Fan only working on speed 4

Why Does Your Car or Van Heater Fan Only Work on Speed 4?

If you’ve ever turned on your car or van’s heater fan and noticed that it only works on the highest setting (speed 4), you’re not alone. This is a common issue across many vehicles, and the culprit is usually the heater blower resistor unit.

What Does the Resistor Do?

The heater fan in your vehicle is designed to operate at multiple speeds—typically 1 through 4. To achieve this, the system uses a resistor pack that controls the amount of electrical current reaching the blower motor. Lower fan speeds require more resistance to reduce the current, while the highest speed bypasses the resistor entirely and sends full power to the motor.

Why Does It Fail?

Over time, the resistor unit can fail due to heat stress, moisture ingress, or simple wear and tear. When the resistor burns out, the lower speeds (1, 2, and 3) stop working because they rely on the resistor to regulate power. Speed 4, however, continues to function because it bypasses the resistor and delivers full voltage directly to the fan.

So, if your fan only works on the highest setting, it’s almost certainly a failed blower resistor.

How to Fix It

The good news? This is a relatively straightforward fix. Replacing the resistor unit will restore all fan speeds and improve comfort in your vehicle. The part is usually located behind the glove box or near the blower motor, and while some DIY enthusiasts tackle this themselves, many prefer to have a mechanic handle the job.

We’ve Got You Covered

Here at Deutscheparts, we supply replacement heater blower resistors for virtually all VW, Audi, Skoda, and SEAT cars and vans. Whether you drive a Golf, Transporter, Octavia, or Ibiza, we can help you get your heating system back to full functionality.

Our parts are Genuine parts and NOT cheapo copies as found elsewhere online, and we ship quickly Worlwide.. Don’t put up with a fan that only works on full blast—get the right part today and enjoy a comfortable drive again.

All you have to do is Contact Us with your car's registration number (UK cars and vans) or VIN number for cars and vans from the rest of the world and we'll do the rest.