Fan and heating

[CatmanV2]

That was a chilly run to the station! Fan suddenly packed in as I was warming her up this morning. All the dials seem to respond correctly, and the display on the info centre does its thing. Just the fan doesn't go round.

*Hoping* this is as fuse (unless someone else has a better idea?) so off to Maplin for a pack.

Prace bets now:
5 (30A) Air conditioning and ventilation unit
45 (5A) Air conditioning and ventilation unit, navigator cable bundle

Any others?

Cheers

C

 

[hodroyd]

I don't think the heater fan will be a large value fuse, but I'm not sure, let me know how you go on just in case I get the same issue.

 

[2b1ask1]

C didn't you just have the matrix replaced; my money would be on a loose connection, a snap plug that has come apart.

 

[CatmanV2]

So update

I'm bloody COLD!

Seriously
1) Large pack of fuses purchased from Maplin. Wrong bloody size!
2) Both fuses above are fine. There are volts on their sockets as well.
3) Horns (see threads passim) aren't going to work without a fuse in!

I reckon it's a dodgy plug as well. Especially when coupled with the illumination issue. So back to the indy. He's just mailed me, so I can drop it off tomorrow.

Watch this space!

C

 

[CatmanV2]

Car will be picked up tomorrow, work permitting. Apparently it was a loose wire. Will try to find out precisely where.

C

 

[hodroyd]

It happens Catman, but at least it's been found and a simple fix, can't do without heat in this weather..??

 

[CatmanV2]

Indeed not. I drove it the 15 miles yesterday in -4 with the windows open! And I have a cold. Wish I could find a wiring diagram, though. Bloody sure I could have fixed it myself.
This reminds me of the early days of my Alfa ownership. It's quite pleasant actually

I was talking with an old mate and Alfa nut on line last night. It got me thinking that nearly all (it seems) the issues that I hear about for the 4200 are electrical.
F1 pump failure: Often caused by the relay.
Wiper motors: Nuff said. Second hand one sitting on my desk as I type. (TY David Askew)
Xenon levelling sensors
Heater Matrix isn't electrical, but that's only one.
NIT failure
Is there finally some truth in the prejudice of dodgy Italian electrics?

C

 

[maverick]

catman did you manage to find out which wire was loose and where abouts it is , I think I have the same problem on the new car , the heater fan dosnt work , iam going to check the fuses tomorrow first and hopefully its just that.

 

[CatmanV2]

Hi Maverick. Not found the exact wire but I know precisely where the problem is (on mine at least)
The blower is located under the glove box, inside the car. There is a multiway connector just behind the dash fascia, which, in mine, works loose every now and then. Most recently at the weekend when I opened the fuse box, the lid of which fouls slightly.

Additional symptoms for mine:
1) The econ light comes on on start up.
2) The auto and manual display changes depending on what you do with the fan knob
3) Even when you remake the connection, the fan still doesn't start until the HVAC system has been reset. I assume there's (another) self test in there and it shuts off.

I need to get to that plug properly at some point and fix it, but it's as good a place to start after the fuse.
BTW We have a supplier (Robert) of LED fuses which light up when they blow. £16 a kit. You might want to consider investing as fuses are something of a dark art in these cars
http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/showthread.php/9601-Led-mini-fuse-kits?highlight=fuse

Good luck

C

 

[maverick]

cheers catman, latest update got in the car to come to work heater blower working fine , turn it to auto left it for a while than turned it to blow and nothing ummm iam i doing something stupid or is it just Italian electrics?

 

[CatmanV2]

Not sure I'm following the chain of events here?

Was it working on auto or manual when you came to work?
When you turn it up on manual, can you see the speed indicator display change?

I've noticed that unless I start mine in a very specific way, the HVAC doesn't work. But none of the displays change in those circumstances. It *seems* to be triggered if the computers get too far into the boot process, and then the voltage drop on turning over the engine breaks them. They don't do a full reboot, but don't manage to continue to boot. At least that's my theory. I suspect a new battery would sort it, but I'm in no real hurry since I can get it right 99 times out of 100.

C

 

[maverick]

catman basicly started the car this morning turned the blower on it works fine display works to , half way to work i turned it to auto mode setting a little futher into the jorney the widow started to steam up a little so i turned the blower up to demiss and no blower , display works as it should though .

 

[CatmanV2]

Ahh.
Very much sounds like a loose connection then, doesn't it. I assume it didn't start again when you turned it back to auto?

I'd have a poke around the plug that I mentioned before.

C

 

[Tinman]

Hi Catman,

I think I'm having the same issue as you described. It wouldn't come on this morning but has worked fine since. Did you ever get to the bottom of it or find the specific cable that had come loose?

 

[CatmanV2]

Hi Catman,

I think I'm having the same issue as you described. It wouldn't come on this morning but has worked fine since. Did you ever get to the bottom of it or find the specific cable that had come loose?

Hi Tinman, no I don't know the exact cable, but it was definitely the plug up above the fusebox in the passenger footwell. I've not had the issue since the winter.

What I have noticed however, is that unless I start my car 'carefully' (that is as soon as possible after turning on the ignition, not letting the computers get too far into their boot) the HVAC won't work properly at all. I strongly suspect my battery is not up to much.

When you noticed you had a problem, was your display working correctly?

C

 

[alfatwo]

What with all these 4200 engine,gearbox and electrical issues....thank god I bought an old school 3200 GT!

Dave

 

[CatmanV2]

What with all these 4200 engine,gearbox and electrical issues....thank god I bought an old school 3200 GT!

Dave

<Takes bait>
Seems to be limited to a few cars, which is (as far as I can tell) pretty much the same as with the 3200s. At least with yours, it's often well understood what the problem is (throttle pot or body) where as with ours.....

C

 

[Tinman]

Thanks Catman I'll look into it

 

[CatmanV2]

De nada. Let me know if there's anything else you need.

C

 

[Tinman]

Hi Catman. I had a look. Display works fine. Had look under the glove box and inside the fuse compartment. Pushed together what I could and it seemed to be working. Took her for a drive and no fan then all of a sudden it came on again. Definatly sounds like a loose connection but still haven't resolved it yet