Heater Fan, Never cleaned out since 1969! |
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Heater Fan, Never cleaned out since 1969! |
914sgofast2 |
Jun 23 2022, 06:33 PM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 613 Joined: 10-May 13 From: El Dorado Hills, CA Member No.: 15,855 Region Association: None |
As one of the "while I'm in here, might as well do this too" type of jobs to be done when I was replacing the gas tank, I removed my heater fan box to investigate why the heater/defroster fan never worked since we bought this car in 2016. It's a model year 1970 that was built in December 1969 according to the door jamb sticker.
The heater fan box was completely filled up with leaves and debris. These early cars did not have a screen used under the air intake louvers. The fan motor couldn't turn at all with all the leaves, twigs, and dirt built up in the heater plenum and vent outlets. No wonder the motor had burned out. Here is a photo for your viewing enjoyment showing what I discovered upon separating the fan from the heater box housing: |
emerygt350 |
Jun 23 2022, 06:37 PM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,067 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
You can't smoke any of that. What a joke.
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slowrodent |
Jun 23 2022, 07:04 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 114 Joined: 29-February 20 From: Tucson/Oro Valley Member No.: 23,981 Region Association: Southwest Region |
That is such a great pic.....
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Mikey914 |
Jun 23 2022, 07:06 PM
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#4
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,638 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
Unfortunately this is not too uncommon.
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bkrantz |
Jun 23 2022, 08:46 PM
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#5
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,724 Joined: 3-August 19 From: SW Colorado Member No.: 23,343 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
Never park under a tree?
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930cabman |
Jun 25 2022, 05:04 AM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,000 Joined: 12-November 20 From: Buffalo Member No.: 24,877 Region Association: North East States |
Imagine what the innards of some us old guys looks like??
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Robarabian |
Jun 25 2022, 08:38 AM
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#7
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914 A Roo Group: Members Posts: 590 Joined: 11-February 19 From: Simi Valley, Kalifornia Member No.: 22,865 Region Association: Southern California |
This is SOOOOOO 914....
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Pezz |
Jun 25 2022, 08:56 AM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 63 Joined: 4-November 19 From: Paisley Oregon Member No.: 23,621 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Looks like it was working fine, for a while.
I have a blower from a 1970 that works fine. $20 plus shipping Medium Flat rate Total $36 @Pezz |
Superhawk996 |
Jun 25 2022, 10:13 AM
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#9
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,726 Joined: 25-August 18 From: Woods of N. Idaho Member No.: 22,428 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
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914sgofast2 |
Jun 25 2022, 01:01 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 613 Joined: 10-May 13 From: El Dorado Hills, CA Member No.: 15,855 Region Association: None |
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Pezz |
Jun 26 2022, 07:00 AM
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#11
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Member Group: Members Posts: 63 Joined: 4-November 19 From: Paisley Oregon Member No.: 23,621 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Looks like it was working fine, for a while. I have a blower from a 1970 that works fine. $20 plus shipping Medium Flat rate Total $36 @Pezz My photo is of the heater fan blower under the cowl; not the one in the engine compartment! Copy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/051103-stupid4.gif) |
bdstone914 |
Jun 26 2022, 08:09 AM
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#12
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bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 4,508 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
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vitamin914 |
Jun 26 2022, 09:09 AM
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#13
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Member Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 8-September 21 From: Toronto Canada Member No.: 25,893 Region Association: Canada |
Pulling out the gas tank is not a simple procedure for inspection. Anyone know from what model year onward screens were put on to prevent this?
