If the heater on your Mk1 or 2 Golf only works on setting 3 the chances are the resistor on the fan pack behind the dash has failed. It’s a relatively simple fix that requires a soldering iron and removal of the lower passenger under panel. The resistor is on the back of the blower connector so follow the blower wires to the heater fan housing.
Full Answer
What are common reasons my Volkswagen Golf has heater problems?
While there are a variety of reasons your Volkswagen Golf heater is not working, the most common 3 are a broken heater blower motor, a problem with the thermostat, or a failed heater blower motor resistor.
Where is the heater fan resistor located on a Ford Explorer?
It’s a relatively simple fix that requires a soldering iron and removal of the lower passenger under panel. The resistor is on the back of the blower connector so follow the blower wires to the heater fan housing.
What to do if the heater stops working on a golf?
If the heater has stopped working in your Golf, this process has failed in one way or another. A word of caution: If there is no coolant in your overflow, you can refill it by adding more to the overflow reservoir. There is almost never a situation where you would need to take the radiator cap off of the radiator to add coolant.
Why is my Mk2 Golf blower not hot?
Here’s what to check. Mk2 matrix woes The heater matrix is the source of most climate related complications on the Mk2 Golf and its booted brother the Jetta; and when it goes your blower will be chucking out cold air not hot.
How do you fix a heater resistor?
0:276:22DIY Blower Motor Resistor Fix - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo underneath the dash of the passenger side you have the blower motor right here. And then theMoreSo underneath the dash of the passenger side you have the blower motor right here. And then the resistor that you're going to be taking out is going to be this one right.
Can you fix a blower resistor?
The average cost to replace the blower motor resistor at a repair shop is between $44 and $55 in parts and $70 in labor costs, for a total cost of around $114 to $125. On the other hand, you can easily fix the blower motor resistor at home in about an hour (even if you're a beginner) and for around $70.
Where is the heater resistor located?
Heater Blower Motor Resistor Location The heater blower motor resistor is often found beneath the dashboard. It is located in the heater and air conditioning compartment. It's connected to the air conditioning system, where it can adjust the speed of the blower motor fan.
What causes heater resistors to burn out?
In most cases, a blower motor resistor fails due to corrosion or overheating. Sometimes, the mechanical resistance to the motor rotation causes an excessive electric current that can overheat and prematurely damage the blower motor resistor.
How do I know if I need a blower motor or a resistor?
Typically, if the fan will work on some speeds but not on others, the resistor is suspect. Okay, let's say there's no melting going on, but your fan doesn't work on all speeds. Typically, if the fan will work on some speeds but not on others, the resistor is suspect.
What happens when blower motor resistor goes bad?
If the resistor shorts or fails, it may cause the blower motor to remain stuck on one fan speed. The heating and air conditioning systems may still function at one speed, however the resistor will have to be replaced in order for full functionality to be restored.
Is there a fuse for the heater blower?
Many vehicles have two fuses for the blower motor, one in the interior fuse block and the other under the hood. The blower motor is usually under the dashboard on the passenger side.
How much does it cost to fix a heater fan in a car?
The price to fix a blower motor at a shop ranges from about $150 to $300 and as high as $450 with certain vehicles. This is because the cost to fix anything at a shop has to take both parts and labor into account. Also, repair shops make a profit on the parts they sell to you.
How much does it cost to replace a blower motor resistor?
between $50 to$150How much does a blower motor resistor cost? To replace the blower motor resistor, it would cost you anywhere between $50 to$150 – this includes the cost of equipment and labor. However, by doing it yourself at home, you can save up to $70.
What makes a resistor go bad?
A fixed composition resistor normally fails in an open configuration when overheated or overly stressed due to shock or vibration. Excessive humidity may cause an increase in resistance. A variable composition resistor may wear after extensive use, and worn away particles may cause high resistance short circuits.
How do you know if a resistor is faulty?
1:241:54How to Test a Resistor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSet your meter to an appropriate range and connect the leads polarity does not matter compare yourMoreSet your meter to an appropriate range and connect the leads polarity does not matter compare your reading with the value determined above. It should be near the given value and within the tolerance.
How do you tell if a resistor is burnt out?
Overheating of Resistor The resistor will be hot to touch and a faint whiff of burning may be detectable. The burning odor is the breaking down of the components of the resistor: the carbon, the clay binding agent and the color code pigment painted on the resistor.
How do you fix a block resistor?
0:126:17Honda blower fan wont turn on resistor block repair simple and easyYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo let's get it to the workbench. And get this little repair done and get it back up into Honda. ButMoreSo let's get it to the workbench. And get this little repair done and get it back up into Honda. But that is where your resistor blower resistor is and it's right beside the blowing.
How much does it cost to replace a blower motor resistor?
between $50 to$150How much does a blower motor resistor cost? To replace the blower motor resistor, it would cost you anywhere between $50 to$150 – this includes the cost of equipment and labor. However, by doing it yourself at home, you can save up to $70.
