A3 2010 - Aircon / Blower Unit Problem - Another One!

[TJH392]

Hello all,

I hope to be a bit more active on here and contribute but I wondered if you could help me figure out this issue?

Recently the heater blower on my 2010 A3 stopped working, I checked the threads and I changed it out with a new replacement from Euro Car Parts (http://beta.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Audi_A3+Sportback_2.0_2010/p/car-parts/heating/car-cooling-parts-and-car-heating/heater-motor/?219440341&1&66b44304b87f852495dd4bd3eb3174a21916a55c&000190) which didn't solve the problem (I was in a rush and needed to fix it on Christmas Eve). I checked all the fuses (battery and also interior side panel) and found no issues there. Rather than throw more money getting replacement parts I took it to the garage today and explained the issue including that I replaced the blower.

They initially said the new blower was also faulty and that a new replacement would fix it, no surprise, when they fitted it it didn't. They then said that the AC climate control system was most likely to blame but with the VCDS scan they didn't seem certain. I don't think that's the case as the AC systems looks like it operates as it should (i.e. the fan intensity bars don't drop down after increasing them) when AC is turned on the vent immediately above the blower and closes (not sure what it's called but it's behind the glove compartment and is part of the mechanism directly above the heater blower) but I could be wrong.

I'm waiting to collect the car tomorrow and they want to charge me 2 hours of labour (without the fix, is a bit steep!) and they'll provide me the VCDS codes which will hopefully make it easier to identify the issue.

Any ideas what else I can check?


If it is the AC unit I've been told a new unit costs £600, is it easy enough to re-code a second hand unit instead? or is it worth taking it somewhere to be repaired?

Cheers

Tim

[mcdougc]

Hi Tim,

Sounds like exactly the same issue I currently have, mine is a 2007 A3 with digital climate control. About a week ago it stopped blowing air, replaced fan/resistor but still nothing. The display seems to be working I can hear the flaps operating.

It's a good idea to replace the pollen filter at the same time, which I've done. Going to take it to a VAG specialist for diagnostics.

My only thought is the fan controller is faulty, not sure if this is part of the control panel. Let me know how you get on, good luck.

Craig

[TJH392]

Cheers Craig, sounds like it's exactly the same problem.

I'll post the VCDS tomorrow which should help.

A couple of extra points, I can hear the AC compressor kick in when I set the AC on so that's something. Also I know some people have issues with the solar relay switch / sunroof control module (a white fuse like box marked "385" underneath the driver's dash) going wrong which prevents the AC from coming on (as it assumes the roof is open) I don't have a sunroof so it's not applicable.

If you get anywhere let me know.

[mcdougc]

Yes the vcds codes should give more clues, I'm getting mine scanned today or tomorrow. I would be very surprised if we have different faults, as it sounds like an identical issue.

Luckily i know a really good local VAG specialist.

I don't have a sunroof either. It's a pain having no heating in this weather, and windscreen constantly misted up.

[TJH392]

These are the fault codes:

Climate (Climate control - ACC)

DTC - Description

01273 - Inlet air fan
- Short circuit to positive or open circuit
- Permanent

01273 - Inlet air fan
- Mechanical error
- Intermittent


I spoke to them this morning and the blower was tested against another vehicle so it definitely isn't that. They also traced the wiring along the system back to the climate control panel and that seems to be the area at fault.

Shame as it's going to cost a fair bit, I'm thinking I might go and buy a second hand unit and see if I can find someone in Bristol who'll be able to re-code it. Will definitely be cheaper than £600.

[mcdougc]

My car's booked in tomorrow will let you know.

I've read articles about not using the second key can cause the AC system to go out of sync, I'm not sure if a battery disconnect/reconnect would help at all.

With regards to coding the control panel, I'm not sure if it needs to be done.
I've read A3's don't have component protection, unless it depends on year.
Apparently component protection is dealer only, unless the independent garage has proper VAG diagnostics (not VCDS).

[mcdougc]

Hi,

Garage rang apparently code is 01273, he suspects the control panel is faulty.
He said the control panel has been erratic today as well.

He reckons the old blower motor is faulty, but the new one doesn't work either due to not getting a signal.
The blower motor is getting power but no signal to fire up.

Probably going to look around for a new control panel, and hope for the best.

[TJH392]

So exactly the same issue then. You can check the blower motor using a 12v battery to see if it spins, but as you said it's getting no signal from the AC unit so that could be the culprit.

I managed to find someone in Bristol with VCDS who will program a second hand unit, apparently it's easy to do and all that's required is to match the unit to your car specs.

I found these instructions off another site:




Open VAG COM
Click "Select"
Choose "08 Auto HVAC"
Click "Coding"
Change the numbers, depending on what your car is:




00?xx: Chassis




0 = Sedan/Avant





1 = Cabrio



00x?x: Heated Windshield




0 = Heated Windshield not installed


1 = Heated Windshield installed




00xx?: Sunroof




0 = No Sunroof OR Normal Sunroof


1 = Sunroof with Solar Cells




So my A3 without a sunroof and heated windscreen means my code would be 00010




Click "Save" and tell it you're sure etc.
Click "Done"
Then choose "Adaptation"
In there, go to channel 81 and type 26467. then "Test" then "Save"
Then you're done!



If I'm lucky I might be able to find a climate control panel which already has the same code as above and theoretically should working without coding (at least that's my understanding)

[mcdougc]

Hi,

Thanks for the info, also I believe you have to apply "basic settings" to the new climate panel.
It probably runs through a calibration process.

I'm going to take my old panel out first, so I can ensure I get the same part number.
Bound to have less issues getting exactly the same one.

[mcdougc]

Control panel replaced still the same issue unfortunately.
However I did hear the compressor which is promising, but the blower fan (new) still doesn't want to spin.

I could hear a faint clicking from the glove box area, so I'm thinking maybe I have "sticky flap motor".
Just a thought so need to do some more investigation.

[TJH392]

Control panel replaced still the same issue unfortunately.
However I did hear the compressor which is promising, but the blower fan (new) still doesn't want to spin.

I could hear a faint clicking from the glove box area, so I'm thinking maybe I have "sticky flap motor".
Just a thought so need to do some more investigation.

Out of curiosity (even though it might not be relevant anymore) was it straightforward switching over your climate control unit? Shame that's not the culprit.

Last time I had the glove compartment out I was able to check the flap motor when I pressed AC (you could see it closing and opening) although are you thinking it has some sort of cut off if it's not in the right position for the blower?

As a word of warning to others, when you remove the glove compartment and the passenger airbag on/off switch it registers it as a fault and you'll see a red airbag warning light on the dash. This needs to be reset using VCDS (simply turning it on / off won't work) as when the switch is removed the computer registers it as being neither on or off and therefore a fault.

[mcdougc]

Yes I have the airbag warning light as well, as I'm driving around without a glovebox at the moment until it's fixed.

I carefully pulled off the trim panel where the hazard light switch is, so I could pull out the climate panel.
It's a bit of a tight squeeze with the side bars around the gear stick, but it did come out.

There are 4 connector blocks at the back, they are all slightly different.
Take a photo just in case, then remove with the ignition off, and fit the new unit.

I understand there are several motors that control the climate airflow, most of which should be accessible with the glovebox removed.
Drivers side would be hard to access.

[TJH392]

Did you have any luck Craig? I'm still trying to figure it out!

[mcdougc]

I haven't looked at it since, but the condensation is driving me mad!

My local mechanic couldn't fix it, he recommended a good auto electricians.
Going to get it booked in soon.

[mcdougc]

Hi Tim,

Been a while but any luck fixing your air-con?

As mentioned I took it an auto electrician, apparently the new blower motor from Euro Car Parts was faulty.
Well the motor was fine but the attached resistor pack was faulty, so they used the resistor from my old motor.

I'm really annoyed with ECP as I've wasted £60 on a new climate panel, plus £90 on labour for the electrician.
It's now working although I'm not convinced it's perfect, it doesn't seem to be blowing cold air even at 16 deg.
On the LO setting it blows out ice cold air so at least I have something, once the weather warms up I should be able to test properly.

Craig

[TJH392]

Hi Tim,

Been a while but any luck fixing your air-con?

As mentioned I took it an auto electrician, apparently the new blower motor from Euro Car Parts was faulty.
Well the motor was fine but the attached resistor pack was faulty, so they used the resistor from my old motor.

I'm really annoyed with ECP as I've wasted £60 on a new climate panel, plus £90 on labour for the electrician.
It's now working although I'm not convinced it's perfect, it doesn't seem to be blowing cold air even at 16 deg.
On the LO setting it blows out ice cold air so at least I have something, once the weather warms up I should be able to test properly.

Craig

I've been meaning to respond now for a while, sorry for the late reply. No, I left it but now it's getting warm so I figured I needed to get it sorted. So when I last took it to the garage they took out my new replacement blower from ECP and tested a known working one from another VAG car which also didn't work. So it's probably not the attached resistor pack. At least you've got some air coming through. Sounds like I'm just going to have to take it to another garage.

[TJH392]

In the end I took the car to the Audi dealership in Cribbs Causeway to get it re-mapped due to the emissions scandal.
Whilst I was there I asked them to look into the issue. They replaced the climate control unit after tracing the circuit faults and found this had no effect at all so they reverted it back to the original unit. They then re-visited the blower and fitted a new VAG OEM motor which solved the problem. Strange it was that as the previous garage had used another blower from a Golf to check the system and the blower I installed from Euro Car parts was matched using the licence plate feature of which neither worked.

Either way it's now fixed and luckily I wasn't charged for the investigative work and the AC unit installation.