Easy tips

What does it mean when a blower motor resistor fails?

What does it mean when a blower motor resistor fails?

In our case the ohmmeter shows open circuit, which means the resistor has failed. Sometimes, a blower motor resistor might fail due to problems with the blower motor itself. This means after replacing the blower motor resistor, check if the blower motor runs freely and doesn’t make any noise.

Where is the blower motor resistor located on a Ford Escape?

In the 2008-2011 Ford Escape, the resistor is located behind the glove box on top of the HVAC unit air duct. It’s held by two screws and is easy to replace. See the photo. In the 2008-2011 Ford F150 the blower motor resistor is also located behind the glove box, but is installed in the right side of the plastic air duct.

Where does the power transistor go in a blower motor?

The power transistor has 4 wires: two come from the climate control system control unit, one is the ground, one goes to the negative terminal of the blower motor. The service manual advises measuring the voltage at the blower motor, then if not OK, at the power transistor and so on.

Where is the blower motor resistor on a Mazda 5?

In many cars it’s fairly easy; the blower motor is located behind the glove box and held by 3-4 screws. In others it might be located inside the dash (e;g Mazda 5) which makes replacement difficult. If you need a proper diagnostic procedure, we posted several links where you can access a service manual for your car for a subscription fee.

What are the symptoms of a failed blower motor resistor?

Blower motor resistor problems. Problems with a blower motor resistor are common in many cars. The most common symptom of a failed blower motor resistor is when the heater fan only runs at high speed and doesn’t work at low speeds.

In the 2008-2011 Ford Escape, the resistor is located behind the glove box on top of the HVAC unit air duct. It’s held by two screws and is easy to replace. See the photo. In the 2008-2011 Ford F150 the blower motor resistor is also located behind the glove box, but is installed in the right side of the plastic air duct.

How much does it cost to replace a blower motor resistor?

The blower motor resistor or control module replacement is not very expensive. For example, one of our colleagues had a problem with his 2011 Ford Escape: the fan only worked at the speed 4. He paid $50 to diagnose and $112 to replace the resistor at a local Ford dealership.

The power transistor has 4 wires: two come from the climate control system control unit, one is the ground, one goes to the negative terminal of the blower motor. The service manual advises measuring the voltage at the blower motor, then if not OK, at the power transistor and so on.

The blower motor resistor or control module replacement is not very expensive. For example, one of our colleagues had a problem with his 2011 Ford Escape: the fan only worked at the speed 4. He paid $50 to diagnose and $112 to replace the resistor at a local Ford dealership.

Can a broken motor switch stop a blower?

A broken blower motor switch can also stop the blower from changing to certain speed settings. If your blower motor cannot change to certain speeds, check both the resistor and the switch on your dashboard. The most common failure points are the resistor and the motor itself.

What to do if your blower resistor Burns?

Look for obvious signs of corrosion and burns from overheating. If you see signs of overheated connectors, replace the blower resistor and its connector, but again, you must splice the wires right, or you’ll have problems at the splice later on.

What is the purpose of a blower motor resistor?

The blower motor resistor is an electrical component that is a part of the vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system. It is responsible for controlling the blower motor’s fan speed. A failed blower motor resistor can cause issues with the operation of the entire heating and air conditioning system.

How much does a blower motor cost?

Based on these factors, the costs, including both parts and labor, can range anywhere from $250 to more than $500 for a standard single speed blower motor. If a blower motor is required for a more expensive unit, such as a variable-speed motor, then the costs could be more than $1,000; however, these motors tend to be relatively rare.

What does a blower motor resistor do?

Definition. A blower motor resistor, typically located beneath the passenger side dashboard, contains three resistors, or sets of terminals designed to generate voltage in proportion to electrical current. These resistors allow the blower motor to function at lower speeds.

What is an AC resistor?

Resistor AC Response. For ordinary currents and frequencies the behavior of a resistor is that of a dissipative element which converts electrical energy into heat. It is independent of the direction of current flow and independent of the frequency. So we say that the AC impedance of a resistor is the same as its DC resistance.

In our case the ohmmeter shows open circuit, which means the resistor has failed. Sometimes, a blower motor resistor might fail due to problems with the blower motor itself. This means after replacing the blower motor resistor, check if the blower motor runs freely and doesn’t make any noise.

Why is the resistor on my Ford Escape not working?

For example, as you can see in this photo, the blower motor resistor in this Ford Escape has failed due to corrosion. If the resistor shows no visual damage, the resistance between terminals must be checked and compared to specifications. If the resistance is out of specs, the resistor must be replaced.

What should I do if my blower motor stops?

Replace blower motor. If you have a variable speed blower motor, replace the blower motor speed control module. If you have a three or four speed blower motor, remove the blower motor relay. If the motor stops, replace the relay. Alldatadiy.com and Eautorepair.net are professional-grade shop manuals—period.

Replace blower motor. If you have a variable speed blower motor, replace the blower motor speed control module. If you have a three or four speed blower motor, remove the blower motor relay. If the motor stops, replace the relay. Alldatadiy.com and Eautorepair.net are professional-grade shop manuals—period.

Author Image
Ruth Doyle