Air/Heating fan dead

[snowster007]

On my 1985 (W123) 280E, the fan has suddenly died. One day it was working fine, blowing out hot or cold air whenever I needed it. Today it just doesn't work. Could this be a fuse or something more sinister?
As I don't have a users handbook, I have no idea which fuse it might be!

 

[TimN]

If it is just the fuse then other electrical components will have stopped as well. Refer to the lid on your fuse box and check to see if they are working or not. If nothing is working then rotate the fuse in it's holder or better still replace it. If you remove the panel under the dash on the drivers side right hand drive vehicle) you will see the plug which fits onto the fan motor. Use a volt meter to see if you get any readings with the fan switch in various positions and the idnition switched on. Also check that you have a good earth. I don't have my book with me so I can't confirm which prongs are which. The resistors which alter the speed of the fan are contained in the air intake deep under the dash. I would not expect these to be at fault in this case as the the fan does not work on any setting. I think that the plug to the ballast resistors is on the passenger side. Chances are it is the power supply or the earth. You can over ride both at the fan and then the switch to help locate the problem.

 

[drpoppers]

Exactly the same happened on my 1985 123. You remove the fuse and it looks fine, put it back in and it still doesn't work. Roll your finger un and down on the fuse a couple of times and it starts working. I assume its the contacts oxidising up a bit and rolling breaks it up

 

[13022]

The *wiper* on my 190E failed last year. I visually checked the fuse and that was OK. However on closer inspection (after removing it) The metal ends of the fuse had been cut through by the fuse holde. Presumably a hight current circuit getting hot for 13years was to blame. The *fan* also draws a lot of power so I'd take the fuse out and check/replace it first. (Its a lot easier than replacing a fan motor...just replaced mine....interesting...blood, sweat and oil!

 

[Keith]

heater fuses

same thing happend twice on my 95 W124. turned out the fuse had not blown but had melted the plastic of the holder sufficiently for the fuse holder to distort and pull the fuse away from the contact. As there were some spare fuse slots I rewired to a new one put a new fuse in and assume it will take another 8 years before the same happens again. A short term fix is to jam some cooking foil in the gap but this will also melt nicely after a short while.

keith