10-11-2008, 11:49 PM
|
#1
|
|
AF Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chino, California
Posts: 71
|
Interior fan speed only working on high
For some unknown reason that I'd like to try to figure out my interior fan (blower motor) only works on the high speed. If I have the A/C, heat or just the fan on it has to be on high or it doesn't work.
Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this?
2001 SE with a Vulcan if that helps any.
TaurusGLenn
|
|
|
10-12-2008, 05:20 AM
|
#2
|
|
AF Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: edinburg, Virginia
Posts: 1,106
|
Re: Interior fan speed only working on high
Assuming you have manual controls for temp, setting and blower speed, there are basically two things that would be your problem. Typically, a bad or burned out blower motor resistor assembly will give you just high speed, but the fan speed switch could do that too but not as likely. The resistor set is typically screwed to the near bottom side of the hvac plenum "box" below and near the glove box.
If you have the electronic, electronically controlled sytem, the blower motor speed controller is bad. Not sure if that is actually the same exact part as the resistors as witht he manual system. Maybe a wire came loose from being bumped loose, but not likely.
|
|
|
10-12-2008, 11:21 AM
|
#3
|
|
TOKEN HILLBILLY
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Posts: 2,961
|
Re: Interior fan speed only working on high
Maybe this will help.
Blower Motor Resistor
Removal and Installation
Remove the right-side instrument panel insulator.

Remove the blower motor resistor.
Disconnect the electrical connector.
Remove the screws.
Remove the blower motor resistor.
To install, reverse the removal procedure.
|
|
|
10-12-2008, 01:14 PM
|
#4
|
|
Taurus Guy
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Posts: 6,774
|
Re: Interior fan speed only working on high
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by tripletdaddy
If you have the electronic, electronically controlled sytem, the blower motor speed controller is bad. Not sure if that is actually the same exact part as the resistors as witht he manual system. Maybe a wire came loose from being bumped loose, but not likely.
|
Agreed that the blower motor resistor is the likely problem. There is a "high speed fan relay" that bypasses the resistor block for high speed, which is why the blower will work only on high speed when the resistor block fails.
If the car has the electronic automatic temperature control, then they use a solid-state blower motor controller that uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and a transistor to vary the fan speed on speeds less than high. Earlier years had problems with moisture getting through the conformal coating causing the electronics to fail. I haven't read of this being a problem after the 1996 or so model year. These solid state PWM controllers are expensive, so you'll want to be sure it's the problem before replacing it. They are usually located in essentially the same location as the standard resistor block.
-Rod
|
|
|
10-13-2008, 12:06 AM
|
#5
|
|
AF Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chino, California
Posts: 71
|
Re: Interior fan speed only working on high
[quote=tripletdaddy]Assuming you have manual controls for temp, setting and blower speed, there are basically two things that would be your problem.
Typically, a bad or burned out blower motor resistor assembly will give you just high speed.
Yes, I have manual controls. Is there a way to check to see if the resistor assembly is bad?
Thanks, that is some quality advise from all of you!
TaurusGLenn
|
|
|
10-13-2008, 08:02 AM
|
#6
|
|
Taurus Guy
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Posts: 6,774
|
Re: Interior fan speed only working on high
Once you find the resistor block, unplug it. Then, get out your multimeter, set it to the "Ohms" scale and check for resistance between the terminal in terminal location 2 (corresponding to orange/black wire of the connector) and the terminal at terminal 3 (corresponding to black wire of the connector). These are the terminals of the resistor block, not the wires in the connector. There should be some form of resistance here, but if read open circuit (or OL on some meters) then the block is bad.
-Rod
|
|
|
|