... These early cars did not have a screen used under the air intake louvers. The fan motor couldn't turn at all with all the leaves, twigs, and dirt built up in the heater plenum and vent outlets. No wonder the motor had burned out. Here is a photo for your viewing enjoyment showing what I discovered upon separating the fan from the heater box housing: |
maf914 |
Jun 26 2022, 11:25 AM
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#14
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Not a Guru! Group: Members Posts: 3,049 Joined: 30-April 03 From: Central Florida Member No.: 632 Region Association: None |
Anyone know from what model year onward screens were put on to prevent this? According to the 914 Restorer's Guide the cowl intake screen was added in June 1973. I wonder how much debris is in the fan on my 76 which does have an intake screen? I had a 92 Nissan pickup and small oak leaves would get into the ventilation fan and sometimes get stuck in a position that would allow them to paddle the centrifugal fan blades. Sort of like cardboard paddles on bicycle wheel spokes. Annoying. Luckily the fan could be accessed from under the dash fairly easily. |
914sgofast2 |
Jun 26 2022, 02:31 PM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 613 Joined: 10-May 13 From: El Dorado Hills, CA Member No.: 15,855 Region Association: None |
Pulling out the gas tank is not a simple procedure for inspection. Anyone know from what model year onward screens were put on to prevent this? ... These early cars did not have a screen used under the air intake louvers. The fan motor couldn't turn at all with all the leaves, twigs, and dirt built up in the heater plenum and vent outlets. No wonder the motor had burned out. Here is a photo for your viewing enjoyment showing what I discovered upon separating the fan from the heater box housing: I had to pull out the gas tank to replace it with a new tank. Taking out the heater fan box was just one of those "while I am in here" ideas. Glad I took the heater fan box out and discovered all the leaves and debris inside the fan housing. It certainly explains why the fan never worked. The fan would not even turn. It also explains the melted/shorted out wires in the heater fan harness. |
rgalla9146 |
Jun 26 2022, 03:25 PM
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#16
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,544 Joined: 23-November 05 From: Paramus NJ Member No.: 5,176 Region Association: None |
Pulling out the gas tank is not a simple procedure for inspection. Anyone know from what model year onward screens were put on to prevent this? ... These early cars did not have a screen used under the air intake louvers. The fan motor couldn't turn at all with all the leaves, twigs, and dirt built up in the heater plenum and vent outlets. No wonder the motor had burned out. Here is a photo for your viewing enjoyment showing what I discovered upon separating the fan from the heater box housing: I had to pull out the gas tank to replace it with a new tank. Taking out the heater fan box was just one of those "while I am in here" ideas. Glad I took the heater fan box out and discovered all the leaves and debris inside the fan housing. It certainly explains why the fan never worked. The fan would not even turn. It also explains the melted/shorted out wires in the heater fan harness. One more 'while you're in there' awaits. Check the sliding contacts on your dashboard heat/defrost controls. Another sight to behold most likely. |
jrmdir |
Jun 26 2022, 03:35 PM
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#17
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Member Group: Members Posts: 224 Joined: 13-May 21 From: Central Ohio Member No.: 25,544 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
+1 on the brass contacts on the slider lever assy. I just went through the same "discovery" and the high speed contact melted the plastic below it and it sank down slightly so that the moving contact couldn't touch it because of mushroomed melted plastic around the edges. A little surgery with Xacto did the trick.
BTW, advice I got here steered me to PartsGeek for the replacement motor/fan assy. By far the lowest price and it fit perfectly. Tip for getting the box back in - use a step drill to slightly enlarge the holes that the two mounting bolts go through. And get a helper with a piece of 1x2 wood to use as a lever pushing the box up and back toward the firewall while you insert the screws. Good luck, Ron |
914sgofast2 |
Jun 26 2022, 09:35 PM
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#18
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 613 Joined: 10-May 13 From: El Dorado Hills, CA Member No.: 15,855 Region Association: None |
One more 'while you're in there' awaits. Check the sliding contacts on your dashboard heat/defrost controls. Another sight to behold most likely. [/quote] Yes, that’s on my list now. But that will have to wait until after the Werks Reunion in Monterey. I need to get the new gas tank and steel fuel lines installed and the body vinyl wrapped by August 15th. |
iwuzazombie |
Aug 12 2023, 09:42 AM
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#19
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 17-July 22 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 26,700 Region Association: Southern California |
Not to be a nit picker, but isn't the fan in the front the fresh air fan, not the heater fan? I thought the one in the engine bay was the heater fan? I only point this out because i'm trying to troubleshoot why both are not working and i do seem to find they are referred to interchangeably and it makes it fun trying to do research. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But i could also be wrong.
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hndyhrr |
Aug 12 2023, 10:52 AM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 553 Joined: 1-September 13 From: central point,oregon Member No.: 16,332 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I have a 70 and when I went to put that back in I put the 914rubber screen in to avoid the crap that collects in there.
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