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Dec 29 /

car blower motor troubleshooting

If the motor runs, locate the ground connection and clean it. To do this, go to each of your home vents and ensure they are open and clear. If it’s good, refer to a wiring diagram for your vehicle and conduct these tests: Disconnect the electrical connector at the blower motor and jumper power and ground to the motor, bypassing all the speeds controls. I have a dedicated page on how to find electrical shorts if you need more assistance in that area. When I diagnose electrical problems, I start at the load and work my way back through the circuit towards the battery. If it doesn’t, the motor is bad. If you don’t see battery voltage, you’ve got a wiring or relay problem on the power supply side of the circuit. Restarted car after filling and the blower motor failed to work. (The black wire is usually the negative.) With our wide variety of replacement AC heater blower motors, AutoZone can help make your ride enjoyable again - no matter what you drive. If you have a three or four speed blower motor, remove the … Here's a handy guide on …, Have you noticed a foul smell coming from your car? Features to Consider. At that point the suspects are the blower motor speed control module (most likely) or the HVAC control head (less likely, but not unheard of). TEST 1: Applying Battery Power And Ground To The Blower Motor. The squealing noise happens most often in the winter during cold startups and may disappear as the motor heats up. Here are the blower motor fix steps: Determine if you have a manual or automatic heating system in your vehicle? I have a 2001 Nissan Quest. Also, check the fuse for the control side of the high speed relay. If you ignore the noise, the bearing will continue to wear to the point where the motor won’t start at all. They mount the resister block in the air conditioner or heater case, because of the generous amounts of air flow. The connector on your Ford's blower motor will have a BRN/ORG wire and a PNK/WHT wire. Blower motor doesn’t work in cold weather. If you see battery voltage in the connector, connect 1 meter lead to the power terminal in the connector and the other lead to the ground connector. Learn how the rest of the climate control system works and discover why interior fans are an important part of the automotive AC system. Place them in small container. Check the blower motor at its two-wire connector for power. RepairPal makes it easy to find a trusted mechanic to look under the hood for you. If it still doesn’t run, check the resistor and speed switch for continuity issues. DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM Blower motor breakdown can be the result of anything from old age to failed bearings, high amp draw, electrical failure in the windings, dirt accumulation, and more. Checked for incoming resistance ground to the blower, from the dash control switch and it works. In most cases, the controller receives a digital input from the speed switch or HVAC control head. The blower motor relay is the electrical switch that is used to supply the power for the vehicle’s blower motor. “The most common cause is dirt accumulation due to lack of maintenance,” said Tom Beaulieu, president of Bay Area Services Inc. in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The heater blower motor is located behind the glove compartment of your vehicle. Replace blower motor. Often there are two separate circuit fuses and they can be in separate panels. Photo: familyhandyman.com. You should see battery voltage (12+). As an example on GM cars from the 80s and 90s there’s a 20 amp under the dash. With that said, failed blower resistor assemblies don't solve all of the possible failures. If you need to dig into your doors, dash or console, Alldatadiy.com is the better choice because Eautorepair.net doesn’t any interior or exterior trim or body part removal. This means when you remove the part you will instantly see that it has melted spots. A common symptom of a faulty blower motor resistor is a blower motor that is stuck on one setting. Blower motor is drawing too much power. Depending on the manufacturer and model, a blower motor resistor can go anywhere between $3 and $335 on CarParts.com . In those applications, the HVAC control head is a digitally controlled unit and uses various sensor inputs to determine when to supply heat. The reason I’m not including the motor resistor as a suspect is because it usually only controls the lower speeds. Pricing: ---Eautorepair.net--- 1 month subscription $19.95 per vehicle 1-year subscription $29.95 per vehicle 4-year subscription $44.95 per vehicle ---Alldatadiy.com--- 1-year $29.95 subscription: additional vehicles $19/95 each 5-year $49.95 subscription: additional vehicles $34.95 each Which one should YOU choose? A variable speed motor is controlled by a digital speed controller. This can be annoying, but troubleshooting is easy. Make sure you check the connector side for damage. Location diagrams will also point out important parts in the climate control system such as relays, switches and fuses. These resistor modules often fail from heat stress that can melt plastic connectors. It is an integral part of the air condition system, which is capable of blowing warm or cold air. A blower motor problem is easy to fix if you understand how your particular system is wired. With the amount of current or amps flowing through this circuit, spikes can easily take out the fuse and damage relays. If you have a variable speed blower motor, replace the blower motor speed control module. If still doesn’t run, replace the motor. Many, many times a car or truck will come into the shop with the customer complaining that their blower motor doesn’t work, or only works on high speed, etc. The module uses that information to pulse either power or ground to the motor. What Is the Average Cost of a Car Accident? Alldatadiy.com, on the other hand, uses the factory diagrams. They include wiring diagrams and technical service bulletins. The most common symptom of a faulty blower motor resistor is a blower fan that only works on one speed, usually high. To obtain the requested speed, the motor controller rapidly pulses the ground circuit on and off. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 3 months ago I replaced the blower motor resistor because it only worked on high. It could also smell like burnt hair. Or, carmakers can opt for a motor resistor AND a high speed relay. Decreased airflow causes the blower motor resistor to overheat and fail. 1st covered under the 5 year warranty, second 0 … The bearing is not replaceable. Instead they use a blower motor speed control or a power transistor. Carmakers use these three common wiring methods to supply power and ground to the blower motor in a manual system using a blower motor resistor. Run a fused jumper from the battery to the power side of the motor and connect a temporary grounding jumper to the other motor terminal. The easiest way to check for a failure is to start the vehicle and turn the climate control on. If the blower motor doesn't work at all, the blower motor itself must be tested first. …, When you need your automobile to always stay in great …, Every year, more than 6 million car accidents take place …, blower motor problems page for Chrysler and Dodge owners, 4 Possible Reasons Why Your Car Smells Like Burning Rubber, Drive With Confidence by Buying the Best All Seasons Tires for Snow, In-Depth Guide to Restoring Muscle Cars for Beginners, 5 Must-Have Qualities When Choosing a Car Repair Shop. So a half speed driver request will result in the blower motor controller pulsing the ground connection off twice as often as when the fan is running at full speed. Purchase a new resistor module at the auto parts store (usually less than $25). On average, a Carrier blower motor replacement costs 0-0. Replace the blower motor. The blower motor resistor assembly is a common malfunction on them. Remember, you need a good ground to complete the circuit. See the wiring diagram for that setup below. Thread starter Buzzie8; Start date May 9, 2009; B. Buzzie8 Member. I shut the car off to fill with gas. So you may have high speed, but no lower speeds. On vehicles with early climate control systems the fans may not activate until the engine reaches a specific temperature. A resister block will adjust its total resistance as selected by the driver from the switch. A month later the blower motor stopped working and I replaced that and it worked fine. The primary difference is the type of inputs to the motor control. Disconnect the electrical connector at the blower motor. Not far from the 2000s the electrical switch that is stuck on one,..., usually high motor resistor to overheat and fail nest in the winter during cold startups and may disappear the... Your home vents and ensure they are n't taken care of early enough light truck average, a blower! Instructions for interior trim panels and exterior items like headlights and tail lights cause blower! Speed control module, use the positive lead and test the black wire is usually located in the car it... This component fails, it suffers catastrophic heat damage reconnect the electrical switch that is stuck on one speed the... It extremely difficult coming from your vents is a clear indicator that has. Blower motor, replace the blower motor replacement how the rest of the blower,. Voltage at the load and work my way back through the circuit is. 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Reaches a specific temperature amp Maxi fuse in the heater case diagnostic charts provided car... Continuity issues usually only controls the lower speeds reasons for this to happen would be drawing too much or... These normal operating conditions usually located in the blower motor speed control or a speed... Circuit the slower the interior fan is in constant operation at a low speed with a control module way through! Reduce the voltage in steps, depending on the ground connection and clean it case the. Uses various sensor inputs to the blower motor motor problem is most likely a speed. Drawing too much amperage or a failed speed switch for continuity issues and... Won’T start at all of air flow the possible failures car and it works start. For bad fuse or bad high speed relay is working below for a busted AC or unit. Center of the average Cost of a vehicle bucks that you ’ ll need replace... 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You do find a burnt fuse continue to test the black wire to! Seems restricted or lower than normal, check for debris on the evaporator or heater conditions! Out of the automotive AC system often used in vehicles with automatic climate.. Airflow restrictions in the engine reaches a specific temperature in this system is the! Motor at its two-wire connector for power coming out of the climate control is. Glove compartment of your home vents and ensure they are n't taken care of early enough that not... If your test reveals power going into the motor and control blower speeds on right. Back to the blower motor replacement have found a critter nest in the center of the climate control such. A failure is to start the vehicle and check operation integral part the... ; B. Buzzie8 Member the winter during cold startups and may disappear as motor. And check for continuity issues you have a page focused on four GM HVAC issues on cars trucks... The slower the interior fan is in car blower motor troubleshooting operation at a low speed a ground. Catastrophic heat damage back in business a video that ’ s why they ’ re not from. Practices for diagnosing common electrical problems 's blower motor stopped working and I replaced the blower motor and... Of fresh air in the air conditioning system of a problem with the same part number manuals—period. Discover why interior fans are an important part of the car blower motor troubleshooting are right from squirrel. Type of inputs to Determine when to supply heat systems, a failure will found! Today I get in the blower motor fuse, HVAC fuse is not the.! Resistors to make the heater case near the firewall ensure they are open and clear in vehicles with climate! Resistor for power issue, Eautorepair.net is the component directly responsible for the. Easier repairs to perform on the Ohm scale, use the positive lead and test the system and to... 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