S1 Fans Noisy But Not Blowing Much

[DrTim]

OK< the good news about my old one is I checked the other night, absolutely no bubbles in coolant running it up to running temp while parked.

Also the gas has been low in the a/c for years but it still seems to be trying to cool a little bit, so I'm hoping a regas might just get it going again.

However I notice that although fans are making the right noises noise, nothing much circulating thru the inner vents, on dash and door pillars for rear, although it is blowing more air up thru near the windscreen and on the doors thru the little slits.

I'm SURE it used to blow a lot more thru the dash vents when fan on max.

Any ideas people?

Thanks in advance.

[DrTim]

oh btw it has the full auto CC with the digital temp readout.

[Assich]

Have you checked that the flap at the fan motor is moving when you change the required direction of air from floor to windscreen etc. Maybe seized or need adjusted and thus giving a little air to certain vents and at the same time the rest to others. That would give you less air at full blast on the windscreen as it is also going elsewhere.

[DrTim]

OK have read Haynes but no help there in locating the little flap.

Have sat changing the flow settings on the CC unit for quite some time on the basis
that the flap might free up but no luck.

To summarize, most air is coming thru the very front vent by the windscreen, nothing much thru the dash/floor vents, even with fans on max and dash vents only selected.
This is on the S1 (or is it 1.5, two spoke wheel but mirrors are black) car.

Is it a big job to get at the flap?

[jorgy9]

Hi DrTim,

last week my full climate became temperamental as well, on mine it seems it doesn't work the servo motor to direct air at the windsreen (for demisting). Few days after it worked again correctly, but today again in the morning not and in afternoon yes. While I was puzzled being almost sure it must be the servo motor or a contact towards the servo motor, today it proves problem rather resides within the climate panel: sometimes it doesn't react at all to putting on "demisting" (ie not putting fan to almost full, not directing air to windsreen). However other times it sends the air to windsreen but the fan doesn't come on at almost full. And other times it puts the fan at almost full but doesn't open the windscreen flap, so it becomes noisy and I get some air escaping at the feet. So carefully check out what the combinations do in yours, and from day to day. UFO here said he's been opening up the said panel and cleaning the contacts between the two pcb's of it (?) and that's what I plan to do.

regards
George

[dean]

Hi DrTim

The servo motor is in the drivers foot well right up under the dash and is held in place by two Phillips type screws, you will need a very stubby screwdriver and very very very bendy arms, good luck

[DrTim]

OK, been driving the S1 for 3 weeks now, still no time to look at the heater probs in the S2 (F2 prob). 160K up in the S1 (hurray) and done about 450 miles in total, stop start stop start around Bristol, but I do love driving it even without sounds.

The problem with air going thru windscreen vent only whatever the setting on the CC unit remains, however today it seems to have got stuck blowing hot only, and its a bit milder today, ended up with fan turned off and sunroof open.

Is this another flap thingy thats got stuck? Servo in the same place? In driver footwell?

I have a spare CC control panel from Ebay of unknown functionality. Given that all the
lights work as they should on the CC panel one (segment gone in the display but its been that way for years) is it a waste of time to swap the panel out to troubleshoot the problem? I'm interested in your comments.

regards

[xmexclusive]

Hi Dr Tim

Panel swap is just lever it out (just held in with 4 spring clips that are part of the panel) and the unplug two electrical plugs. Easy to try and will perhaps enable you to check out the spare panel. I will be surprised if the problem turns out to be the panel.

Regards

XMexc

[DrTim]

xmexec you confirmed my suspicion that the panel is unlikely to cause this. Maybe I will try the swap once I get the S2 F2 problem fixed.

Today the panel sort of above the pedals came loose (one screw hardly has any purchase, been like that for a while) and while refixing it I noticed a right angled piece of the ducting was totally loose and rattling around in there. Need to get a good look at how to fix it back in, is it possible that this is the cause of all my problems or just an extra one? Pic ((not very good) of offending bit attached.