Car heater fan resistor pack thermal fuse query

[Tim+]

The thermal fuse in the resistor pack in my 1997 Fiat Ducato has blown.
I've tried cleaning it up but I can't see any markings at all. With the
fuse bypassed, all the fan speeds function correctly.

Any idea how I can find out what to replace it with?

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images/diy/thermalfuse.JPG

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images/diy/resistorpack.JPG

Tim

[steve robinson]

Tim+ wrote:

> thermalfuse

Quick trip to maplins will sort that out

[Tim+]

No Maplins handy and besides, what value fuse? They seem to come in a lot
of different temperature ratings.

Maybe I should just take a punt on something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGH-TEMPERATURE-THERMAL-FUSE-152-oC-10A-NISSAN-PRIMERA-P12-FAN-WITH-SLEEVING-/251249789205?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item3a7fa78915

Tim

[steve robinson]

RS components ,think mine cost me 12 pence , easy to change , stick it
in the freezer with a couple of crocadile clips use them has heat sinks
when you solder it in , use lead based solder lower melting point

[Tim+]

And how did you know what rating to buy...?

Tim

[The Natural Philosopher]

I am not sure it's THAT critical
If its designed to cut out if things get too hot, then anything round
the 80-100C mark should be OK

--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

[Chris Whelan]

On Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:38:22 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

[...]

> I am not sure it's THAT critical If its designed to cut out if things
> get too hot, then anything round the 80-100C mark should be OK

IMO, that's way too low; the thermal fuse for the Ford Focus is rated at
215C for example.

The OP needs to find why the fuse failed in the first place. There needs
to be good airflow through the system; no blocked cabin filter (if
fitted), and no leaves or other items blocking it.

Another common reason for the fuse failing is the fan bearings on the way
out; on the lowest speed, the extra drag of tight bearings will not allow
enough airflow to cool the resistor pack.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

[steve robinson]

On the focus it was stamped on the fuse

[alan]

Some sources here
<http://www.admac.myzen.co.uk/Focus1/>


--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk

[Tim+]

Thanks, some useful tips there.

Tim

[Tim+]

Lucky you! If you re-read my original message you'll see that there are no
markings on mine.

Tim

[The Natural Philosopher]

On 27/03/13 19:02, Chris Whelan wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:38:22 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>
> [...]
>
>> I am not sure it's THAT critical If its designed to cut out if things
>> get too hot, then anything round the 80-100C mark should be OK
>
> IMO, that's way too low; the thermal fuse for the Ford Focus is rated at
> 215C for example.
>

You surprise me but I bow to superior knowledge. I have used stuff like
that on electronics..215C will in general have melted the solder on the
component before it blows....which leads to the interesting though that
that is who to make one of these. Blob of solder on two wires..job done..

> The OP needs to find why the fuse failed in the first place. There needs
> to be good airflow through the system; no blocked cabin filter (if
> fitted), and no leaves or other items blocking it.
>
> Another common reason for the fuse failing is the fan bearings on the way
> out; on the lowest speed, the extra drag of tight bearings will not allow
> enough airflow to cool the resistor pack.
>

Above my pay grade,. but sounds eminently plausible

> Chris

[alan]

On 27/03/2013 19:02, Chris Whelan wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:38:22 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> IMO, that's way too low; the thermal fuse for the Ford Focus is rated at
> 215C for example.

In the two cases where I've have replaced similar fuses the replacements
rated at 150/160C have lasted for many years afterwards.

>
> Another common reason for the fuse failing is the fan bearings on the way
> out; on the lowest speed, the extra drag of tight bearings will not allow
> enough airflow to cool the resistor pack.

On one repair I checked the motor and it was running rough. Water had
got onto the motor shaft and it was rusting. Two drops of engine oil
(obtained from the end of the dip stick) on the bearings restored smooth
running.

On a 2001 ford focus part of the cabin filter cover is the seal at the
base of the windscreen and this can leak if incorrectly fitted or the
plastic clips break when replacing the cover. Water then can run thought
the filter, through the blower motor and into the passenger side foot well.

