Is this Pic the rheostat that controls the heater fan?
Hi All,
The heater fan is only working on "full bore". My mechanic has identified what he thinks is the rheostat controling the lower fan speeds.
It is situated under the bonnet and bolted to the side of the box that looks to contain the cylindrical heater fan. It has three wires connecting to it.
The MB dealer asked us to remove this supposed rheostat and has now commented that it looks like a non MB part as he can't find it on the parts schematics. My mechanic thinks it looks like it belongs there.
The question is, who's right? Any help on this appreciated. Here's the pics of the little rascal ...
The W460 have the rheostat mounted in the heater box its self (Big job). I have two part numbers and these are dependent on the heater box number.
Rheostats mounted on the vent box in the engine compartment are on the W463. Unless some has modified your system.
Is there a part number on the old removed unit?
Your full chassis number is needed to proceed further.
My 463 (early ) nrheostat mounted in the heater motor,a big job as you say.
Did buy an external rheostat that looks similar to that one in the pic, except connectors are different.
Can you dismantle and relace the broken resistors and replace unit? Tv repair shop did mine
Certainly does not look like the strandard 460 resistor... they are mounted inside the cabin on the heater box normally although there are more than one type
If you can send me some pictures direct to my email (will PM you it) and i will try to identify, the makers name and any numbers will be of most interest...
Hope you got a good discount off your steering box purchase!!!
Gav
For the benefit of anyone else I thought I should share what we have learnt.
The mystery rheostat appears to belong to the cute aftermarket air conditioning unit which fits neatly beneath the factory fan controls. We have concluded that this is so because the fan of the regular car heater still functions on position number 3 even though the under bonnet rheostat is removed.
If anyone else has the aftermarket air con we would be keen to learn where to buy a new rheostat.
Any tips on how to remove the dashboard to locate and replace the standard heater fan rheostat would be really welcome.
The resistor packs are right inside the fan housing. So you need to remove the fan housing, split it and then get to them!
Possible that you could get it out in situ but if you have aftermarket A/C then very unlikely. Removal of dash is not a quick job, Remove glove box. Remove the central heater controls (pull knobs off). Remove steering wheel and back of instrument binnicle. Then 5 botls or so to remove dash but suspect if you had the central heating controls out then you would have enough room.
That's very helpful thank you. I will pass this on to my mechanic.
I do have a preference to get the dashboard out anyway as it is in desperate need of a good clean and some new LED bulbs.
The car has recently lived just up the road from "the back of beyond" and although in generally good condition it is dustier than a coke-heads nose! I'm hoping that one day I might be able top see how fast I'm going in the dark ;-)
Thanks again
Tony
I think I have one of those resistora from the after market aircon. I'll have a look.
Thanks Stig that would be very helpful
Hi Tony, I had a look but couldn't find it, it's possible I threw it away 
, but I don't think so. I'll probably find it when I'm not looking for it.... I'll keep an eye out for it.
It must be possible to replace the resistor within the unit? If I remember correctly, there was a resistor inside a metal shield that you could probably dismantle and replace what's needed?
Cheers Scott
Yes, just looked at your photos, not sure if you could easily find something to repair that. That's definitely what I had.
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Thanks Rakesh. I have now added my chassis number to my signature. I believe that my car came with MB alloys from new.