Aircon/heater fan not working

[Steve McF]

Last week, the interior blower fan stopped working on our 2012 Qashqai. It was sounding like a helicopter just before it stopped altogether.

Yesterday I managed to remove it from the car and tested it with a 12V battery and it worked!!! I checked the electrical feed to the motor in the car and that seems ok, fuses all intact.

So I cleaned and lubed the fan, cleaned out the chamber the fan fits into, and found a couple of small slivers of loose foam that I removed.

Then refitted the fan but still nothing. Someone suggested to take the fan out and test it on its side (as it would be in the car) and if it then doesn't work, the fan bearing is knackered, so that is a job for today.....

But other than that, any idea what else I could check?

[sgould]

It does sound as if the bearing has failed. If the fan is run with the axis horizontal, and the bearing has failed it could have dropped and be resting on the casing.  Can you feel the fan?  Is it wobbling on the shaft?

[Steve McF]

Fan is out of the car and works in both orientations with a battery. No play in it that I can feel.

[carrera]

If there's 12v to the connector in the car, then I would be thinking about the the wiring from the connector onto the motor

But if that's what you are testing out of the car, then I would be thinking about the ability of the feed in the car to carry current. Start by removing / inspecting / replacing the fuse

[Steve McF]

I've contacted an auto electrician - waiting for him to call back. I'd rather take it to him whilst I have stuff dismantled so he can get to stuff.

The fact fan was noisy before it stopped altogether makes me suspect something stopping the fan from turning when installed, but with no play that I can detect in the fan, and the chamber it sits in having been hoovered and wiped clean, I'm not sure what is going on.

Will see if he comes back to me. I was hoping when I took the fan out, it would be obviously knackered and I'd go and order and fit a new one myself. But I'm never that lucky ha ha

[Steve McF]

Well I spoke to 2 auto electricians, nether of whom could look at the car for a couple of weeks. But they suggested the resistor could be the culprit, so I have ordered one from onlinecarparts.co.uk, so will fit that when it arrives and fingers crossed.

[Steve McF]

This interior fan issue is getting right on my nerves now!!!

Fan stopped working, so I took it out tested it on the bench and it worked. So I checked power in cables to the fan and there is. So cleaned and lubed the fan, cleaned out the chamber it fits into, and refitted it - nothing.

Spoke to a couple of auto electricians who couldn't look at the car for weeks, but suggested the resistor may be the culprit. So I ordered a new one that came today.

Fitted it and refitted the fan again. Ignition on, and fan came on, but still sounded like something may be caught in it. I turned it off, and then it wouldn't come on again!!!

So does this mean the fan is somehow coming into contact with the edges of the chamber it is fitted in? If so, I'll have to buy a replacement fan, won't I? 🙄😒

[Steve McF]

Just took the fan out again and noticed these cracks at the base of some of the fins.

None are loose though and it all feels quite solid. But this could be the issue. I don't remember all these cracks being there when I first started investigating all this.

[sgould]

That looks dead.  Has something got through the filter?  Can you find a blower from a breaker and just unbolt the fan, if necessary?

[Steve McF]

Not sure. I hoovered the chamber out where the fan sits, and wiped it all out. All I came across were a couple  of slivers of foam from somewhere.

Someone has just recommended one of these that he fitted following intermittent issues with his fan:

https://blowerfan.co.uk/nissan-qashqai-mk1-j10-interior-heater-blower-fan-motor-2007-2013/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFC6MRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHerUVKScIuSY_i76uO6I4nmK5u6uq4pBUzYoLTGARy8CjkEAy8dnXHgf9A_aem_qxsPekJ8UjIUmXp0TATG3A

[sgould]

If it's the right shape, it should be fine.  I fitted a Nissen fan, complete, in my 9-5 and it's been fine.

[Steve McF]

Fan ordered, coming tomorrow

If that fixes it, and it works with the old resistor, I may be able to send the new resistor back for a refund. Or for peace of mind, just keep it fitted.

[Steve McF]

Fan arrived....now fitted after a bit of faffing. And.......it works hurrah!!! Now I just need to refit the glovebox and put everything back together, as I ran out of time (and daylight) last night!

[Steve McF]

Tonight I finally managed to get everything refitted, and had no spare fixings left ovrr, which is great!!!

Fan all now working as it should, and car back together at last 😊👍