[Gareth Magennis]

I am not sure it's THAT critical
If its designed to cut out if things get too hot, then anything round
the 80-100C mark should be OK

I would agree.

Surely the whole purpose of a thermal fuse is to fuse when temperatures get
to such a point that it might start melting things, or start a fire.


The Nissan fuse highlighted in this thread would appear to fuse at 150
degrees C - I'm not sure I would fancy something that hot in my car should
the fan motor stall or the airflow gets blocked.

I'd go with the 80 - 100C suggested here, and if it blows you then have a
proper problem to sort out.


Gareth

[Mrcheerful]

the one above appears to be 152 degrees C

[alan]

On 27/03/2013 22:02, Gareth Magennis wrote:

>
> I'd go with the 80 - 100C suggested here, and if it blows you then have
> a proper problem to sort out.

80C may be towards the higher end of the temperature that a car interior
may reach when parked in full sun on a summers day.

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <kivm0g$7b6$2...@news.albasani.net>,

The Natural Philosopher <t...@invalid.invalid> writes:
> On 27/03/13 19:02, Chris Whelan wrote:
>> On Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:38:22 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>
>> [...]
>>
>>> I am not sure it's THAT critical If its designed to cut out if things
>>> get too hot, then anything round the 80-100C mark should be OK
>>
>> IMO, that's way too low; the thermal fuse for the Ford Focus is rated at
>> 215C for example.
>>
>
> You surprise me but I bow to superior knowledge. I have used stuff like
> that on electronics..215C will in general have melted the solder on the
> component before it blows....which leads to the interesting though that

You don't solder thermal fuses, because it blows them. ;-)

They are crimped or spot welded. When replacing, you can cut
the wires and use a couple of the brass inserts out of a chocolate
block connector strip (usually have to pull them out of the
plastic strip, as these are often used where the plastic might
melt and make a mess).

> that is who to make one of these. Blob of solder on two wires..job done..

Old series heater TV sets used drop-off resistors in a similar
way. Resistors soldered to the underside of a couple of terminals,
and if there's excess current, the solder melts and they drop off.
IIRC, they were typically used in the 300mA heater chain so that
if one valve developed a heater to cathode short, the resistor
might drop off before several other valves were wrecked, and also
on the main supply dropper resistor so that if someone blocked
the ventilation holes, the set was (slightly) more likely to cut
off before the curtains were set alight.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

[The Natural Philosopher]

On 27/03/13 23:10, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
>and also
> on the main supply dropper resistor so that if someone blocked
> the ventilation holes, the set was (slightly) more likely to cut
> off before the curtains were set alight.
>

Arr. They don't make em like they used to in my day.:-)

Have you ever read the book by John Cunninghams navigator - its about
the night fighter and the development of Radar..and how the early sets
all failed with *That Smell*.

Nightfighter by Jimmy Rawnsley.

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/c-f-+rawnsley/robert+wright/night+fighter/3875423/

oddly amazon starts at £38 whereas waterstones has it for £5.99

anyway, all valves and klystrons and then magnetron in them days.
Voltages to make yer hair stand on end and you loved the smell of baking
phenolic resin in the morning.

[Terry Fields]

On Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:34:50 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 27/03/13 23:10, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
>>and also
>> on the main supply dropper resistor so that if someone blocked the
>> ventilation holes, the set was (slightly) more likely to cut off before
>> the curtains were set alight.
>>
> Arr. They don't make em like they used to in my day.:-)
>
> Have you ever read the book by John Cunninghams navigator - its about
> the night fighter and the development of Radar..and how the early sets
> all failed with *That Smell*.
>
> Nightfighter by Jimmy Rawnsley.
>
> http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/c-f-+rawnsley/robert+wright/night+fighter/3875423/
>
> oddly amazon starts at £38 whereas waterstones has it for £5.99
>
> anyway, all valves and klystrons and then magnetron in them days.
> Voltages to make yer hair stand on end and you loved the smell of baking
> phenolic resin in the morning.

I take it you've read Alfred Price's book Instruments of Darkness:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1853676160

I read it as a young schoolboy, and was captivated by it.

