resistance varies with tempeture, so unlike a normal resistor (which should be operating at a constant temp), the resistance wire will get heated (we know this because it requires cooling by the air) and therefore offer up more resistance.
So if you are planning to make a resistor block, then you will need higher values, not that this matters much, just the fan will spin faster than you expect.

Will
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 21/11/2002 and 26/11/2002

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