Did my blower motor go out?

[A_A_G]

My '98 Montero sport 3.0 v6's a/c was blowing just fine, until yesterday after work when I cranked it up. I noticed that no air (not even hot air) is coming out of the vents, but I can hear the compressor turning on and off as it usually does.

Is this what's wrong with it? Could it be the blower motor resistor?

 

[Rand]

fuse? IF its the resistor usually its just stuck on high and off.
not non-functional.

It could be the blower motor itself.. when they get older and wear out they start to use too many amps and start popping fuses.


Start by checking the fuse.. easiest thing.. then check for power at the blower motor.

 

[A_A_G]

Will do thanks

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: Rand
fuse? IF its the resistor usually its just stuck on high and off.
not non-functional.

It could be the blower motor itself.. when they get older and wear out they start to use too many amps and start popping fuses.


Start by checking the fuse.. easiest thing.. then check for power at the blower motor.

Yup, Usually it will at least work on high fan if the resistor is bad.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Originally Posted By: Rand
fuse? IF its the resistor usually its just stuck on high and off.
not non-functional.

It could be the blower motor itself.. when they get older and wear out they start to use too many amps and start popping fuses.


Start by checking the fuse.. easiest thing.. then check for power at the blower motor.

Yup, Usually it will at least work on high fan if the resistor is bad.
High bypasses the resistor.

 

[JethroBodine]

If the fuse is blown do remember to check the cabin air filter if you have one.

 

[doitmyself]

On my old Caravan, sometimes the motor would not even work on high when the blower motor resistor went out. Just saying........don't rule that out entirely.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
On my old Caravan, sometimes the motor would not even work on high when the blower motor resistor went out. Just saying........don't rule that out entirely.


+1 thats why I said usually.

 

[Jimmy9190]

The blower motor on Mrs. Jimmy's Honda Accord did exactly the same thing, one day the blower worked perfectly fine, the next day the blower fan would not run at all, not on any speed. I replaced the resistor with one from Rock Auto and it has been working fine ever since. I would suggest checking the resistor first before replacing the blower motor.

 

[eljefino]

My volvo resistor module had some sort of thermal fuse jumpering the high position. Also a $90 part, egads. Depending on how quick you can get at the connections, I'd put a tail light bulb on to check for power-- it's the right wattage for the various resistor positions to supply different brightnesses.

Also if a motor is on its way out sometimes it draws too many amps and will keep cooking fuses, resistors, or anything else in its path.

 

[Win]

They still use those air cooled resistors in the fan stream?

I haven't had a car that controlled the hvac fan with a resistor in at least twenty years.

About then they started using pass transistors, then went to PWM.

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: Win


About then they started using pass transistors, then went to PWM.


Just depends on the AC system. Automatic temp control with continuous fan speeds use a PWM system. Old school "clicky" speed controls still use the air cooled resistors, in all kinds of different forms.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: punisher
Originally Posted By: Win


About then they started using pass transistors, then went to PWM.


Just depends on the AC system. Automatic temp control with continuous fan speeds use a PWM system. Old school "clicky" speed controls still use the air cooled resistors, in all kinds of different forms.


Interesting, I would have thought that the relentless drive for fuel economy would have pushed everything to PWM by now - even those limited to four or five discrete positions.

I guess I still have a couple in service then.

 

[ARB1977]

My Tacoma was intermittent for two years. When it didn't work some times a slap in that area would work. I replaced the resistor just for the heck of it and was working again. Till it decided to quit again, replaced the motor and its been good. I thought also I might of been a little low on freon but I guess the motor wasn't blowing enough air. With the new motor it feels cold again.

 

[A_A_G]

Well I was doing a search on a Montero forum and most said its either the relay or the resistor. I went ahead and ordered the relay yesterday while at work to try that first.

When I fired up the car at the end of the day, sure enough it started working just fine...

 

[Jimmy9190]

FWIW, relays do not typically fail unless they get wet or their contact terminals get corroded or the relay is physically damaged. Not to say that your relay has not failed but the failure rate on a Bosch 30 amp automotive relay is about 1 in 1,000,000. Resistor packs, OTOH do have a much higher failure rate. I would still suggest you take a look at the resistor. If you still have problems after replacing the resistor and/or relay then you will need to check the current draw of the blower motor itself. It may need to be replaced if it draws more than about 17 or 18 amps on high speed.