G463 heater - help please

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markhowes
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My heater only works on 2 settings (2 & 4).

As it works at all does that mean that it's definitely not the motor that's faulty?

From reading previous posts it seems that it's a major job to get to the back of the switch to maybe clean it up and check that all the contacts are actually contacting. Is that correct if I only need to get to the switch rather than the motor?

What else could it be?

Is it significant that positions 2 & 4 do work and 1 & 3 don't?

At a pinch could be quite happy to live with it as it is - but always nice to have everything that was originally fitted working properly.

Any help/pointers/suggestions very much appreciated.

Roly
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Re: G463 heater - help please

I've just replaced my switch after living with speed 1,3,4 for several years. You can get access to it by removing the radio. Not particularly difficult if you are patient. Definitely not a motor fault. £40 odd from Gav

JASONGDS
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Re: G463 heater - help please

Unfortunately although it may not be a motor fault, some early 463 have the resistor pack situated in the motor housing, so a massive strip down for a small fault, however I believe some 463 have the resistor pack fitted on to the bulkhead? You may be lucky, switch is easy to access after you have removed radio.

markhowes
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Re: G463 heater - help please

Thanks JASONGDS - me not being all that technically minded, how will I recognise the resistor pack if it is on the bulkhead (and where on the bulkhead would it be)?

JASONGDS
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Re: G463 heater - help please

If??? you are lucky enough to have the later type resistor pack ( unsure if Gav can tell on  EPC , if it that detailed as I believe 3 different types of heater motor)

Resistor pack is at the back of the engine bay, bolted I think to the heater air intake, silver in appearance , about  8cm x4cm roughly with holes in cover , you can see the spring resistors through the holes.

Roly
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Re: G463 heater - help please

If you take some photos of the area we can point out the resistor pack. But finding it isn't going to help really as they are fairly robust. You will need to be able to check the resistor pack works.

markhowes
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Re: G463 heater - help please

Changed heater switch for brand new one today but heater still only working on speeds 2 and 4 (so now have a spare heater switch for some time in the future).

Can't see anything that looks like it might be the resistor pack in the engine bay so assume it's somewhere behind the central.

Is anyone able to tell me where the resistor pack is located from my VIN number? If it is located in the motor housing does that mean a complete new motor unit or is the resistor pack available separately so just it can be replaced.

 

Roly
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Re: G463 heater - help please

Mark,

If you look at the front side of the vent air box can you see a electrical connector about 12" from the top? It will be a square plug 30mm odd. That is the plug to the resistor pack. The pack is bolted to the air duct with the terminals on the outside and the resistors on the inside

markhowes
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Re: G463 heater - help please

Hopefully these pics are of the air intake box but if so I can't see the electrical connector for the heater switch/resistor pack. But maybe this isn't the air intake box or I can't recognize the correct connector.

Roly
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Re: G463 heater - help please

I can't see it. On mine the resistor pack is located on the front face (your pic 3) where the single bolt is securing the black cable.

Have a look down the inside of the air box and see whether there is any electrical device there.

gav.helme
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Re: G463 heater - help please

Mark

The Resistor Pack on the early 463 is buried behind the dash usually...

Only crept up to the heater inlet from mid 90's onwards..

Not expensive...but hard to identify the correct one from about 3-4 types

If you are doing the motor it makes sense to swop it, but your motor sounds OK...

Stick your phone can up behind the centre console and take some random snaps you should find it...

You know the area below the heater inlet you pictured earlier but from inside

Gav

JASONGDS
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Re: G463 heater - help please

Unfortunately I suspect your resistor pack is in the actual heater motor, bad luck.

pic 1, is the motor thing to close the intake for recirculating the air,

Pic 3 , these are vacuum/switch type for the diff locks, 

Worth peering into the heater air box just in case......

IanA2
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Re: G463 heater - help please

I had the same problem for a few years, it would only work on two settings, I lived with it until one day, rather dramatically, smoke started billowing out of the vents.

A new motor was needed and it was I understand the very pig of a job to fit.

I mention this as if you do decide to get the job done, it might be as well to fit a new motor at the same time, for go it will eventually, and the motor price is zip compared to the labour charges (around £180 iirc).

I seem to recall that another motor (Sprinter?) will do the job cheaper. Sherlock will know.