Bad flow from heater in 245 -80

Discussion in 'Volvo 240' started by Anders, Nov 23, 2003.

  1. Anders

    Anders Guest

    First, sorry about the test thread I added earlier. It was meant to be sent
    to alt.test...

    However, in my volvo 245 -80, I experience that the air flow from the heater
    is bad. Hot air comes from the outlets, alright, but not many liters per
    minute. Is this just the old Volvos having a bad flow from through the
    heater or could it be anything else, such as obstructed air intakes (how to
    clean btw)?

    Any tips are appreciated!

    Anders
     
    Anders, Nov 23, 2003
    #1
  2. Anders

    Anders Guest

    Strange, no replys on my thread here. I'm still interested in getting your
    personal experiences on the matter...

    Anders
     
    Anders, Nov 25, 2003
    #2
  3. Anders

    mrhuntnpeck Guest

    I would rather take a beating thn change a 240 heater motor :)

    I love 240's but this is one thing that was seriously stupid.

    I have changed a couple , and there are a couple of tricks like
    cutting a hole in the shroud to get the clip off the fan on the right
    side and you pull the heater out from the left.
    later the hole can be replaced with a plug.

    I haven't tried this but I will if mine goes.

    It is seriously surrounded in plastic, clips , screws wires, etc.

    older 240's have bushings on the motor and they do tend to seize up.
    Newer ones have ball bearings. I don't know if they will last longer.
    ( the must have changed around 1985? give or take a few years.)


    one trick that makes sense, but I haven't tried is to drill some 1/2
    inch or so strategicaly placed holes in the thing , and shine a
    flashlight inside and oil them. you need to also drill a hole to look
    inside.

    there is a selector switch for the speeds, the newer it is the more
    speeds they added, and a resistor down underneath so taps are taken
    off, to the motor for various speeds. if you are very lucky you have
    a bad switch.

    I would definitely make that your plan for a long weekend if you do
    this yourself., in my opinion.

    if you are good at standing on your head it helps. take the seats out
    of the car, get a pillow and a foamie

    oh, another trick I haven't tried is to put a 12V fan somewhere like
    in the ducts to suck the air through , and leave the fan alone, just
    thought..

    Good luck,
    Phil
     
    mrhuntnpeck, Nov 26, 2003
    #3
  4. Anders

    Anders Guest

    Thank you for the answer. Some day I will dig into the heater system and see
    what could be causing the problem.

    /Anders
     
    Anders, Nov 28, 2003
    #4
  5. Anders

    Alex Zepeda Guest

    Have you tried to take the dash out and having a go from above instead of
    standing on your head?

    I sure haven't had the joy of doing a blower motor on a 240, but there
    were a few posts and pictures on the brickboard, along with a claim of
    being in and out in 4 hours that got my attention.

    - alex

    '85 244 Turbo
     
    Alex Zepeda, Nov 29, 2003
    #5
  6. I am "in the process" on my Swedish 245 Turbo (1984). Its fan has
    generated unpleasant noises on and off, but now it's contant noise and
    very poor air flow.

    Mine is a non-AC version (standard version in Sweden). I think its fan
    is very diffent design from the fan in cars with AC, beware of this if
    you read descriptions for the wrong kind. I am going for the "remove
    glove compartment trick". Don't know if it will work yet, but so far it
    seems promising. You remove the glove compartment. Then disconnect the
    water hoses and all screws, bolts and gadgets and pull the big box out
    by moving it sideways.

    I did remove both front seats first (2 nuts and 2 bolts per seat, plus
    some wires, disconnected without cutting).

    After one hour the heater box is loose in there, but I don't know yet if
    the strategy will work.


    --
    Gunnar

    240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
    940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
    on Swedish roads
     
    Gunnar Eikman, Nov 29, 2003
    #6
  7. Anders

    Anders Guest

    Sounds promising. I'm very interested in seeing if your approach works!
    Lycka till!

    /Anders
     
    Anders, Nov 30, 2003
    #7
  8. I went through with the "remove glove compartment trick", although it
    still was a considerable job.

    It took me two hours to get the box out. It turned out the box was
    pretty much full of dry leaves and various junk, collected during 19
    years. In addition, one of the fan motor bushings was very worn (big play).

