Tony, you are absolutely right. I took the car into the shop and the fan
motor needs to be replaced. You were also right about the time. Their
estimate is 4 hours. Lots of bucks for a fan, but I don't have the
wherewithal to do it myself and Minnesota is too cold to go without a heater
fan.

Thanks,
Tom

"Tony" > wrote in message
...
> In addition to a thermostat stuck open you have a very common T44 problem.
>
> The brushes in your heater fan are shot.
>
> This is a guess based upon a lot of BTDTs on the four T44s that I have
> owned and a number of friend's T44s. I am a regular poster on AudiWorld
> forum for the T44 series and this is a question that comes up over and
> over. The brushes are ALWAYS the problem.
>
> Fix: Replace the fan motor or have brushes refit at a shop or even DIY
> with a set of brushes from your local hardware store.
>
> The real issue as with many projects is getting to the motor. It is under
> the plastic shield in front of the windshield (under the hood). The blower
> is the big white plastic thing in the middle.
>
> It is about a four hour job and it helps to have help at some points.
> Stuff under the dash needs to be removed as well.
>
> Hope you have a heated garage or it can get fairly pricey to have it done.
> Do not go to an audi dealer. Their cost will bring tears to you eyes.
> There are a few very fair and competent independent shops that can help
> you if you choose to go that way.
>
> It is a very irritating problem. I had to deal with that on a drive to
> Western Montana from here in Minneapolis. that got cold. One thing I did
> for temporary heat was to spray WD40 or CRC on the brushes. that would get
> them working for ten minutes or so. The place to spray is on the driver's
> side of the white thing that contains the motor there is a black rubber 90
> degree elbow. Pull it out and you will be looking right in at the brushes.
>
> Tony
> '91 100q 5spd
> former T44s '87q 2:'84FWD
>
> Tom wrote:
>
>> The high tomorrow is 5F here in St. Paul and the fan of my heating system
>> only works intermittantly. It usually runs when I first start the car
>> totally cold in the morning, but it shuts itself off after about 15
>> minutes even though the interior temperature is no where near the set
>> point. After this, the fan won't come on for the rest of the day, except
>> for very occasional and too brief moments.
>>
>> I suspect the car thermostat is stuck open since the water temperature
>> stays around 60-70C and I know the fan isn't supposed to come on until
>> the water gets hot. However, the "high" setting on the heater fan is
>> supposed to override this and the fan does work when the car is first
>> started and very cold.
>>
>> Another clue is that the fan worked okay until the outdoor temperature
>> dropped below 25F as it did recently (and will stay for the next few
>> months).
>>
>> I'm going to have the coolant thermostat checked out soon, but I'm not
>> convinced that this is the problem.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Tom
>>
>>
>> PS: My first car, a 1961 Buick LeSabre, had chronic problems with the
>> heater. I finally replaced the temperature control with a threaded pipe
>> water valve in the heater hose and a toggle switch under the dash to
>> control the fan. Kind of crude, but it was foolproof.