--
Terry Fields

[Tim Lamb]

In message <arig62...@mid.individual.net>, Terry Fields
<no.spa...@thanks.invalid> writes

Damaged Selenium rectifiers used to emit a particular pong which others
may remember.

I also read and enjoyed the book.

Cunningham was flight testing Vampires over my head as I grew up.
>

--
Tim Lamb

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <$k7v8yRO...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk>,

Tim Lamb <t...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> writes:
> Damaged Selenium rectifiers used to emit a particular pong which others
> may remember.

Yes, playing in a school friend's attic bedroom, we accidently burned
out a relatively small one. It was a 4-storey house, but every one
in the house had to get out pretty damn quick. I think it's the most
pungent and revolting smell I ever smelt, and it simply wasn't
possible to stay there are bare it.

[polygonum]

On 28/03/2013 13:30, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
> In article <$k7v8yRO...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk>,
> Tim Lamb <t...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> writes:
>> Damaged Selenium rectifiers used to emit a particular pong which others
>> may remember.
>
> Yes, playing in a school friend's attic bedroom, we accidently burned
> out a relatively small one. It was a 4-storey house, but every one
> in the house had to get out pretty damn quick. I think it's the most
> pungent and revolting smell I ever smelt, and it simply wasn't
> possible to stay there are bare it.
>

Even selenium supplement tablets (e.g. 100 mcg of elemental selenium in
whatever compound) have a distinctly 'unpleasant' smell.

--
Rod

[The Natural Philosopher]

On 28/03/13 17:38, Huge wrote:

>
>> closed the plant since that was generally a scrubber fault.

Blame it on the tarts, I say.

[polygonum]

On 28/03/2013 17:37, Huge wrote:

> Not that there's any point whatsoever in taking them.
>
>
Why do you say that?

--
Rod

[polygonum]

> Because it's true?
>
>
Why do you think it is true?

Could you explain why there is no point in taking them?

--
Rod

[The Natural Philosopher]

Dietary Reference Intakes for selenium:

Infants

0 - 6 months: 15 micrograms per day (mcg/day)
7 - 12 months: 20 mcg/day

Children

1 - 3 years: 20 mcg/day
4 - 8 years: 30 mcg/day
9 - 13 years: 40 mcg/day

Adolescents and Adults

Males age 14 and older: 55 mcg/day
Females age 14 and older: 55 mcg/day

The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to
eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods.

You can probably get 50 ug of selenium out of chomping half a raw carrot
a day, or a thumb sized bit of any meat or fish.

As long as you have enough, and you don't need much, any more is simply
a waste of time.,. you will piss it straight out again.

Unless you are on a drip and cant eat solid food.

[polygonum]

"How much do I need?

The amount of selenium you need is:

0.075mg a day for men
0.06mg a day for women"

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-minerals/pages/other-vitamins-minerals.aspx

There is quite some evidence that people who suffer from Graves' have a
relative improvement by taking supplemental selenium. Maybe 200 mcg a
day total? And there are suggestions that improvements occur in several
disorders/diseases.

There is quite some evidence that some people on average are consuming
less than these amounts (whichever value is used).

"The UK RNI (Reference Nutrient Intake) of 75mcg/d for men and 60 for
women has been determined as the level of intake believed to be
necessary to maximise the activity of the antioxidant selenoenzyme GPx
in plasma, which has been found by a number of workers to occur at a
plasma concentration of around 100mcg Se/L. Current UK intakes are only
about half the RNI, having declined considerably over the last 25 years."

http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/185977/1/LANCET%202000%205CIs.pdf

When we used to consume vast quantities of north American wheat, which
is usually high in selenium, most of us were probably OK. Nowadays we
tend not to consume much and that is one reason we tend to be low.

Our soils tend to be low in selenium. Our livestock not infrequently are
provided with licks which contain selenium - and that helps. But a lot
of vegetables are low. Why M&S even offered special tomatoes which had
been given extra selenium in their water/growing medium a couple of
years ago.

There is always a problem with dietary intake. You might be able to
prove that overall our food intake should provide enough of some
substance. But it is far more difficult to be sure that an individual is
getting an adequate intake. Most especially if there might be gut
absorption issues. Taking a modest supplement might ensure they are
getting enough and, provided total intake remains well in the safe zone,
that is sometimes a sensible approach. After all, not many people have
had a selenium test from their GP.

