Hello I have a 2013 S60 T5 is has 89xxx miles on it really no issues until now.The night before came home no issues but when my wife drove it the problem began. As she was driving the heater in the cabin came on even though on the screen it said it was off, needless to say it gets warm in the car. From what I gather it may be the heater blower motor resistor. Volvo wants gasp almost 1000 to fix it I have ordered a shop manual as I do work on my own cars. The only way I can get the heater to shut off is to disconnect the negative lead of the battery. Anyone have any thoughts am I looking to replace the resistor or might it be something else? Thank you.
Tony L

 

Assuming that the manual includes a wiring diagram, I would look there first. It is possible the blower motor control is on the negative side and your problem is a frayed wire accidentally grounding.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Is it worth having volvo troubleshot this it will cost 150.00 at least this way I would know what the problem is. I dont really want to spend the money .I dont know if this is a common problem.

 

I think $150 is optimistic. At a recent service, I was told that I needed a new battery - $300 (for an Interstate battery - second-line supplier in my experience) + $200 to connect Vidas and reset battery life indicator!

 

No purchased shop manual will be as good as - The factory shop manual and - A free stolen/hacked version of VIDA 2014d is easily found on the internet. Sweedspeed has a download in their technical/obd section. The photos below are from Vida - instructions on how to replace the blower resistor. Remove the side panel, gas pedal, cut part of the firewall insulation away, unplug and twist resistor, then pull straight out. Sound simple - but there's not enough room for your hand and it's difficult to twist the resistor to unlatch it. (at least on the ones I have done)

It looks like fuse 11 , a 40 amp fuse under the hood is for the heater fan motor. A wiring diagram disk is included in a complete copy of VIDA also. (the 3rd picture is from the wiring diagram)

Yes it is probably the resister - a scan with VIDA would tell you. The free copy with a DICE unit will work on your car. The price quoted from the dealer probably includes the heater fan motor - and i guess it's possible the heater motor damaged the resister - or they just want to make sure there are no comebacks.

 

Thanks for the reply I have that information my understanding is you have to remove the gas pedal to gain access. Since you have done this any tips? Thanks Hoonk

 

Yes, it's difficult to see/find/get to - but the drawings in Vida are correct - above the gas pedal on the side of the vent distribution box.

 

When the fan is running, will the fan speed control work?

 

Further...I looked up the blower motor "resistor" - found some photos. It is clearly not a resistor but a solid state speed control - the protruding fins are a heat sink. The problem you are experiencing is consistent with a common failure mode of such devices.

 

Too much of a pain in the *** to do, found a mechanic to do it cost me 210.00 including the part.