Zafira B Blower Fan Problems

Max2132

I am trying to help out a friend, she has a 2008 Zafira B Elite with the automatic climate control. She had the blower and resister pack changed as part of the recall last November but it wasn't until a few weeks ago I was told the fan has never worked. Contacted Vauxhall and they have said its too late for them to look at it which is fair enough.

So I am trying to find out why the blower isn't working and looking for ideas.

I have checked all the fuses and all seem fine.
I have checked the wiring is connected properly and it is.
I can see when you push the recirculation button that the actuator works and the fan cover opens

What doesn't happen however no matter whether set to full power manual or automatic is the fan doesn't turn. I have connected a volt meter to the cable that runs to the fan and it is showing 11.8 volts. I would have thought it needed more than that. Also when changing fan power the voltage stays the same, I thought it would increase?

It's a brand new fan so they definitely changed it, I did notice if you press the recirc button the fan will turn at a ridculously slow speed for about 5 minutes then stop.

Since writing this I have been told the fan has come on twice for about 20 seconds and then gone off, its getting cold in the mornings and the fan doesn't work no matter if its set to hot or cold

Can anyone please tell me where I should be looking next?

Thank you

IronGiant

11.8 V can be a sign of a slightly tired battery.  Can you check what the voltage is with the engine running?

Max2132

Yes will have a look tomorrow. But even with the engine running the blower doesn't come on, everything else does inlcuding the heated seats, I don't have a Haynes manual so don't know the wiring for it either.

Its the strangest thing I have seen in a while.

gibbo52

Sounds like the resistor, if the fan has never worked then the resistor will overheat and burn as the air from the fan is what cools it, this is what sets the zafira's on fire.

car-man

I strongly advise that you should get this checked out by an auto electrician!

When I was working I refused to look at Zafira heater fan problems (49 years as a mechanic)...I always sent them to a qualified auto electrician.
It just isn't worth the possibility of a fire.

Max2132

Narrowed it down, looks like at some point someone cut all the cables to the resistor then used rather rubbish connectors, silicone and shrink wrap to join them back together.

One of the tiny wires was intermittent, must signal the speed or something, anyway I repaired it and its working as it should!

gibbo52

The thinner wires will be for the thermal fuse, if that's a bad connection then it won't work, so sounds like you fixed it, sounds like poor work from the Vauxhall dealer.