Old school climate control - kinda broke

obi604

Father in law has a seat arona. It has old school climate control as in below picture.

the middle dial turns it on……..but it does not turn on when switched to 1, 2 or 3, it only comes on at level 4

any idea if this is a simple or easy fix?

Atlantic Dawn

Friend had a similar issue on an Ibiza, it was a blower resistor that needed to be replaced, it's behind the glovebox, part seems to be about €20.

Found this about it on the Arona

https://www.aronaforums.co.uk/threads/manual-air-conditioning-fault-blower-not-working-between-1-3.1969/

Here's how it's done on an Ibiza...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HetiAL0ATxQ

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121584676#Comment_121584676

Nice one. Thank you !

not too sure if it’s a DIY.

I never know who to ask to potentially fix these kind of problems , my normal mechanic mainly just does the engine work etc.

this is more so an electrical issue.

User1998

Definitely the resistor. Its a basic 5 minute job.

RobbieV

You can complete this repair yourself with only basic tools no problems

Slightly Kwackers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121585093#Comment_121585093

These are all much of a muchness.

Mine went on a newish Ibiza, the cost was eighty euro from a dealer and the thing wasn't available from independents for less than £47-00 Ebay]

Seat gave me one FOC when I queried the pricing structure but before that I looked at the unit and repaired the original. It was a 220 C thermal fuse gone open. The same type as are used in most home fan heaters.

I went off a Youtube clip to remove and refit. After removing the glove box and a few other odd bits, I found that the unit was accessible easily from the passenger footwell, it's ten minutes to remove and refit.

I don't know why the price spread for a resistor and fuse with a slightly different mounting fixture being the only obvious difference. Apparently for high end models the same electrical unit can go well over a hundred euro.

As to why the fuse opened, I'm not sure. There was no sign of overheating and I have kept the repaired unit in use, I have not fitted the replacement.

I have an NCT in a few hours, but after that I will drop a temperature sensor into the area the module sits in. I don't for one minute think that the unit is overheating, but it went for a reason and 200C is not a level of temperature that I would like to think is possible around the footwell. The fuse that went is normally a reliable protection device and I have never had one fail without reason. The one thing of note though is that in my car model the resistor is physically just a shade smaller than most, but the area decrease should not lead to a significant temperature difference.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121585162#Comment_121585162

So you did the job yourself. Where did you get the part?

Wanderer78

megane 2 here, same problem, resistor is your man here, personally doable, headache though, well behind the dash....

available at usual car parts stores, got mine in euro car parts, about 30 euros....

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121585402#Comment_121585402

thank you. I can give this a go but could make a mess of it, let’s say I accidentally disconnect another cable.

It seems to be an awkward job so I could easily do it wrong, I have never done this type of job before so just a bit nervous that I could make things worse

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121585414#Comment_121585414

first and only time ive done it, it was awkward but i got the job done, works perfectly now, cant say the same about other parts of the car though! just take your time, question every move before doing it, you should be fine, being octi-jointed might help to!

RobbieV

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121585414#Comment_121585414

This more should not be possible as there will more than likely be a plug on connector that will only push on one way

Slightly Kwackers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121585386#Comment_121585386

The thermal fuse for the repair was something I had myself. I bought a stock of them from Ebay or Amazon, they would have been £1-00 for five I expect.

I bought some cheap Chinese heaters that the fans used to get sluggish on and blow the same type of thermal fuse.

The replacement module was from Seat, supplied through Aherns at Castleisland.

I didn't expect that the part would be available at anything but the full price, hence the reason to remove and repair the original.

Seat were pretty decent in the end and gave me the replacement which is still in the door pocket.

The car had its first NCT today and isn't old, additionally the cost of the discrete parts shouldn't make a big hole in a five euro note. I pointed this out to Seat, but must admit I didn't expect a replacement to be provided free.

I intend to fit the replacement, but want to monitor the temperature of the original first.

obi604

see below image, would I only be replacing the thing circled in blue?

or the whole lot

when I order is it just the bit circled in blue that I order?

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121586453#Comment_121586453

can you post the link to that video?

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121587664#Comment_121587664

here we go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HetiAL0ATxQ

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121587675#Comment_121587675

as far as i can see, the whole unit comes out, as in both the green resistor is attached to the black plastic bit, and the whole lot comes out, as directed

Buffman

Probably one of the most universal auto electrical faults out there, doesn't matter what make or age of car, it'll 99% of the time be the resistor with those symptoms. I used to be able to sometimes fix them, especially older ones, but it depends what's gone in them, which you normally find out by removing and checking with a multi-meter. If you can find it cheap enough, probably easier just to replace.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121587795#Comment_121587795

lets say I cant do it, who is best to engage? a standard mechanic would probably not do work like this

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121588012#Comment_121588012

ah they should yea, but try give it a go, its really not that bad

Buffman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121588012#Comment_121588012

Ye, they should be able for it, literally sometimes it's just like changing a light bulb depending on access.

mikeecho

i had an Mk3 golf years ago, same issue, fan would only blow on max.

Popped off the glove box, unplugged the thermal resister, plugged in a new (second hand) one, and away she blew, She blew soft, and she blew hard. It made me happy.

obi604

contacted 2 motor factors and they didn't have the part.

found this on amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twilight-Garage-Resistor-6Q0959263-6Q0959263A/dp/B07GJHXQHJ/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=2020+seat+arona+fan+resistor&qid=1704879475&quartzVehicle=104-11638&replacementKeywords=2020+fan+resistor&s=automotive&sr=1-6

do ye reckon this would work? It does not mention its compatible with Arona but looks similar to the part 😬😬

• Compatible with SEAT

Seat Cordoba 6L2 2002 - 2009 Diesel: 1.4 TDI, 1.9 SDi, 1.9 TDI AMF, ASY, ASZ, ATD, AXR, BLT

Seat Cordoba 6L2 2002 - 2009 Petrol: 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0 AUB, AZL, AZQ, BAH, BBX

Seat Ibiza MK IV 2002 - 2009 Diesel: 1.4 TDI, 1.9 SDi, 1.9 TDI AMF, ASY, ASZ, ATD, AXR, BLT, BMS, BMT, BNM, BNV, BPX, BUK

Seat Ibiza MK IV 2002 - 2009 Petrol: 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 AUB, AZL, AZQ, BAH, BBM, BBU, BBX

Seat Ibiza MK V 2008-ON Diesel: 1.2 TDI, 1.4 TDI, 1.6 TDI, 1.9 TDI, 2.0 TDI BLS, BMS, BXJ, CAYB, CAYC, CFHD

Seat Ibiza MK V 2008-ON Petrol: 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0 BTS, BXW, BZG, CAVE, CAVF, CBZB, CEKA

obi604

Jaysus. Rang main dealer there out of interest.

part is 106 Euro !!

and then labour, he reckons ball park about 200 Euro to get it sorted.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595481#Comment_121595481

gentle bump on this, what do ye reckon?

obi604

I am after giving this a blast myself for the last 40 mins, got nowhere, the glove box in the arona is unfortunately not like the one in the video above, I dropped the glove box down by pinching (really really hard) on either side and more a less just plastic behind it, so no easy access either.

here is a video of what it looks like, any ideas? seems to be no easy access

https://files.fm/u/bbtkkjnwbw

EDIT: this is a better video of what things look like in the glovebox from someone else on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fwYlwcmDKME

globe box dropped image

obi604

Any thoughts on this one? 😬 😬