There are tests you can do, I believe. However, there seems to be a concensus that the low speed brushes wear out, depending on usage, at anything like high mileage - mine had gone by 87000, I think I read somewhere as low as 40000.

Several members here and on the other forum have tried to source replacement brushes, but as a couple of hours' dismantling of the front of the car is required to get to the motor before it can be taken apart to check, most have bitten the bullet and bought a new motor. IMHO you should also replace the plastic fan as well (about £35, so cheap alongside the cost of the motor).

FWIW, once I'd taken my old motor out and fitted the new one, I tried to take the old one apart to look at the brushes, maybe to rebuild as a spare, but I couldn't get into it, I'm afraid.

Sorry to suggest it's not good news, but try Les at SMC for best price, I reckon.

Malcolm

PS there's an excellent how-to on here, put on by Will

 

Sorry if you have already tried this.
Have you eliminated the possibility of a blown relay ?
The relay controlling the fan is in the fusebox in the engine compartment, afraid I can't now recall if it's green or yellow.
It's a quick fix if this is the case.

 

This will help - http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=137032

and

Will's excellent How To guide..... http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=88277

 

Thanks, Roverama. Afraid I know nothing about relays - how would I know if it was faulty? Is it like a fuse?

 

Thanks, Roverama. Afraid I know nothing about relays - how would I know if it was faulty? Is it like a fuse?

Sorry I missed your question until now!

What I did was to swap a similar coloured relay for the fan relay, then switch on the ignition and try the fan.
The rear window demister was the one I chose, I think it was green.
The fan worked, so then it was just a case of a new relay for the rear demister, around £1.50.

 

they are a magnetically operated switch, so if they work you will hear it click.
Get someone to put air con on whilst you listen / feel the relay.

 

On the CDT you are very limited in what you can check

I have replaced getting on for 3 dozen of these motors now and have not once found a duff relay ever.

With my testbook it can be tested to establish if the motor is totally kaput or typically missing the lower speed (s)

What you can easily do yourself is listen.
Stick you ear near the grill and get an assistant with the engine not running to toggle the AC on and off, allowing say 15 seconds between each on and off as there will be a slight delay for the relay to react (2 or 3 seconds) but you will hear the relay in the fan control box behind the grill clicking that is a pretty good indication the motor has failed

Then you have two choices get a replacement or get another duff one extract one of the good brushes and build yourself a good motor from the two. You need to be very careful when doing this not to disturb the front bearing in any way as they can fall apart rendering the motor useless!

Current best prices for proper (i.e no messing about cutting wires) replacement motors are Roverbreakers around £175 including a new fan blade as well.