--
Rod

[Tim Lamb]

In message <kj3j4g$2oc$1...@news.albasani.net>, The Natural Philosopher
<t...@invalid.invalid> writes

Buying in week old calves through a cattle dealer, I once had a run of
partially sighted dairy/beef cross animals.

Veterinary opinion at the time was Selenium deficiency in the diet of
the dams.

Kept in a bunch with fully sighted animals, they were fine, but got
agitated if isolated.
>
>

--
Tim Lamb

[polygonum]

Interesting. Thanks.

Did you treat the low selenium at all? Or, indeed, do you provide
selenium-containing licks for all your animals?

--
Rod

[Terry Fields]

On Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:47:52 +0000, polygonum wrote:

> When we used to consume vast quantities of north American wheat, which
> is usually high in selenium, most of us were probably OK. Nowadays we
> tend not to consume much and that is one reason we tend to be low.
>
> Our soils tend to be low in selenium. Our livestock not infrequently are
> provided with licks which contain selenium - and that helps. But a lot
> of vegetables are low. Why M&S even offered special tomatoes which had
> been given extra selenium in their water/growing medium a couple of
> years ago.
>
> There is always a problem with dietary intake. You might be able to
> prove that overall our food intake should provide enough of some
> substance. But it is far more difficult to be sure that an individual is
> getting an adequate intake. Most especially if there might be gut
> absorption issues.
> Taking a modest supplement might ensure they are getting enough and,
> provided total intake remains well in the safe zone, that is sometimes a
> sensible approach. After all, not many people have had a selenium test
> from their GP.

I've been following this with interest. About 20 years ago - and I can't now recall the precise reason, but it might
have been to do with a relationship between arthritic joints and selenium intake - I started taking a selenium
supplement. About three months later I was in the office doing some work on the computer, when, almost with a
soundless bang, the screen leapt into sharp focus. It wasn't the screen technology that caused this, but my
eyesight, which has never been good since I had measles when I was six years old. Given the time between this
happening and the start of the supplementation, I didn't connect the two, until about six weeks later when I was
talking to a colleague. He said that a doctor friend of his had taken selenium for eyesight problems, and his
vision had suddenly snapped into focus! My colleague didn't know of my supplementation or of my improved
vision.

Since those times I've come to suspect that micronutrients are the victim of their own success: having found
profound beneficial effects from taking minimum doses, things have stayed there - such as the 50mg (now 60
mg, I believe) RDA of vitamin C. Evidence suggests that animals have far higher blood levels of vitamin C than
humans, for example.

Then there are the issues of poorer-quality food, failing gut absorption in older people, and the elusive but all-
pervading 'balanced diet' that no-one can describe; all fascinating topics.

--
Terry Fields

[polygonum]

On 29/03/2013 10:15, Terry Fields wrote:
<<>
>
> I've been following this with interest. About 20 years ago - and I can't now recall the precise reason, but it might
> have been to do with a relationship between arthritic joints and selenium intake - I started taking a selenium
> supplement. About three months later I was in the office doing some work on the computer, when, almost with a
> soundless bang, the screen leapt into sharp focus. It wasn't the screen technology that caused this, but my
> eyesight, which has never been good since I had measles when I was six years old. Given the time between this
> happening and the start of the supplementation, I didn't connect the two, until about six weeks later when I was
> talking to a colleague. He said that a doctor friend of his had taken selenium for eyesight problems, and his
> vision had suddenly snapped into focus! My colleague didn't know of my supplementation or of my improved
> vision.
>
> Since those times I've come to suspect that micronutrients are the victim of their own success: having found
> profound beneficial effects from taking minimum doses, things have stayed there - such as the 50mg (now 60
> mg, I believe) RDA of vitamin C. Evidence suggests that animals have far higher blood levels of vitamin C than
> humans, for example.
>
> Then there are the issues of poorer-quality food, failing gut absorption in older people, and the elusive but all-
> pervading 'balanced diet' that no-one can describe; all fascinating topics.
>

Fascinating.

