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[markrl]

Hi Has anyone got any experience of replacing the cabin air sampling fan (with a Maplin one) in the digital climate panel (1998 model) as I have a misbehaving climate control. It has the classic symptoms of the fan going dodgy. Climate control will run fine for about an hour or so but then suddenly go into cold fast blower mode. You then have to overide it with the manual Hi setting and the car becomes an oven. The choice then boils down to freezing cold or boiling hot  
If the car is left parked for a few hours all returns to normal till another long journey. I understand its the poor electronic control on the panel fan thats to blame so buying a second hand unit is likely to swap one faulty panel with another. Anybody who's carried out this job able to explain whats involved. Does the new fan need to be soldered in and where do you connect it etc. Given the number of cars with climate control this seems to afflick I'm surprised theres no "how to" idiots guide for people like me . I was thinking of getting a second hand unit to have a go at modding to avoid the risk of thrashing the one thats presently fitted   Any advice gratefully received.        

[hotel21]

Mark_DTM has previously replaced a faulty fan with, I think, a small 12 volt one from a computer chip cooler.  No doubt he will post up details later....  

[markrl]

Just a quick update I’ve managed to get hold of a second hand digital panel from a breakers yard and take it apart for examination. I was quite astonished at the amount of dust and crap that gets sucked in. Even vacuuming it out at the front doesn’t shift all the crap clogged at the back. The only way to get it all out is to remove the front cover and take the PCB out from its case. The thermistor on this unit was completely clogged with dust which I suppose is the start of erratic climate control performance. All the crap ultimately gets stuck in the fan housing at the back. This second hand unit appears to be functioning so for £30 appears to have been a bargain, but will have to try it over time. I’m still very interested in what’s involved in fitting a Maplin computer chip fan to overcome the obvious design weakness.