A/C Fans Don't turn on

[OrlandoGT]

Bringing this thread back to life...

My fan stopped working for two straight weeks. The A/C compressor turned on, but no air came out of the vents. Same thing happened when I turned the A/C off.

Tropical Storm Fay rained on my car for a few days, then one evening, the vents started blowing air when I tried the knob.

Today it stopped working again. I get 0 ohm resistance and 12V at the fuse. The fan does not work on any speed setting. Is my problem related, or do I have a bad switch?

Thanks,

Rich

[cdn_alien]

Yep. I had all the same symptons (minus the tropical storm Fay).

[OrlandoGT]

FYI i took my car to Lotus of Jacksonville last week. I had to leave with a rented car (I-4, auto ) since the part was not in stock. Surely enough, they had to replace the resistor pack.

[staggarlee]

My fan has been working on and off for the last few weeks. Now, when it does start to work, a harsh smell comes out of the vents. It's almost like a burning smell but not quite. I guess I'll just leave the fan off until I can get the resistor pack replaced. I've been quoted $350 for the job. What have the rest of you been paying if your car is not under warranty?

[shadowhusky]

If you can get it done for 350.00 I would jump on it and get it in writing. I had to have my resistor pack replaced and it cost me a little under $800.00, the part was only $150.00

Originally Posted by staggarlee

My fan has been working on and off for the last few weeks. Now, when it does start to work, a harsh smell comes out of the vents. It's almost like a burning smell but not quite. I guess I'll just leave the fan off until I can get the resistor pack replaced. I've been quoted $350 for the job. What have the rest of you been paying if your car is not under warranty?

[bbb]

My experience....every time i wash my car my fan will start to work....so now whenever its a really hot day i just throw a bucket of water in the front grill to get me by Just a temporary measure until i get a new resistor installed...

I guess the water sitting must create or contact or something to make it work?? Thats my guess

[Iben]

Hi Tim Mullen

Have you fixed the problem?
I'm just finished with the same job (replacing the old burned resistor pack with a new upgraded one).

[Iben]

Hi

I'm just finished with the job changing the old resistor pack with a new modified one.
You have to remove all A/C tubes and the cables (move them aside).
There is enough space, just take it slow.

Then you can lurk/take it out.
I also added some sound proofing when I had the unit out.

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by Iben

Hi Tim Mullen

Have you fixed the problem?

I've never had the problem - just read about it, and talked with the tech at the dealer about it. They drilled the holes in the bottom of my chassis (under the warranty) - that's when I talked to the tech and he was explaining what the problem was (and that they had a new design resister pack to replace the old one when there was a problem).

I haven't had any problems with my fans (resister pack) - then again, since I never put the top up (if I can help it) my Elise isn't driven in the rain (although I've been caught in a couple of down pours that I didn't expect).

[matryx13]

This has just happened to my car today and I am unfortunate not have my warrenty still. I seen one guy was quoted 350 while another guy paid 800 I was wondering around how much everyone else paid to get this resistor pack replaced?

[matryx13]

So I called 3 Lotus dealers to compare the costs of fixing this resistor pack on my blower and they all told me 1900$. I couldn't believe this! My warranty ended 2 months ago so I thought Lotus would take this into consideration, my car only has 23,000 miles on it as well. I called the main Lotus headquarters in Duluth GA. and the man there told me because my warranty was expired he couldn't do anything about it. Then he looked up the vin # and found that the previous owner did not bring it in to a dealer to get the holes drilled out for the Tech Service Bulletin that came out. So he told me he might have taken it into consideration but because the previous owner neglected to bring it for this update that I was out of luck. I was so upset because everyone on this thread has had the same issue and it seems like a defect in the resistor and location of it. I told this man it should have been a recall for a saftey issue. He then said to me if it was a saftey issue they would have to replace for free by law. He asked me why I thought it was saftey issue and I told him if my windows get fogged up from the cold my defrost won't come on. I then asked him how am I suppose to see the road while I drive if the fan won't even defrost my window. He became quit for a second and then said he will try to help me out and he will get back to me. I then though maybe the reason it was never deemed a saftey issue because it was never reported as one. I then went online to
Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and called the Vehicle Safety Hotline 888-327-4236 and reported this problem. There was no other people that reported this because I don't think there is as many Lotus owners out there as say Honda owners. But the lady said I had a legitmate case, she said if lotus knew about this problem with the resistor pack that they should be held responsible. The only problem is that it might take a few more people to report this as a saftey issue for them to start the investigation. They normally would not start a investigation till 3 or 4 people called and made the same complaint. I then asked her, if I pay to fix this now and then they do a recall on it later will I be reimbursed for the money I spent to have it fixed and she said that most cases the company will have to reimburse you. So if anybody had to pay for this already I suggest to make a 5 minute phone call to Call the Vehicle Safety Hotline 888-327-4236 and report it as well. Hopefully if enough of us report this as a saftey issue Lotus will have no choice but to replace them.

