My Bravo heater fan was making a rubbing sound for a few days, as if it was catching slightly while rotating. Now it doesn't turn at all on any speed except number 4. If I switch from 4 to 3, the fan stops instantly, with no noise, so I don't think it's an issue of having too little torque at the lower speeds. It's as if a fuse has blown on a device that slows the speeds down to a percentage of full speed.

Any ideas?

Jon.

fan club

May sound obvious but from what you say it sounds like you might have either a foreign body or bent fan or clapped fan bearing causing it to rub against the fan shroud. If it needs full whack to turn the fan and then it stops dead on 3 then there's some resistance no?

fan probs?

When the fan is on speed 4, is it going real fast like it used to when on 4 before the prob set in,or is it at a slower speed?

If slower speed then it may be a mechanical resistance jam as described earlier.

If it runs at the correct fan speed on speed 4, then you may have a electrical problem with the speed control unit.

Cheers, Tom Two.

Re: fan probs?

On 4, the speed is just as fast and quiet (or noisy) as it ever was. It doesn't sound like the fan is catching on anything, so I don't think it's just a case of not having enough power to turn a catching fan at the lower speeds. It seems more like an electrical fault on speeds 1, 2 and 3.

Does anyone know if there is some sort of speed control unit that might have a fault?

What about?

Sorry for stating the obvious but it sounds more like you got a bust fan control switch. Have you checked the actual switch??

Speed control

Usually the control of the fan is down to a few resistors that change the current in the motor dependant on the switch setting , someone with the maual will confirm yes or no.

Re: Speed control

I think my hlx has a problem with the switch -it seems to make its own mind up how fast it wants to go - a bit disconcerting when your driving along and things are turning themselves on and off - makes you wonder what else is gonna turn on or off???????

You may have a failed resistor pack. This gives the 'other' fan speeds aother than full. It is located next to the fan, along the trunking to the heater matrix (in the passenger foot well - the round object is the fan)

ready rubbed

I agree with all the above as probable causes but what was the rubbing noise in your initial message"My Bravo heater fan was making a rubbing sound for a few days, as if it was catching slightly while rotating"

Switches and electrics don't make rubbing noises or was that just a pink herring?

Re: ready rubbed

I've been and bought the replacement resistor pack. Now I only need to find out where to fit it on my Bravo HLX. I think I'll wait until the weekend when there's more light. Any hints on where the resistor goes will be gratefully received. I had a quick look down by the heater matrix last night but I couldn't immediately see it there. My car's got air-con - does that mean it will be in a different place from normal?

As you pointed out, I'm a bit worried that replacing the resistor pack may only have solved part of the problem, not the root cause. I may still have a fan that catches.

In my experience with the Bravo (and previously a Punto), sometimes the fan is quiet and sometimes noisy. It just depends on the mood the car is in when you start it up...

Catch 22

If your fan is rubbing then this will most likley be the cause of the resistors burning out.

So once you fit the resistors it may fail again.

You will have to check the fan has freedom of movement first.

TOM

Re: Re: ready rubbed

The resistor pack is next to the fan. Look in the passenger footwell, and you will find the fan (it is a black round component) follow the ducting along(about 5cm) from this and you will notice a black plastic 'cube' attatched to the ducting. Remove this, and underneath you will find the resistor pack. It protrudes into the duct to provide some airflow for it's cooling. If you want to look at the fitment before you remove it, take the fan out (1 screw at the back - and a half turn of the fan body will remove it). It is easier if you unplug the electric connector to the fan before removing. If you still can't find the resistor pack, follow this wire along.

Re: Re: Re: ready rubbed

Well, thanks to all of you for your help.

I've finally got my fan working properly again by replacing the resistor pack. The resistor pack is an green oval lump, screwed into the duct directly behind the fan in the passenger footwell. It didn't have any kind of cover over it.

The fan sounds quiet again, with no rubbing sound.

Thanks again....

Re: Re: Re: Re: ready rubbed

Brought to top.