The three enzymes which convert thyroid hormones (Deiodinases 1, 2 and
3) are seleno-proteins. And there are (apparently) around 27 other
seleno-proteins floating around somewhere!

Many people with thyroid disorders/diseases have eyesight issues. For
example, enlarged pituitary pressing on the optic chiasm and thereby
reducing vision. But many other ways in which it affects all steps from
cornea to visual cortex. Addressing the thyroid issue can reduce the
size of the pituitary and therefore stop or reduce its pressure on the
chiasm.

Selenium is also interesting because it appears that the different forms
(e.g. selenium yeast or the inorganic sodium selenite) have differing
impacts.

--
Rod

[polygonum]

> It's a trace nutrient. The clue is in the name.
>
>
So you need a trace of it and might not be getting it! And, as already
posted, there is evidence that it can be of specific use in certain
disorders/diseases even in people getting what is otherwise regarded as
an adequate intake from diet.

--
Rod

[Tim Lamb]

In message <arl41u...@mid.individual.net>, polygonum
<rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> writes

>>> You can probably get 50 ug of selenium out of chomping half a raw
>>> carrot a day, or a thumb sized bit of any meat or fish.
>>>
>>> As long as you have enough, and you don't need much, any more is
>>> simply a waste of time.,. you will piss it straight out again.
>>>
>>> Unless you are on a drip and cant eat solid food.
>>
>> Buying in week old calves through a cattle dealer, I once had a run of
>> partially sighted dairy/beef cross animals.
>>
>> Veterinary opinion at the time was Selenium deficiency in the diet of
>> the dams.
>>
>> Kept in a bunch with fully sighted animals, they were fine, but got
>> agitated if isolated.
>>>
>>>
>>
>Interesting. Thanks.
>
>Did you treat the low selenium at all? Or, indeed, do you provide
>selenium-containing licks for all your animals?

General purpose mineral licks are available for agricultural livestock.
http://www.farmway.co.uk/corporate/forage_compounds.html
The formulation varies a bit as I think Sheep don't take copper well.



A complaint was fed back through the dealer and I think the following
year there were only a couple of calves with problems. You could pick
them out as the affected eye appeared to have a dull greenish internal
reflection.

The likely cause would be housed cattle fed on a supplemented straw
ration. Waste from the distillery industry is supplied to farms as a
pour on appetiser. There was a move toward ammonia treated straw some
years back but I don't think it caught on.
>

--
Tim Lamb

[polygonum]

On 29/03/2013 11:46, Huge wrote:

> On 2013-03-29, polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 29/03/2013 11:35, Huge wrote:
>>> On 2013-03-28, polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 28/03/2013 22:29, Huge wrote:
>>>>> On 2013-03-28, polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> On 28/03/2013 17:37, Huge wrote:
>>>>>>> On 2013-03-28, polygonum <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> <>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Even selenium supplement tablets (e.g. 100 mcg of elemental selenium in
>>>>>>>> whatever compound) have a distinctly 'unpleasant' smell.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Not that there's any point whatsoever in taking them.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Why do you say that?
>>>>>
>>>>> Because it's true?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Why do you think it is true?
>>>>
>>>> Could you explain why there is no point in taking them?
>>>
>>> It's a trace nutrient. The clue is in the name.
>>>
>>>
>> So you need a trace of it and might not be getting it!
>

> .... trace ... might ...
>
> There's no point whatsoever in taking them.

>
>
"Current UK intakes are only about half the RNI, having declined
considerably over the last 25 years."

--
Rod

[The Natural Philosopher]

so only 1000 times more than quoted above.,

> http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-minerals/pages/other-vitamins-minerals.aspx
>
>
> There is quite some evidence that people who suffer from Graves' have a
> relative improvement by taking supplemental selenium. Maybe 200 mcg a
> day total? And there are suggestions that improvements occur in several
> disorders/diseases.
>

hang on. make up your mind whether its mcg (ug, micrograms) or mg
(milligrams).

> There is quite some evidence that some people on average are consuming
> less than these amounts (whichever value is used).
>

well if they live on frozen pizza and lager, possibly, but that's the
least of their worries.

