I've just gotten a 1982 240d, with the understanding that the AC would not be working. The fan will not blow at any setting, but at idle I hear sounds (compressor switching on?) when I move the dial. I've changed out all of the fuses. At highway speeds, I've noticed a small stream of ice cold air coming from the center vents. With recent temperatures quite hot around here, I know it's cold, and not just fresh air coming in.

I've searched through A/C topics, and here's my questions:

1. Is there enough information to narrow it down to the blower motor?

2. If so, I'm completely inexperienced w/ working on autos- my experience has been limited to replacing the fuses, replacing the hood pull cable, and reading through the Haynes manual in preparation for performing maintenance for my first time. I can work carefully and follow directions. Would an attempt at tackling this issue myself be foolish?

thanks for any help/advice
TR

These fan are very robust and woren brushes seem to be the most common problem. I have read that new brushes can be had at hardware store but have no personel experience.

__________________
1977 300D Lost coolant while someone else was driving
1983 300D Can't run without oil
1985 300SD (gone but not forgotten)
1990 300TE 4matic Sold
1991 Yamaha Venture
1975 Kawsaki 250 triple
1974 Honda 200CL
1951 8N Ford
2008 Wildfire 650C

Pull down the hush panel that is below the dash on the passenger side. The blower motor is pretty easy to get to. Pull it down and jump 12 volts to it to see if it is working. If it is, then check the resistors near by and then the switch.

Good luck,

both of you-

I'm tabling the A/C task for now, and I will refer to your advice when I take it on in the coming weeks. For now, I've decided that changing the fluids is a good way to begin learning about the car for now.

Fixing the fan is probably easier than changing some of the fluids.

__________________
Jim

Following Larry's advice, I put 12 volts to the motor- nothing.
I tried replacing the brushes, following the **************.com pamphlet.
I believe that I either knocked the spindle(?) out of alignment while struggling with the tabs holding the brush cover (it came apart violently), and/or created a short in my soldering of the new brushes.

After the reassembly, the fan didn't spin as freely, and the 12 volt jump created a minor spark show.

I'm now gambling 79.98 on a used blower motor from eBay, and I'll update when I receive and install it.

You appear at least to be evaluating the symptoms correctly... that fan is a good gamble....don't take it apart or solder on it .... ok ?

The motor from eBay worked.Thanks very much for your responses. After reading everything I could find here related to 240d and AC, I'm surprised at two things-

1. the air is pleasantly cold, and
2. I'm not experiencing the loss in power (couldn't find a better term, haha) that I would have expected.

I promise not to open it up to check the solder, Greg!

I'll drop the name of the eBay seller, 'ideal25', as he took great care in his packaging, and the motor has run for at least 15 straight minutes now without a problem.

Well, now on to finding out about that 'kadunk' I hear as I depress the clutch pedal between first and second gear.