2001 V70 2.4T Blower fan stopped working Topic is solved

Post by **prwood** » 15 Sep 2022, 11:09

Hi folks, long time no post. The ol' '01 V70 has been doing its job pretty well overall since I replaced the voltage regulator on the alternator. Just yesterday, however, it started having a new problem. The fan for the HVAC system has stopped blowing entirely. The climate controls are still working - you can hear the servos behind the dashboard actuating when I switch the ventilation controls from one vent to the other. There's just no activity from the fan, regardless of what manual fan speed it's set at, or whether climate control is set to auto.

The fan does not run regardless of whether I have the AC control set to on or off. It also does not run regardless of whether I have the temperature set to hot or cold.

So far, I have checked the 30 Amp fuse in the driver's side fuse panel. I visually checked the fuse, and it does not appear to be broken. Continuity across the blades of the fuse is good. When the fuse is installed, with the engine running, voltage across the fuse's test terminals is 0 whether the fan is running or not. With the fuse pulled, I am getting 12.6 volts with the voltmeter test leads connected in place of the fuse.

The only thing climate control related I've noticed over the past few months is that occasionally it takes a while for cold air to start blowing when I have the AC turned on. Sometimes it comes on right away, other times it is 5 or 10 minutes before it finally starts blowing cold. It goes from blowing warm to blowing cold right away once enough time has elapsed, so it's not that it just gradually gets cooler. I figured maybe the pressure in the AC system had gotten low due to a leak/old age, but haven't checked that yet. I wouldn't think availability of AC compression would affect the fan blower, even when AC is not switched on, but maybe it does?

I know the blower motor and resistor are common failure points. I'm just wondering if there are any other suggestions before I start pulling that stuff out.

Post by **vtl** » 15 Sep 2022, 11:55

Suggestion is: "Replace blower fan every 10 years or so"

AFAIR, when resistor dies, the fan blows constantly at 100% duty. You may have a seized or burnt motor.

I'd also recommend buying Behr/Mahle blower: had TYC installed in my old V70, it was noticeably noisier than original fan. Behr is OE.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Sep 2022, 01:13

It’s normal for the ECC control unit to slowly ramp up the fan speed on a start but on DEFROST you should get healthy fan flow from the defrost vents. My 2005 fan needs some lube every few years or else it chirps.

Post by **prwood** » 23 Sep 2022, 11:04

As far as parts go, we have the blower motor assembly, $181, which does not include the resistor:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... -9171479-1

And we have the resistor, $69:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 90-8693262

Ordering them together would total $250.

Is there any way to test whether the motor or the resistor is the issue (without acquiring either of the replacement parts)?

Post by **BlackBart** » 23 Sep 2022, 11:08

Mine chirps or squeals briefly until it warms up - I should just replace it.

Post by **jonesg** » 24 Sep 2022, 01:57

I'd head over to Hollands in Billerica and rip one out of their salvage cars.
I say rip but carefully with a prybar and saw blade.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Sep 2022, 03:15

prwood wrote: ↑23 Sep 2022, 11:04 As far as parts go, we have the blower motor assembly, $181, which does not include the resistor:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... -9171479-1

And we have the resistor, $69:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 90-8693262

Ordering them together would total $250.

Is there any way to test whether the motor or the resistor is the issue (without acquiring either of the replacement parts)?

You can pull that motor connector and put 12 volts on it to see if it spins up. I used to use leads from a aux plug but now I use a small tractor battery as my 12 volt test source

Post by **prwood** » 26 Sep 2022, 11:29

abscate wrote: ↑24 Sep 2022, 03:15
prwood wrote: ↑23 Sep 2022, 11:04 As far as parts go, we have the blower motor assembly, $181, which does not include the resistor:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... -9171479-1

And we have the resistor, $69:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 90-8693262

Ordering them together would total $250.

Is there any way to test whether the motor or the resistor is the issue (without acquiring either of the replacement parts)?
You can pull that motor connector and put 12 volts on it to see if it spins up. I used to use leads from a aux plug but now I use a small tractor battery as my 12 volt test source

Sorry for the dumb question as I've never tested something with an external power source, but what type of wire/connector would you use to connect from the relatively large terminals on the battery to the fairly tiny connectors on the component plug?

Also, any chance you know which pin is which on the fan connector?

And one more... if I power up the fan connector and the fan doesn't spin up, wouldn't I still need to test both the fan and the resistor separately to figure out where the issue was, since they are part of the same assembly, and I'm assuming the resistor is in line between the connector and the motor?

Post by **abscate** » 26 Sep 2022, 13:14

Red pos and brown neg on the p2 fan. Use some pins on clips to attach to the connector, tape the positive side to avoid shorts

Just touch wires to the battery posts and look for the motor kick

Post by **prwood** » 28 Sep 2022, 06:08

abscate wrote: ↑26 Sep 2022, 13:14 Red pos and brown neg on the p2 fan. Use some pins on clips to attach to the connector, tape the positive side to avoid shorts

Just touch wires to the battery posts and look for the motor kick

Would a small 12v lantern battery be sufficient for this type of test?

https://www.acehardware.com/departments ... lsrc=aw.ds