[staggarlee]

Funny that you just posted this. I'm the guy who posted that I got a quote for $350 from European Classics in Middelothian,VA where I bought the car. They are the only dealer in VA and I'm about 2 hours away. I still haven't got it done because of the logistics of dropping the car off. This evening I had to drive my car in dark rainy conditions because my wife has my truck and her car is in the shop. Getting to the point, I could barely see on the way home. Luckily my commute is only 20 minutes.

I will call that # and report my issue. I didn't really mind not having AC but this IS dangerous. Now, I know it's MY fault for knowingly driving it today in these conditions without defrost.

[TheViper]

My dealer told me $1300

[matryx13]

Originally Posted by TheViper

My dealer told me $1300

I live in Miami and the Coral Cables Dealer quoted me 1860$ and the West Palm Dealer quoted me 1900$, I could not get intouch with the Prestige imports in Miami but they are most likely more being it is located in Miami. Just wondering where you got your qoute from because I see you are from Boca Raton?

[matryx13]

Originally Posted by staggarlee

Funny that you just posted this. I'm the guy who posted that I got a quote for $350 from European Classics in Middelothian,VA where I bought the car. They are the only dealer in VA and I'm about 2 hours away. I still haven't got it done because of the logistics of dropping the car off. This evening I had to drive my car in dark rainy conditions because my wife has my truck and her car is in the shop. Getting to the point, I could barely see on the way home. Luckily my commute is only 20 minutes.

I will call that # and report my issue. I didn't really mind not having AC but this IS dangerous. Now, I know it's MY fault for knowingly driving it today in these conditions without defrost.

I am glad you are going to report this as well, a few more people and it should have a major investigation. It really is a saftey issue.

[robains]

AC is used to clear the window from fogging, just an FYI -- so you really need both working.

It does make one wonder how the cost to fix this can be anywhere from $350 - $1900. Too bad we don't have any laws to protect us from this type of robbery.

[TheViper]

Pompano Beach, The Ft.Lauderdale Collection 954-788-9600. Jason, who you need to talk to is away on a 2 week vacation. I have had excellect service from him. As a matter of interest, the title of this post should read "blower fan" not A/C fans, which could be thought of as the radiator/condensor fans.

Originally Posted by matryx13

I live in Miami and the Coral Cables Dealer quoted me 1860$ and the West Palm Dealer quoted me 1900$, I could not get intouch with the Prestige imports in Miami but they are most likely more being it is located in Miami. Just wondering where you got your qoute from because I see you are from Boca Raton?

[RoadDad]

The front clam is removed to do the work. The work is done then the front clam is replaced/shimmed/etc. That is supposedly why it costs as much as it does.

[matryx13]

Originally Posted by robains

AC is used to clear the window from fogging, just an FYI -- so you really need both working.

It does make one wonder how the cost to fix this can be anywhere from $350 - $1900. Too bad we don't have any laws to protect us from this type of robbery.

I was aware that the AC is used to clear the window, but without the blower working there is no AC, so this still remains a saftey issue when driving. If I can't see out the window from it fogging up from weather , then that is a saftey issue. There should be a recall on them. Lotus knew there was a problem with the resistor pack and it's location and they should now be aware about the saftey issue as well after reporting this, that's why they should be responsible for the bill.

[matryx13]

Originally Posted by TheViper

Pompano Beach, The Ft.Lauderdale Collection 954-788-9600. Jason, who you need to talk to is away on a 2 week vacation. I have had excellect service from him. As a matter of interest, the title of this post should read "blower fan" not A/C fans, which could be thought of as the radiator/condensor fans.

Thanks, I will call him in 2 weeks.