How do you test a blower motor resistor?
0:031:23Blower motor resistor test - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure you have continuity. So we're going to check between this terminal and the terminal acrossMoreMake sure you have continuity. So we're going to check between this terminal and the terminal across the connector. Go ahead and show the meter.
Why is my blower motor not working?
Check the Filters and the Vents Blower motors are designed to circulate air, so they won't work if there's no air to move. You should always check the filters and vents surrounding the blower to make sure that the blower isn't having a hard time working.
How does a golf heater work?
At the simplest level possible, the heater works by passing hot coolant from the engine into a tiny radiator called the heater core. At this point, the blower motor blows air across the it and the newly heated air blows on to the driver and passengers. If the heater has stopped working in your Golf, ...
Why is my golf engine not heating up?
Low Coolant. While not having enough coolant may make your engine run hotter, it can also cause your Golf to not be able to create enough heat. Is there isn’t enough line pressure, due to low coolant, then the heater core will not be able to get any coolant itself.
Why is my heater not working?
If the heat is blowing, but blowing cold, it has something to do with the coolant getting to the heater core, or the heater core itself.
What does it mean when a heater hose is hot and cold?
If one of the hoses is hot, and the other one is cold, that is a pretty good indication that the heater core is clogged. If the neither hose has any heat, you may have air in the cooling system, low fluid, or low pressure.
How to check coolant level on a car?
You can verify this by checking the coolant level by taking a peek at the overflow reservoir. The overflow reservoir will be connected to the radiator by a tube coming from the top (usually right by the radiator cap). It should have separate lines to indicate “cool hot” and “cool cold”. Some vehicles only have full hot. Never touch the radiator cap unless the vehicle is ICE COLD.
What is the job of a golf thermostat?
The job of your Golf’s thermostat is to regulate the temperature of the engine. It does this by allowing water to enter the engine when it is getting hot, and by keeping coolant from entering while the vehicle warms up.
How to tell if your golf is cold?
If your Golf has a built in temperature gauge, take a look at it and see if it is in the spot it is normally in after a bit of driving. If it looks like it is colder than normal, that’s a pretty good indication that there is something wrong with the thermostat.
Where is the resistor located on a blower motor?
The resistor (red arrow) is located in the air duct between the air filter (green arrow) and the blower motor (yellow arrow). Squeeze the large white plastic clip (red arrow); this will separate the resister and wiring connection from the air duct. Pull the unit down and out from the duct.
Where is the resistor on a fan motor?
The resistor is located behind the glove box above the passenger side foot well. Begin by removing the two plastic screws holding the insulation piece above the passenger side foot well (red arrow, ...
Why is my HVAC fan running at top speed?
If you turn on your HVAC system and the blower or fan motor only runs at top speed there is a very good chance you have a bad resistor and need to replace it. If your fan is starting to run erratically with no noises coming from the motor the resistor may be starting to go bad. The good news is that the part is relatively inexpensive ...
How to contact Pelican parts?
There may be a kit available for the gauge. With your vehicle info handy, give The Pelican Parts parts specialists a call at 1-888-280-7799. They can figure out what part or repair kit you need. - Nick at Pelican Parts.
What are common reasons my Volkswagen Golf has heater problems?
While there are a variety of reasons your Volkswagen Golf heater is not working, the most common 3 are a broken heater blower motor, a problem with the thermostat, or a failed heater blower motor resistor.
What happens when the heater control valve fails?
When the heater control valve fails, adjusting the temperature may not change the air temperature at the vents, whether hot or cold. Also, the valve could leak engine coolant, p... Read More
What happens if your thermostat is stuck?
The bad thermostat can cause two different sets of problems, depending on whether it's stuck open or stuck closed. A thermostat that is stuck open can cause the engine to run c... Read More
What happens when a blower motor fails?
When the blower motor fails, the air conditioner and heater may still work, and heat or cool may be felt at the vents, but the air pressure will be dramatically decreased. This ... Read More
Why does my car smell like engine coolant?
A failing heater core may cause the car's interior to smell like engine coolant. The smell will become worse when the heater is turned on. The engine may also begin to run hotte... Read More
What is the Heater Blower Motor Resistor all about?
The heater blower motor resistor is located underneath the dashboard in the heater/AC compartment. The resistor enables the heater blower motor to change the speed of the fan. Without this part you will not be able to change the speed of the airflow from the blower motor. It is also possible that the heater motor blower may not work at all.
Our recommendation
The air and heating system in your vehicle is a closed system, so it won’t be inspected during servicing and routine maintenance. If you notice any part of the air and heating system behaving bizarrely, however, you should always schedule an inspection.
How important is this service?
To ensure proper operation of the blower motor, the resistor has to be working correctly or else you may end up with either no airflow from the fan or your fan will be stuck on one speed.
How can we help?
Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.
