Blower motor won't stay from time to time

Been having a weird issue recently with my 2011 Treg:
1. Usually when I start the car for the first time in the day, everything works well, and wind is blowing from all the vents.
2. If I turn off the engine, restart it, no wind coming out any more.
3. I took the blower motor out and plugged it in, and noticed that when the climate control is turned on, the motor will spin for a second, before cutting out. It repeats the same with every on/off.
4. When it's working (with first start e.g.), I could also turn the speed up and down without much problem. But once the issue triggers, it won't stay on regardless of speed settings.
5. I measured the supply and it showed 16v instead of 12v. Could this be the root cause? Motor enters over-heat protection due to higher voltage maybe?


Any idea where should I look next? What could lead to higher supply voltage?

I replace bad blower motors in T'regs and Q7s all the time. Common failure item. There are a couple different versions so make sure your get the correct one.

Thanks oilhammer! Is there a way to make sure it's due to a bad motor?

I cannot recall the first time I replaced one, how I came to that conclusion. I have replaced so many, LOL. I usually do not have time to investigate why an electric motor failed, if it was a loose connection inside, a broken brush, bad bearing, whatever. They are not serviceable anyway. Seems like a lot of other electric motors, they just get a bad spot and won't start spinning on their own.

At least on the T1 it's easy to replace!

Well it's indeed not hard to take out and replace. But in my case, I tried to manually "start" it by spinning it, didn't work. And the weird thing is that every time I switch it on, it will spin for a second before cutting out. I guess in this case it's not a typical bad spot or brush wear out issue. The supply being 16v worries me that it may be something else?

Do you read 16V at the battery posts as well? Should be in the 14.5v range with the engine running... 16 would indicate a problem with the alternator.

If so, not convinced it would cause your fan symptoms, but one never knows. Be very very strange for there to be complex overvoltage protection on a run-of-the-mill fan motor.

The blower motor regulator has overcurrent protection most likely.

Have you scanned the climate control system for fault codes?

-J

I don’t have a scanner handy
Strange thing is that every time I start the car after a long time, it works. If I turn it off and try to turn it on again, it stops working. If I wait for some time (30 min, 1 hour) and start the car again, it works... guess I’ll try a few tests with the motor connected directly to battery. The motor comes with resistor pack built in with a 3-prong socket though.

Just to update here, it was the blower motor assembly indeed, most likely the embedded speed control (the metal grid at the bottom of the motor). It wasn’t the brushes or dead spot though as it wouldn’t start even when manually spinner. Changed the whole unit and problem is gone. Thanks for everyone’s help!

Glad you got it fixed. Now you'll know for next time.

Ok I have a similar issue.

2011 Touareg and the blower motor randomly turns off and back on and I can hear an even timed clicking in the rear seat area when the blower is off. Like 1 - 4 clicks and then back on. Seems to only have issues when first started and then after a while maintains an on status.