Thread: S3 heater blower fan

I dont know if this helps. but my motor has been replaced at some point, and only has 1 speed. looks like a standard sort of motor to me....

Same problem on the removal of the impeller, it's STUCK....

Originally Posted by debruiser

Same problem on the removal of the impeller, it's STUCK....

Hello again.

Yes, mine is stuck on the shaft well and truly but good, and no amount of penetrating oil, slow pressure with a large scew driver for leverage etc looks like dislodging it. I guess if you push hard enough it might bust off, but then where do you get a replacement impeller? It is nearly 40 years old and they were pretty flimsy to start with.

I started a thread on this some time ago, but no-one came forward with any advice or experience on what might be possible. Took that to confirm that the task was something unlikely to be easily accomplished.

I notice that another fan that that I got sent from off an old Army wreck has 'Smiths' and 'Made In Australia' stamped on the impeller, which might indicate that it was used in a few different models back around the time my truck was new. Unfortunately, despite giving clear instructions to the supplier of what I was after, and exchanging a fair amount of dosh in the process, it is totally stuffed in every dimension and considerably worse than the one that I already have.

So, will have to persevere and/or keep looking for a better replacement.

Cheers,

My fan works but doesn't really do much. I didn't bother looking to replace it with a 2 speed fan (was only looking to sneak it past the road worthy). Now after using the car a bit I found that it's next to useless for cooling the car! It's actually hard to tell if it's turned on even when your driving at slow speeds. Hence, it doesn't get turned on.

I'm half tempted to remove the original system so that I can fit a defender snorkel there, maybe make something else that might blow some air.... But this is on the back burner until I sort out the gearbox/transfer case issues i'm experiencing.

Unfortunately that is all I really know did you try looking on the Paddock spares site? or one of those other English web sites? they have lots of parts floating around.

O, I can offer that if you need a new hose from the fan to heat box go to a truck parts mob. they use a 4" hose for their air intakes! it's nice black hose and works a treat! The price was pretty steep (not sure how much it was now).

Originally Posted by debruiser

did you try looking on the Paddock spares site? or one of those other English web sites? they have lots of parts floating around.

Hi,

I think the Australian and UK fan and heater box arrangements are quite different, as are the taps and hoses.

I got a replacement air hose across from Craddocks a little while back and it was a smaller diameter to the original. Fixed that with industrial hose from an air conditioning business in Brisbane.

The heater boxes and cores are definitely not the same. So, I am assming that the fans are different too.

Cheers,

fair enough.... I'm glad I didnt' order one from there then!

Originally Posted by S3ute

Hello,

The blower motor unit in my S3 probably needs overhaul, but can only be dissembled if the flimsy plastic impeller is removed first - the one on mine steadfastly refuses to budge and would likely break if pushed much harder.

Hello from Brisbane.

Some months ago I posted this thread in the hope of getting an insight into getting the flimsy plastic impeller off a Series 3 fan motor without breaking it. No takers.

Anyway, in case anyone else finds themselves in the same boat - here is the answer.

I was looking at a similar unit from an old wreck in my workshop one evening, and fortified with a round or two from the fridge, decided "stuff it, let's try brute logic and force anyway". Out came the very large screw driver for a wedge and more force applied than previously, until miracles of all miracles it started shifting.

Turns out the plastic impeller is held on to the motor shaft by a single small piece of fuse (like) wire threaded through a small hole running at 90 degrees to the shaft and bent back along the shaft on both sides to act as a key in the plastic.

Easy peasey when you know how.

Cheers,

haha yea I found that out about a month ago too! Easy stuff if you know the trick

Hello again from Brisbane.

A quick question. Is the circuit for the heater blower fan connected to fuse 6 for the 4 cylinder petrol models?

When I picked up my truck a couple of years back the wipers, indicators, blower fan and horn didn't work and I suspected a common fault - fuse or earth. But it is in bits and hasn't been driven since the day it arrived, so I didn't bother chasing it up.

Was looking through the Series 3 repair manual last night and checked out the wiring diagram for the 2.25 litre petrol models. The indicators and wipers share fuse 6 but the heater switch and fan motor are not shown. So, I am hoping that the various failures can be resolved with something as simple as a new fuse. The horn appears to be on another circuit and likely has just got stuck contacts.

Cheers,