> "The UK RNI (Reference Nutrient Intake) of 75mcg/d for men and 60 for
> women has been determined as the level of intake believed to be
> necessary to maximise the activity of the antioxidant selenoenzyme GPx
> in plasma, which has been found by a number of workers to occur at a
> plasma concentration of around 100mcg Se/L. Current UK intakes are only
> about half the RNI, having declined considerably over the last 25 years."
>
> http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/185977/1/LANCET%202000%205CIs.pdf
>
> When we used to consume vast quantities of north American wheat, which
> is usually high in selenium, most of us were probably OK. Nowadays we
> tend not to consume much and that is one reason we tend to be low.
>
> Our soils tend to be low in selenium. Our livestock not infrequently are
> provided with licks which contain selenium - and that helps. But a lot
> of vegetables are low. Why M&S even offered special tomatoes which had
> been given extra selenium in their water/growing medium a couple of
> years ago.
>
> There is always a problem with dietary intake. You might be able to
> prove that overall our food intake should provide enough of some
> substance. But it is far more difficult to be sure that an individual is
> getting an adequate intake. Most especially if there might be gut
> absorption issues. Taking a modest supplement might ensure they are
> getting enough and, provided total intake remains well in the safe zone,
> that is sometimes a sensible approach. After all, not many people have
> had a selenium test from their GP.
>

The symptoms of selenium deficiency are marked and clear.

Cretinism is one.

Mind you, judging by some post, you may have a point.

[polygonum]

The British National Formulary is clear that amounts of less than one
milligram should be written in terms of micrograms.

"The unnecessary use of decimal points should be avoided, e.g. 3 mg, not
3.0 mg.

Quantities of 1 gram or more should be written as 1 g etc.

Quantities less than 1 gram should be written in milligrams, e.g. 500
mg, not 0.5 g.

Quantities less than 1 mg should be written in micrograms, e.g. 100
micrograms, not 0.1 mg.

When decimals are unavoidable a zero should be written in front of the
decimal point where there is no other figure, e.g. 0.5 mL, not .5 mL.

Use of the decimal point is acceptable to express a range, e.g. 0.5 to 1 g."

With which I generally agree - but sometimes I do use mcg because that
is what appears on packaging of medicines. I cannot understand why the
NHS website is all over the shop and frequently uses mg and mcg and
International Units all within one article - to the confusion of
everyone. There are many comments to that effect on various pages.

But when I copy and paste, I don't change how it was originally.

The USA system seems to think that there is no unit smaller than a
milligram. :-)

Certainly, inadequate selenium during development would cause thyroid
hormone deficiency resulting in, as you say, cretinism. But almost
nothing has been done (in terms of public health rather than scattered
individuals) to compensate for this large reduction in selenium intake
over the last 25 years or so.

--
Rod

[DerbyBorn]

>>>

Back to the resistor pack.

I was interested in the diagram that someone linked to - I wondered why the
switches are on the earth side of the motor and not the live side. I
realise it might not make a difference - but is there a reason?

[Fred]

On Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:29:03 +0000, alan <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:

>On a 2001 ford focus part of the cabin filter cover is the seal at the
>base of the windscreen and this can leak if incorrectly fitted or the
>plastic clips break when replacing the cover. Water then can run thought
>the filter, through the blower motor and into the passenger side foot well.

If the clips are broken what should you do? Get a replacement housing
from a scrap yard or is that rather involved? Do you improvise a
better seal?

[alan]

DIY,

I used a little black windscreen "rubber" sealant between the cover's
rubber seal and the windscreen.

I put a suitably sized plastic wall plugs in the holes the clips fitted
into (holes in the metalwork of the chassis) and used some stainless
self tapping screws into these plugs to hold the cover down tight.

Around 2000 to 2003 complaints about water getting into the passenger
foot-well on a Ford Focus were common, especially after the first rain
after a dealer service which included a pollen/cabin filter change. If
the filter cover didn't leak the dealer had only charged for the filter,
without changing it.

On the the lower specified cars no filter was fitted at manufacture
although the design for the filter housing/cover was the same.


--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk