Blower Motor Issues - Dead Motor???
#1
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Jonesburg, MO USA
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blower Motor Issues - Dead Motor???
Ok, this has been happening since I bought the car in late '04. The blower motor SEEMS to have gone out, but before I go replacing anything, I'd like to double-check with the tech geniuses here.
'94 Bonneville SE
Ever since I got the car, the blower motor would intermittently just quit working. The only consistent thing about it was that it seemed like at the first start of the day, it would almost never work. However, when you'd get up to around 55 mph or so, it'd finally kick in and would seem to be fine for the rest of the day (unless it just decided to stop for a minute or something, which has happened before, too). For the most part, the previous sentence describes the majority of the time. Now, however, the fan doesn't work at all, regardless of giving it a "jump-start" from highway speeds. It hasn't worked since Friday (Feb. 10th).
Now, since I got it, the "HIGH" speed fan NEVER worked. I was told this was an underhood fuse, which I pulled out quite a few months back, but never got around to buying a new one to put back in. I think it was the right one because nothing else quit working and nothing else changed.
Anyway, now that I've bored everyone to death (hopefully I didn't confuse anyone other than myself with this post), does it sound like the motor was just on its way out when I got the car, and it just finally died? Or does this sound more like a short? I just want to make sure there'* noone else that'* had this problem and it turned out to be a fuse or something. Come to think of it, that'* something I haven't checked yet, but I won't get a chance to until Wednesday (when my wife and I are both home at the same time).
Thanks for any help anyone can give me. Again, I'm sorry for the long-winded post as well.
Rick
'94 Bonneville SE
Ever since I got the car, the blower motor would intermittently just quit working. The only consistent thing about it was that it seemed like at the first start of the day, it would almost never work. However, when you'd get up to around 55 mph or so, it'd finally kick in and would seem to be fine for the rest of the day (unless it just decided to stop for a minute or something, which has happened before, too). For the most part, the previous sentence describes the majority of the time. Now, however, the fan doesn't work at all, regardless of giving it a "jump-start" from highway speeds. It hasn't worked since Friday (Feb. 10th).
Now, since I got it, the "HIGH" speed fan NEVER worked. I was told this was an underhood fuse, which I pulled out quite a few months back, but never got around to buying a new one to put back in. I think it was the right one because nothing else quit working and nothing else changed.
Anyway, now that I've bored everyone to death (hopefully I didn't confuse anyone other than myself with this post), does it sound like the motor was just on its way out when I got the car, and it just finally died? Or does this sound more like a short? I just want to make sure there'* noone else that'* had this problem and it turned out to be a fuse or something. Come to think of it, that'* something I haven't checked yet, but I won't get a chance to until Wednesday (when my wife and I are both home at the same time).
Thanks for any help anyone can give me. Again, I'm sorry for the long-winded post as well.
Rick
#2
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Electrically, there are two things that can go wrong. (1) You can have a short circuit. (2) You can have an open circuit.
Short circuits produce a blown fuse if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, they produce fire and a lot of smoke, until something that was formerly conducting electricity burns up to the point where it becomes an open circuit.
Open circuits can be a blown fuse, a broken wire, a bad connection, a corroded ground, a burned out motor winding, a burned up blower resistor, and things like that.
Of the two, it sounds like you probably had one or more open circuits. Because your high speed never worked, this indicates the blower motor resistor was probably bad in the high-speed resistor. Before you shotgun your blower motor, you should first replace the blower motor resistor pack. If that doesn't fix it immediately, then try the blower motor itself, but also inspect the wires and connectors to make sure they are clean, uncorroded, and making good contact.
Short circuits produce a blown fuse if you're lucky. If you're unlucky, they produce fire and a lot of smoke, until something that was formerly conducting electricity burns up to the point where it becomes an open circuit.
Open circuits can be a blown fuse, a broken wire, a bad connection, a corroded ground, a burned out motor winding, a burned up blower resistor, and things like that.
Of the two, it sounds like you probably had one or more open circuits. Because your high speed never worked, this indicates the blower motor resistor was probably bad in the high-speed resistor. Before you shotgun your blower motor, you should first replace the blower motor resistor pack. If that doesn't fix it immediately, then try the blower motor itself, but also inspect the wires and connectors to make sure they are clean, uncorroded, and making good contact.
#3
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posts: 15,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have you tried whacking the motor with a screwdriver handle? It most likely won't have squat to do with the "No High" issue, but if the motor is dying out, that'll usually get it running for a bit.
By the way, other than the "No High", the symptoms you describe are exactly how mine acted when it went out. Blower motors are less than 40 bucks at your local parts store.
By the way, other than the "No High", the symptoms you describe are exactly how mine acted when it went out. Blower motors are less than 40 bucks at your local parts store.
#4
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
You have the **** style climate control correct?
Follow MOS95b'* advice and try beating it up. Although at this point it might not start at all. Sounds like the blower motor is dead.
Follow MOS95b'* advice and try beating it up. Although at this point it might not start at all. Sounds like the blower motor is dead.
#5
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Grand Rapids,MI
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the screw drive thing works that how got my bville out texas with the air working and the heat when back in mi. The blower only cost about $40. The only thing slight hard was get out from under sturt bar could get it to come off. Broke the wrench in half
#6
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Jonesburg, MO USA
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, it'* the ****-style climate control. Sorry about that. I'll give the screwdriver thing a try and see if that works. If not, then I guess it'* to the parts store after payday (which is in 1-1/2 weeks). So changing it isn't hard, but the strut bar is in the way???
Rick
Rick
#7
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posts: 15,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even if the whack-a-motor trick works, you'll need to replace the motor. But no, it ain't too bad to change out. 2, maybe 3 beers, no blood, and only a few scuffs and scrapes.
If I remember right, it'* one plug and 4 screws.
If I remember right, it'* one plug and 4 screws.
#9
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Montevideo, MN MWBF '05, '06, '07 WCBF '06 '07 survivor
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by corder13
Yes, it'* the ****-style climate control. Sorry about that. I'll give the screwdriver thing a try and see if that works. If not, then I guess it'* to the parts store after payday (which is in 1-1/2 weeks). So changing it isn't hard, but the strut bar is in the way???
Rick
Rick