A/C Fans Don't turn on

[jordantii]

Originally Posted by bbb

Correct, it is part 02 in the link below. This is the resisitor kit that also relocates the Resistor at the same time.

I bought mine from Elise Shop..
Heater fan resistor replacement package (Elise S2) [A120P0148S] - €104.99 : Elise Shop, Performance parts for your Lotus Elise

Their website actually shows what the kit looks like....

Does anyone have a copy of the Service Bulletin mentioned in the replacement kit??

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by TheViper

The resistor pack needs to be relocated to a less wet location to avoid a repeat.
Michael

Hahaha, yea intend to water proof the crap out of it with silicone etc... If resistors didn't get hot, or I would totally in case the thing in silicone...

[BrokenR1]

I'll be doing mine next week if anyone in the area has experience and wants to help, or just come and check it out.

[jordantii]

Originally Posted by BrokenR1

I'll be doing mine next week if anyone in the area has experience and wants to help, or just come and check it out.

Did you ever do this? I am local to you and need to do it as well.

[Wuffo]

Does anyone have the service bulletin that describes the installation?

[TheViper]

No, but I can tell you that the whole HVAC system in the nose has to be removed to access the blower motor to which the resistor pack is fixed to.
Michael

Originally Posted by Wuffo

Does anyone have the service bulletin that describes the installation?

[ethniccheese]

DAMMIT!!! I've done my fair share of mods, preventative maintenance, and a few repairs to this car since I got it three months ago, but this one sucks! I can't bear to pay ~$1900 to replace a $150 part so I'm going to attempt this on my own (not to mention the closest Lotus dealer is ~500 miles away). I've never taken off either clam before, so needless to say this is a little intimidating. I'm not too worried about the clam, but the air conditioner stuff scares the hell out of me. It's worth a try though.

One little piece of electronics in the wrong place and one of the most important auxiliary functions in the car for this time of year is shot.

I paid the subscription money, downloaded all of the service manuals and bulletins, but there isn't ANYTHING about the blower motor resistor pack problem in there. It would have been nice to know to drill the holes before this became a problem.

BTW: How many people here have done this themselves?

[TheViper]

Remember that it is illegal to vent refrigerant into the atmosphere, it must be recovered by a licensed tech. There was a service bulletin issued to have 4 drain holes drilled in the chassis.
Michael

Originally Posted by ethniccheese

DAMMIT!!! I've done my fair share of mods, preventative maintenance, and a few repairs to this car since I got it three months ago, but this one sucks! I can't bear to pay ~$1900 to replace a $150 part so I'm going to attempt this on my own (not to mention the closest Lotus dealer is ~500 miles away). I've never taken off either clam before, so needless to say this is a little intimidating. I'm not too worried about the clam, but the air conditioner stuff scares the hell out of me. It's worth a try though.

One little piece of electronics in the wrong place and one of the most important auxiliary functions in the car for this time of year is shot.

I paid the subscription money, downloaded all of the service manuals and bulletins, but there isn't ANYTHING about the blower motor resistor pack problem in there. It would have been nice to know to drill the holes before this became a problem.

BTW: How many people here have done this themselves?

[ethniccheese]

Yeah, I am planning on taking it somewhere locally to hopefully have the refrigerant reclaimed after I get the clam off. I'm not really sure what I'll do if that doesn't work. I imagine the equipment to reclaim it will still be cheaper than a drive to Dallas and $1900 worth of labor! Wish me luck. I'll post the results when I finish (and probably a few questions during)

By the way Viper, thanks for all of your research and postings on the A/C heating system in this car! I plan on making some of the mods to increase airflow while I am doing this repair.

Originally Posted by TheViper

Remember that it is illegal to vent refrigerant into the atmosphere, it must be recovered by a licensed tech. There was a service bulletin issued to have 4 drain holes drilled in the chassis.
Michael

[TheViper]

Your welcome, and take lots of pics as you progress,
Michael

Originally Posted by ethniccheese

Yeah, I am planning on taking it somewhere locally to hopefully have the refrigerant reclaimed after I get the clam off. I'm not really sure what I'll do if that doesn't work. I imagine the equipment to reclaim it will still be cheaper than a drive to Dallas and $1900 worth of labor! Wish me luck. I'll post the results when I finish (and probably a few questions during)

By the way Viper, thanks for all of your research and postings on the A/C heating system in this car! I plan on making some of the mods to increase airflow while I am doing this repair.

[cain-it]

Hi there Lotus Talk members from the deserts of Arabia

Well my HVAC fan has been working on and off the pass week no matter what the setting, now nothing at all. With a voltmeter, I've traced the supply as all OK upto the block connecter that goes uderneath the HVAC blower, so based on my readings it seems my resister pack has gone (hopefully not the blower unit )...dam, I only took the front clam off last year to replace a leaking radiator, now here we go again!!!

I'm going to order the post MY 2007 upgraded resister, and the upgraded themo for the AC to stop iceing in our hot climate too. But do I need anything else??? To get access to the resister pack, I need to remove the heater unit right? So that means moving all the AC pipes / dryer etc... So does that mean I need all new 'O' rings & dryer as I'll have opened the system?
Thanks for you help & wish me luck

[TheViper]

I think you have it nailed, the whole nose mounted HVAC system has to be removed. Being in such a dry climate I wonder why the resistor pack corroded, unless it was from frequent washing the car. Did you have the 4 drain holes drilled in the chassis.
Michael

Originally Posted by cain-it

Hi there Lotus Talk members from the deserts of Arabia

Well my HVAC fan has been working on and off the pass week no matter what the setting, now nothing at all. With a voltmeter, I've traced the supply as all OK upto the block connecter that goes uderneath the HVAC blower, so based on my readings it seems my resister pack has gone (hopefully not the blower unit )...dam, I only took the front clam off last year to replace a leaking radiator, now here we go again!!!

I'm going to order the post MY 2007 upgraded resister, and the upgraded themo for the AC to stop iceing in our hot climate too. But do I need anything else??? To get access to the resister pack, I need to remove the heater unit right? So that means moving all the AC pipes / dryer etc... So does that mean I need all new 'O' rings & dryer as I'll have opened the system?
Thanks for you help & wish me luck

[cain-it]

Hi there, thanks for reply.
No, holes not drilled, wasn't aware of this as no recall / dealer active here...

For anyone who's actually replaced the resister, can you confirm if you ordered / replaced the 'O' rings & dryer too?
Cheers

[TheViper]

Lotus has announced a partnership with Al Ghassan Motors to officially distribute Lotus cars in Saudi Arabia. Al Ghassan Lotus will be based in Jeddah and have dealerships and service centers in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al Khobar.

Originally Posted by cain-it

Hi there, thanks for reply.
no recall / dealer active here...

[cain-it]

Thanks, yesI knew that, they were appointed a few months ago, however all those Saudi cities are far from Dubai and over a boarder I cannot cross easily... when Lotus Cars appoint aocal dealer life will be smooth, till then the few Lotus owners here in the UAE are on our own

[cdn_alien]

Originally Posted by TheViper

Being in such a dry climate I wonder why the resistor pack corroded, unless it was from frequent washing the car.
Michael

I understood it was from the condensation from the AC unit dripping into the resister pack. Nothing to do with ambient weather.

[robains]

I believe, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Nissan, GM, Ford, ... all have solutions

Sorry couldn't resist! Ahh, the joys of getting an AC unit from the parent company Proton.

Ok back to serious mode, there are several threads on "possible" solutions to the AC problems -- search this forum "AC" -- some solutions are pretty involved and way beyond the Lotus TSB stuff. But TSBs are start, just don't expect that to be the end of the solution, you'll need to do more to really make it work as it should.

Rob.

[cain-it]

Hey Robains...

Not too sure what you ment by your post. If there are AC improvements that would help my car could you clearly give details or link me to where to find the details please?

I've already done some "Viper" improvements & plan to do a few more thanks to his useful reference post, but if you feel there are other ideas, please spill the beans, as my front clam is off...again & nows the time to tinker whilst it's in bits

[TheViper]

IMPROVED A/C & HEATING SYSTEM
The biggest change is to insulate the hood center spline to stop the radiator heat soaking the AC.
In addition, and really only possible with the clam off, it would be helpful to insulate the in and out heater pipes that run right next to the evaporator and are actually touching the main air distribution duct. Here is a photo showing them.
Michael

[svoras]

I now have contracted the Resistor Pack Problem. Ron Mann at Lotus USA said that Lotus USA intends to do nothing for people with out of Warranty cars. The guy is very arrogant, and obviously cares nothing about customer service. Here is my take on this problem:

1) It is a serious design flaw and certainly should have been predicted up front, especially in a country with weather the likes of England.
2) It is the sort of problem that takes time to develop, 3 years and 1 day seems to be the beginning point…..
3) The design of the car puts a $150.00 electronic component deep down a hole that takes $2000.00 of labor and A/C work requiring special tools and knowledge to access/replace making this a difficult fix for those of us that can work on our own things. I have a car lift and a full machine shop in my hanger here at the house, but I am contemplating taking it to the dealer because of the A/C work. That sucks.

I have called the safety hotline as others have. Here in Florida, a car without a blower for the defroster can be dangerous in a heavy rain. I almost wrecked an MG once for that exact reason, became IFR. I really think Lotus should help those of us that have had this problem. There are very extenuating circumstances with this one that fall within Lotus’s responsibility.