    I had bought a used heater from a junk yard, since strange sounds made
    me suspect the motor was gone. I used the fan motor from the scrap unit
    (nice looking with no detectable play in bushings). Cleaned away the
    leaves and cleaned the heater core thoroughly. Installed the healthy
    motor, put the box together, and reinstalled it into car. The
    installation took more than three hours. In total, it was about a one
    day job. Next time, I'll make it in 5 hrs!

    Now I'll enjoy the silent fan and probably much better flow.

    --
    Gunnar

    240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
    940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
    on Swedish roads
     
    Gunnar Eikman, Nov 30, 2003
    #8
  9. I think dash removal is also very much a "stand on head job" in a Volvo
    240. I don't think that it would save time.

    With practice, I think the procedure I used can be made in four hours.
    Of course it is a strain crawling on the floor, working upward and
    sideways. I am 50 years old by the way and not very athletic, but in
    reasonable shape. I hope the fan now holds together, but if it does not
    I guess I'll repeat the exercise, perhaps not in four hours, but five
    hours should be within reach!





    --
    Gunnar

    240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
    940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
    on Swedish roads
     
    Gunnar Eikman, Nov 30, 2003
    #9
  10. Anders

    Anders Guest

    Did you notice any improvements in airflow? Since my car is 23 years old, I
    expect that leaves and dirt have been collected over the years in my heater
    as well. I will definately give the glove compartment trick a chance!

    /Anders
     
    Anders, Dec 2, 2003
    #10
  11. My airflow was poor due to the fan motor being broken. One of the
    bushings was worn out. In addition I think some of the leaves in there
    contributed to the friction my old motor had to struggle with.

    Flow is now much better!

    Check the leaves on the picture (accumulated in 19 years probably):

    http://w1.470.telia.com/~u47024807/cloggedfan.jpg


    Note also the design of the heater. If your heater looks different, any
    methods used by me may not work. I don't know how many heater designs
    were used on Volvo 240. There are obviously the two with and without A/C.

    --
    Gunnar

    240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
    940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
    on Swedish roads
     
    Gunnar Eikman, Dec 2, 2003
    #11
  12. Anders

    Tim McNamara Guest

    Whoa! Jimmy Hoffa could be in there somewhere!

    BTW, great quality on the phto. What camera did you use?
     
    Tim McNamara, Dec 2, 2003
    #12
  13. Anders

    Anders Guest

    Well done!

    That gave me inspiration for undertaking that project myself! Nice picture,
    btw.

    /Anders
     
    Anders, Dec 4, 2003
    #13
  14. Yesterday I took a longer trip in the 240 and the heater works
    perfectly. I think there is one small difference. Before there was a
    faint but noticeable smell to the heater. When the heat came on there
    was a nice "good old car" smell. It must have come from the leaves!

    If you do take your heater apart, check the fan motor bearings/bushings.
    They have a tendency to wear out "early" (~ after 20 years) in the life
    of your Volvo.


    --
    Gunnar

    240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
    940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
    on Swedish roads
     
    Gunnar Eikman, Dec 7, 2003
    #14
  15. 20 good years of service....i amways liked the heaters in the
    volvos...nice in cold / harsh climates....

    richard / colorado

    ps" my volvos always warm up quick and even on -0 days here...combined
    w/a set of "bun warmers"....it is very bearable....
     
    ~^ beancounter ~^, Dec 7, 2003
    #15
  16. Anders

    Anders Guest

    Congrats!

    One last question, though: Is it possible to open the heater (without
    removing it) such that a vacuum cleaner hose can reach the inside? Just to
    save work time.

    /Anders
     
    Anders, Dec 8, 2003
    #16
  17. I guess it would be possible to drill a hole above the heater core e.g.
    on the right hand side and be able to get some garbage out though it.
    After the operation you could seal it with suct tape. If you damage the
    heater core you will have a leak, and then you MUST go through the "big
    procedure" (and get hold of a used unit).

    However, the clearance between the bottom of the fan motor and the
    heater core is no more than ~20 mm. Around the fan motor there is plenty
    of space however.

    While i had mine apart I cleaned the heater core with a garden hose and
    compressed air. Such an operation requires taking the thing fully apart,
    but getting the leaves out probably improves the air flow considerably.







    --
    Gunnar

    240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
    940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
    on Swedish roads
     
    Gunnar Eikman, Dec 17, 2003
    #17
  18. Anders

    Anders Guest

     
    Anders, Dec 18, 2003
    #18
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