Thanks for that, especially the Audipages link, missed it yesterday. :o

The Audipages write-up doesn't make it look too bad, though there is no mention of rusted screws there..... :rolleyes:
And they do seem to have a special tool, similar to what you describe, to get at the awkwardly-located ones. :cool:

I guess with the engine out you can get right up to it quite easily.

I'd be interested to hear how Ainars got on when he did it. ;)

As an aside, I also notice that the black foam around the outside (that seals against the bonnet) is falling apart, I even got bits of it blown into car during testing. :(
Is this a "thing" that's worth buying (if available) or would any decent foam of suitable thickness do?

I replaced my foam shortly after buying the car.
Readily available from Audi.
Part number 4D0820513A.

I'm personally tempted to take a look at generic auto rubber supplies to see if there's a suitable rubber seal to use instead. Probably pointless, as I reckon the seal weakness is at the sides anyway...

The fan has behaved very oddly over the weekend, sometimes working and sometimes not. And turning the speed up to max makes no difference at all, it just seems to decide to work, sometimes mid-journey :Confused:

Just been out to the car, it's pretty thick cloud at present, and the fan is just ticking over slowly driven by the solar panel.
IIRC that's driven directly with a relay that switches over to HVAC control/power when the ignition is on.

My thinking is that if it was the fan bearings or motor that are at fault then a low voltage input from the solar panel wouldn't make it work at all (and a high fan speed setting might prod it into life), so my suspicion still currently is focussed on the connector/wiring and some sort of poor/intermittent contact.

Currently awaiting some "bits" from A8parts that should assist with diagnosis. :cool:

Motor speed controller?

It fails equally on solar or HVAC control (including REST) so has to be something pretty fundamental/simple.

To clarify: What I meant was that if it's not turning over changing the fan speed (applying higher voltage presumably) doesn't kick it into life.
If it IS working the controls all act as normal.

I did mine too my motor would pick up speed cornering, rusty screws 4 of them snapped off i think. Removed the awkward ones with a bit in small ratchet. Replacement motor from A8Parts and asked for one from car without solar.

Linky to previous post

Ah, did you mean the thing, mentioned here as hedgehog-like? http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showpost....35&postcount=5
I didn't even know it existed though I had seen the cooling fins. Is it directly in the circuit to the motor (I would assume not) or "just" another input to the HVAC system?

PS. Just been out to check today's status and I can hear the fan ticking over nicely driven by the solar panel.

I've ordered some generic weatherproof foam strip, 19mm wide and 10mm thick.
Three metres for a fiver, delivered. Should allow a few replacements if needed.