TPW

I have a 1980 Audi 5000, lately the blower fan runs when it feels like it or after the engine has been running for a half hour or so. I checked the fuses and the relays in the fuse box, they were fine. Is there another relay for the fan under the steering wheel? I also tried to bypass the switch and run current to the fan, but that didn't work either. Does anyone know the way to wire the blower so that it would always be running when the ignition is on?

Kneale Brownson

Your blower fan motor is dying. If it's not making noise, the electric brush material probably is worn or the associated springs are tired so the brushes hang up. If it's also squeaking some, then the bushings/bearings on the shaft are shot. That motor is almost 27 years old if it's the original. The motor's electrical connection is on the driver side of the heater core box. There is an L-shaped rubber tube that runs from where the squirrel cage is to the brush part of the motor. If you pull that tube out of where the motor part is, you can look at one of the brushes and see if you can push it into place. There have been reports of that process extending motor life briefly. Same for spraying a lubricant in if it's squeaking. Remember that whatever that lube smells like is what you'll smell inside the car for quite some time.

The real fix is motor replacement.