The heater motor in a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit is the heart of the heating system. The motor pulls heat energy from the engine coolant and transfers it to the passenger compartment, where it keeps you warm and defrosts the windshields. When the heater motor underperforms, the cab does not warm up as fast as it should. A failed heater motor fails to drive the blower. As a result, no air will exit the vents.
Tools Used: Screwdriver set, Wrench set, Needle-nose pliers, Socket wrench set
Remove and Repair Heater Motor
Removal
Use a socket wrench or box wrench to loosen and disconnect the negative battery cable.
Drain the cooling system. Ensure the engine is cool. Block the wheels. Remove the radiator cap. The 1984 VW Rabbit has a splash cover under the radiator. Unscrew and remove it. Use a flat-head screwdriver to loosen the lower radiator hose and pull it off. Ensure you have a tub or pail ready to catch the coolant, as you will be reusing it. Loosen the hose clamps. Remove the hose from the coolant recovery tank. Remove the upper and lower hoses of the water pump.
The Rabbit dash is a simple, one-piece affair. Unclip and remove the heater outlet duct from under the dash. A cable will be attached to the control flap arm by a cable clamp. Loosen the cable clamp with needle-nose pliers. Remove the cable from the arm.
The blower motor assembly is held to the dash by several bolts and screws. Use a wrench and screwdriver to remove these parts. Pull the assembly from the dash and firewall. Remove it from under the dash.
The heater motor is held in the heater assembly by several screws. Loosen and remove these screws and remove the heater motor. Disconnect the wiring.
Installation
Connect the heater motor wiring. Put the motor in place in the heater assembly and tighten the screws. Put the heater assembly back under the dash. Tighten the bolts and screws.
Attach the inlet and outlet hoses to the heater core. Tighten the hose clamps with a screwdriver.
Attach the cable to the control flap arm with a wrench or screwdriver. Install the heater outlet duct.
Reattach the water pump hoses, lower radiator hose and recovery tank hose. With the radiator cap off, fill the radiator with coolant. Reuse the coolant unless it shows signs of having been contaminated. Replace the splash cover on the bottom of the radiator.
Fill the radiator to the base of the radiator filler neck. Reconnect the negative battery cable with a wrench. Start the engine. With the radiator cap off, look in the radiator as the engine draws coolant into the engine. Pour coolant into the radiator as the coolant level drops. Repeat until the level is steady at the base of the radiator filler neck. Fill the coolant recovery tank to the full mark. Turn off the engine.
Tips & Warnings
Coolant is sweet-tasting and highly toxic. Clean up any coolant that may have poured on the ground. Never leave an open container of coolant where pets or other animals can access it.
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