How to test a blower/recirc flap motor?

[Mrrnoname]

Hi all,

The blower flap motor (that turns recirc on and off) on my 2003 mk1 skoda fabia 1.9 sdi appears to have packed up. About a year ago recirc stopped working when the button was pressed and the motor does nothing. I changed it for another motor but that didn't fix the issue. Apparently it's a common fault so I'm wondering if the spare motor I picked up was also bad. Does anyone know how I can test the motor itself out of the car to work out if it's bad or not?

Thanks in advance!

[Breezy_Pete]

It's  the position feedback pot that fails, not the motor itself. Secondhand ones always going to be a gamble. Been through the same as you with a replacement that didn't work.

I've decided it's the one thing on these cars that really doesn't need to work. Or not enough to be worth the price of a new one.

[Tech1e]

Don't forget after installing it needs to be calibrated with VCDS.

[Breezy_Pete]

Yep, did that, still didn't work. (:

 

I'm sure it's 'cos the flap gets exercised every time reverse is selected, whether you want it to or not. 

 

Actually, maybe it doesn't? If you have the cabin fan switched off presumably it doesn't? That might be a good trick to preserving any that still work- Switch off cabin fan before engaging reverse gear?

Edited 18 July, 2016 by Wino

[Coffin Dodger]

Yep, did that, still didn't work. (:

 

I'm sure it's 'cos the flap gets exercised every time reverse is selected, whether you want it to or not. 

 

Actually, maybe it doesn't? If you have the cabin fan switched off presumably it doesn't? That might be a good trick to preserving any that still work- Switch off cabin fan before engaging reverse gear?

 

'Scuse my iggerance but, why/how does "the flap gets exercised every time reverse is selected, whether you want it to or not" please? The reason I ask is my cabin fan is rarely switched off, I have it set at position 2, blowing on the windows when cold, and turned to the feet as soon as it's hot. What's the fan got to do with you selecting reverse gear?

Edited 23 July, 2016 by Coffin Dodger

[Tech1e]

The air recirculation closes when you put it in reverse so you don't draw in your own exhaust fumes v

[Breezy_Pete]

^ What he said.

 

And I speculate that the HVAC module may not bother switching over to recirculate if the cabin fan isn't on.  If only I had a car with a working recirc motor module, I could check...

[Coffin Dodger]

The air recirculation closes when you put it in reverse so you don't draw in your own exhaust fumes v

 

Gracias! every day's a school day.

Very simple, very clever, the thought never even crossed my mind, as I said, iggerant. 

[Breezy_Pete]

Gracias! every day's a school day.

Very simple, very clever, the thought never even crossed my mind, as I said, iggerant. 

 

Not sure I agree with very clever. If they'd engineered the position feedback potentiometer well enough to cope with operating that often, then yes, I'd agree. As it is, they're a nasty little plastic thing that looks like it might've cost about 5p, and with rear door carrier seals I'd say one of the few things on a Mk1 that's almost guaranteed to fail before the car hits the scrapyard.

[Tech1e]

Not sure I agree with very clever. If they'd engineered the position feedback potentiometer well enough to cope with operating that often, then yes, I'd agree. As it is, they're a nasty little plastic thing that looks like it might've cost about 5p, and with rear door carrier seals I'd say one of the few things on a Mk1 that's almost guaranteed to fail before the car hits the scrapyard.

I ended up getting bored reporting them on every car I serviced lol