Heater fan won't turn off

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Spatula
Posts: 62
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2020 5:02 pm
Location: Regina, Canada

Heater fan won't turn off

Postby Spatula » Thu Jan 30, 2025 7:30 pm

Hey everyone, I noticed recently that the fan for the climate control is always running. It's a 2012 with dual zone climate control and the infotainment screen. I usually set it to Auto, and the fan turns on once the car has warmed up, but now it runs constantly. The fan control looks like I'm adjusting it, but the fan speed (sound) never changes. I can adjust through all the different vent settings and I think the temperature works, but not the speed control! I click the Off button and the fan keeps running...
The rear climate controls still work perfectly. It's just the front fan that's stuck on.

I do have the engine light on but I suspect they are not related (P0442 evap system leak, which seems to alternate with "loose gas cap" warning).

Any insight in fixing the fan would be appreciated!


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VStar650CL
Posts: 590
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:19 pm

Re: Heater fan won't turn off

Postby VStar650CL » Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:17 am

Your VBC (blower resistor) is melted short. Very common with transistor VBC's. Replace both the VBC and the blower motor. Even though the blower seems healthy, chances are the VBC blew because the motor is drawing excessive stall current when it starts up.

Spatula
Posts: 62
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2020 5:02 pm
Location: Regina, Canada

Re: Heater fan won't turn off

Postby Spatula » Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:32 am

Excellent! Thanks Vstar! Looks like there are lots of YouTube videos and it's all inside, under the passenger side. I'll be ordering some parts today (lots of after market options and half the price of OEM) and update my progress.
Part numbers I found are:
VBC: 27151-ZT00A
Blower motor: 27226-EA010

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VStar650CL
Posts: 590
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:19 pm

Re: Heater fan won't turn off

Postby VStar650CL » Fri Jan 31, 2025 10:26 am

Yep. Easy job on an R51.
:D

Spatula
Posts: 62
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2020 5:02 pm
Location: Regina, Canada

Re: Heater fan won't turn off

Postby Spatula » Sat Feb 08, 2025 9:46 am

Done and done! Ordered from PartsAvatar which cost about $175CAD for both and arrived in about a week. Replacement was easy, two bolts and a plug on the resistor and three bolts and a plug on the blower. The hardest part was removing the piece of trim which covers one blower bolt. It was about -15°c /5°f, which probably contributed to the brittleness of the plastic and my impatience with it, I did break one of the clips on the trim, but not an important one.
The bolts are very small, I used a 5.5mm socket on a 1/4" ratchet, and an extension was necessary for a couple of them. The whole job was easy and completed in under 30 minutes in my driveway.

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VStar650CL
Posts: 590
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:19 pm

Re: Heater fan won't turn off

Postby VStar650CL » Sat Feb 08, 2025 2:41 pm

Good work!


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