2009 Fabia 1.4 16V. Went out to start the car this morning and the blower fan is not working. Car has the Climatronic system. The control panel is working, I can hear the air flow valves working. Just no fan.

I checked the 30 Amp blower fuse (Fuse 39) in the under dash panel and it is okay. What can I check next before returning it to the dealer?

One thing you could try, with the ignition key out of the switch, is to remove the pollen filter and push a couple of fingers up to make contact with the fan blades, then see if you can rotate them freely - okay if the motor bearings are a bit stiff then the fuse should blow eventually, but doing this would give you an idea if the motor seems okay, although the brushes could be worn. Really just something to try before the garages are back open again, save you being bored!

Thanks. I will try that. I have had a look at the circuit diagram and the X Contact Relief Relay comes before the fuse so that not operating would stop the fan from getting power. I will check to see if I am getting 12v at the fuse in the next couple of days. That should isolate it to the relay or the motor. An acquaintance had to replace the fan motor in his Ibiza at the same sort of mileage. I hope it is not the motor as that appears to be a dashboard out job.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

If you've got the semi-automatic climatic system have you checked the blower knob set to 4 to see if it's the apparently common falling resistor green thing rather than the motor.

 

I've no idea about wiring diagrams but as I think I've mentioned before don't rely too heavily on the fuse box info given by VWSkoda in their Owner's Manuals, perhaps the info in yours is spot on but they're not always, German engineering quality this century isn't the same as the previous century.

 

Also no doubt whether semi or fully automatic there'll be a load of complicated conditions and procedures to the operation so I'd consult the handbook to make sure they're all met for the fan to operate before putting in any manual effort other than turning paper pages or scrolling virtual pages.

 

I saw something about the fan speed reducing if reversing (to stop exhaust fumes being suck into the cabin(?)) I don't know if that's only if you have a window down but what about the manual hand-cranked rear windows(?), I've not tried with my wife's car but VW seem to have gone out of their way to make the computer programs complicated, intrusive and intertwined, handy if you want to hide cheats. 😄

   

Edited 1 January, 20233 yr by nta16

The Climatronic is the fully automatic system so you have no "4" setting. The system has been working since I got the car and then yesterday, without changing anything, it didn't.

The fuse information in the manual and the Haynes manual match and there is a 30A fuse where I would expect a 30A fuse

What I did notice for the first time yesterday was an intermittent click from behind the dashboard. Thinking about it, I wonder if the X Contact Relief Relay is trying to pull in but not managing.

I tried the pollen filter advice from rum4mo but I am too old and stiff to get up under the dashboard.

Tomorrow, which is forecast dry, I will get my multi-meter out and see if there is 12v reaching the fuse.

This is the part I am interested in:

 

 

This morning I took the opportunity of the good weather to dive back into the fuse box and check the voltage. With the ignition on there is 12v at the fuse so the X Contact Relief Relay is energising and switching.

That only leaves the Fresh Air Blower Control Unit and the fan motor. I will leave the rest to the dealer to sort out.

I am beginning wish I had never bought this car. I know all cars have issues, especially old ones but I have not even had it out on the road yet, and I am scunnered of it already.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Sorry I missed the differences in the heat air-con system names.  As you probably already know Haynes do tend to have occasional errors and omissions but I've no idea about with Fabia.  With this age of car and newer an appropriate bidirectional scan tool is often needed to help sort things and speed up diagnosis hopefully the garage will have one and be able to identify the issue quickly.

 

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

 

7 minutes ago, nta16 said:

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Thanks I will do. Managed to get the car taxed today now that the DVLA has reopened so was able to go for a short drive and fill up with petrol. The car was a delight to drive with incredibly light steering after the Jazz (with Honda's first foray into EPS).

Dealer took the car in about 16:00 and phoned me at 21:00 to say the blower motor is defective and he has ordered a replacement. He offered to put the car back together, so I could use it until the part arrived, but as it was a pig to get out I told him just to keep the car until it is repaired. It is not though I need it.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Thanks for reporting back.

 

Well if it's  the motor then good to get it replaced and dealer seems to have done well with their service, not something to be sneezed at.

 

It is just a small independent car sales. They get five star reviews and they will be getting another from me.

The dealer fitted a new blower fan motor for me and it is working great. He phoned to say he could bring it round in an hour if I would be home and I said yes. About 45 minutes later he phoned to say he would be a bit late as when moving it in the garage he thought the back brakes were sticking so he had but it up on the ramp. Both back brakes were scuffing so he stripped the drums off, cleaned every thing up and lubricated the pivot points. I was quite impressed because a less scrupulous garage would have brought the car round to me and left me to find a problem further down the line. So today I had my new car, driving great, Climatronic system working as it should and delighted with the dealer service. A big thank you to Danderhall Cars.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Good news and well done on and to Danderhall Cars.

 

If they were round here they'd be swamped with work, you'd need to know someone that goes there to give you there space to get in.

 

If Danderhall Cars deal in Skodas and need more work you could perhaps put a thread in the Scotland Dealership section as it's good to get recommendation from good work at good garages.

 

They are just a small car sales with a reasonable workshop attached. They do not do work other than on cars they are preparing for sale and warranty work.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Shame, but at least you don't have the normal weak link of buying from somewhere that does the minimum to get the car sold and argues the toss about any remedial or warranty work.

 

You might find a difference between VW and Honda quality but you seem the type to keep on top of things so that will help.

 

If or when you need any work done after the warranty has run out, AVW on Gilmerton Road always seem to get good reviews, they are a proper VW Group Indie and so have licences for access to VW Group resources etc.

 

I use them for MOTs, and for removing CP (component protection) once, also got my older daughter to take her Ibiza there for a cam belt change, and probably her Leon Cupra for Haldex eDiff fluid change, they seem to be just capable and honest car problem fixers, who could ask for more.

Thanks for that. They are just on the way to my local Morrisons. I phoned them this afternoon and asked for a quote to get my timing belts changed. He will price the job and phone me tomorrow.

I have service history for the car up to January 2014 and 35K, but nothing since. The belts were changed a year earlier at 26.5K, but who knows if they have been looked at since. I think it prudent to change them. Now approaching 70K.

Sounds like a good plan!

On 10/01/2023 at 20:06, Jocko said:

The dealer fitted a new blower fan motor for me and it is working great. He phoned to say he could bring it round in an hour if I would be home and I said yes. About 45 minutes later he phoned to say he would be a bit late as when moving it in the garage he thought the back brakes were sticking so he had but it up on the ramp. Both back brakes were scuffing so he stripped the drums off, cleaned every thing up and lubricated the pivot points. I was quite impressed because a less scrupulous garage would have brought the car round to me and left me to find a problem further down the line. So today I had my new car, driving great, Climatronic system working as it should and delighted with the dealer service. A big thank you to Danderhall Cars.

Hi, I know this is a 3 year old post, but can I ask how much you paid for the repair including the new fan motor?

I seem to have got the same issue with my "new" Fabia 2013 I got about 2 months ago.