Heating issue

[morgannick2000]

Help please-

Boxster 2000 S 3.2

The heater servos have stopped working - the heat mixer, recycle, screen flap motors have stopped working.

1. The fan works and changes speed on the climatronic console, climatronic generally looks ok

2. All buttons work

3. I've checked the fuse - all look ok

I entered the back door codes for the climatronic system to read the C codes and C12 shows that the 'command' for the mixer flap is on 100. C13 shows 'position' and is 66, but changes between 14 an 84 when I move the servo rotor with the motor removed. So the servo is connected.

I've voltage tested from each terminal of the servo motor to earth and tested across the motor - nothing showing on the meter.

I then realised that all of the servo's have stopped, when I select air 'up', 'center', 'down', 'recycle' etc no noise or movement on any visable servo.

I've also swapped the 2 left hand '53' relays under the dash as I suspected that the 'actuation heating' relay was faulty. e.g. Relay 19 swapped for relay 18 (see http://www.theschillings.com/boxrelay.htm) - I don't think both relays are broken (hope so). The servos still did not operate.

So I'm stuck - what shall I do next? Measure the voltage at the relay panel? Is it a trip to the specialist?

PLEASE HELP!! Its driving me mad...

[insite]

so far you're doing great. have you checked for voltage at the servo motor when you operate the climate controls to see if they are getting juice? even though the servos aren't grounded out, have you applied test voltage to see if they move? it may be possible for the servos to have gotten wet or something if one of the cowl drains were clogged. we need to isolate the issue: is it the servos, or the servo control system?

Edited April 3, 2007 by insite

[insite]

btw - most 'specialists' suck at electrical diagnosis; you're probably doing a better troubleshoot than they would. keep going a little longer.

Edited April 3, 2007 by insite

[morgannick2000]

Hi - I've voltage tested from each terminal of the servo motor to earth and tested across the motor - nothing showing on the meter.

All servo motors are affected so does anyone know if there is a common power rail for all motors?

[insite]

Hi - I've voltage tested from each terminal of the servo motor to earth and tested across the motor - nothing showing on the meter.

All servo motors are affected so does anyone know if there is a common power rail for all motors?

if you've tested across the motors and show an open loop, then the motors are fried. i've never actually taken a climate system apart on this car, but from the schematics, there is a common resistor pack in the top of the mixing box to the left (driver's) and slightly above the blower housing. also try testing the relay coil and main positive leads at the relay panel. also, not sure if any of these have to do with climate control, but there are fusible links in the cowl that could be bad. if there's no panel voltage, this could be the issue.

Edited April 3, 2007 by insite

[morgannick2000]

I have tested across the motors and there is continuity.

I found a post last night with the same issue as mine and it was this relay at fault, hence me swapping a type '53' relay from '19 Radiator Fan 1 - Setting 1' into '18 Actuation Heating' to test - no joy (unless both relays are faulty, which I doubt). I do get continuity across the relay coil and the relay switch operates when I manually push it. Soooo I guess my next step is to make up some fly-leads to plug into relay socket '18 Actuation Heating' and see if there is power.

Anyone got a magic wand for this fault?

[morgannick2000]

I've tested everything and then some - final conclusion - the climatronic head unit is broken. Anyway I've managed to get one from a breakers £100 delivered (generally they are 125+del+vat). So v.happy with the deal.

From what the breakers are saying, they've sold shed loads of these units recently - mostly for failed displays.

Anyway I hope this helps someone else - I'll post if the new unit fixes it.

Cheers all for your help.

[morgannick2000]

Anyway - watch this space - I'm pretty confident that a new unit will fix it.

Douglas Valley, http://www.porsch-apart.co.uk/, Car Transplants sell this unit used for £125+VAT.

..but these guys came up trumps: Charles Trent Ltd - Call them 01202 744 194 ask for Ben.

http://www.trents.co.uk/company/locations/poole.html

£100 inc VAT inc delivery - 30 days warranty. Usually £100 + VAT + delivery - but he was in a good mood I think - happy days for me!

PS The '18 Actuation Heating' relay, marked '53', 5th from the right, bottom row, under the dash drives the blower fan. If your blower stops and it aint the fuse - then replace that relay.

[morgannick2000]

I got my new climatronic unit today. I think its the wrong part, which is a real bummer!

The one he sent is a 996 653 101 09 FFA V4.1, the one I need is 996 653 101 03 V3.6. When I plug it in the servos 'chatter' and the fan doesn't start up. So I guessing that I need the earlier version.

As least it proves it the original unit is at fault and that the servos all work and the wiring is good. Just need that earlier version..

Anyway I'll get it swapped out and see how I get on.

[morgannick2000]

More info:

996 986 Boxster 911 Climatronic

996 653 101 03 comment -00 (yr)

996 653 101 08 comment 01- (yr)

996 653 101 06 comment 02 (yr) (Shiny buttons)

996 653 101 09 comment 02 (yr) (Dull buttons)

996 653 101 10 comment 03- (yr)

Edited April 10, 2007 by morgannick2000

[morgannick2000]

My final post on this subject.

It's fixed!! I got the exact climate unit for my car, although it was a v3.5 (not v3.6) - it works perfectly now.

Hope this is useful to someone else.

£100 fix - much nicer than say £400-500 at the specialist..

Happy days!! :cheers: