5 replies to this topic

[sledgehammer]

Just checking -

 

If a Zafira heater is turned to full - the resistor pack isn't being used ?

 

if it is off , is it also safe (should be)

 

got a friend who is worried about her Zafira A - it smells hot sometimes with heater on low

 

vauxhall & local garage not interested at the moment - I cant get to see it at the moment - miles away

 

I told her not to use the heater - but that is impossible at the moment

 

I'm guessing dirt / dust gets on the resistors leading to a fire risk , or localised heating of the wiring leading to fire / smoke ?

 

if on full all the current is going thru the motor & none thru the resistors ?

 

lower settings will cause more heat ?

 

as cars / mpv's go , they are a pile of carp

 

thanks in advance

Edited by sledgehammer, 19 November 2015 - 11:20 PM.

[nicklouse]

Yes it is bypassed in pos 4.

As to what is happening is the bearings in the blower are failing. This causes the thermal fuse to fail as it should as the fan is pulling too much current.

All that is good and planed and safe.

Where the problem tends to be is poor repairs. To the blown thermal fuse.

There is one, on the A I believe, which is a metal link the comes unsoldered as the fuse. Unfortunately people have been repositioning it so that it no longer fails. Or it is resoldered with a solder with a high melt point. Then we have the guys fitting higher temp fuses as well.

The bearing resistance and fail is often caused by incorrectly re fitted plenum plastics or where they have been binned.

So to sum up if original if will fail and you will only get it working on 4, fire risk comes from the fuses not doing what they should go due to bodging.

[sledgehammer]

thanks for the reply

[nicklouse]

thanks for the reply

 the guy dealing with this issue is back in the Office so i will see if he can give me a link to where the offical info is.

 

as i know some has been put out there be knowing what is reight and is chinese whispers is hard to guess.

[humph]

I thought Vauxhall had finally acknowledged the potential fire risk here and started a recall? I'm sure they've been in contact with my parents about theirs.

[nicklouse]

I thought Vauxhall had finally acknowledged the potential fire risk here and started a recall? I'm sure they've been in contact with my parents about theirs.

nope. the press are saying recall as it is the in thing.

 

the issue is only with the B.

 

every owner of cars that may have been effected will recive a letter sugesting that they come in to have their car checked.

 

if every thing has been done correctly with genuine parts there is no problem.

 

the issue arrises from the water shield being removed or not fitted correctly corosion/resistance can occur in the fan this can causes the fuse to work as designed. no issue no problem no fire. 

 

if the fuse is replaced with a bodge then that is where issues can happen.