blower speed switch

'98 Malibu's AC/heater blower works only on the top 3 speeds; 2 slower speeds inop.
I've read about a resistor that sometimes goes bad causing this problem but can't locate it. Is it located under the dash or under the hood? Thanks for your reply!

My '01 has the same problem, which ofcourse failed shortly after the warranty ended. I would also like to know of the fix for this issue.

I personally don't have any knowledge of it, however there has been a past post about this problem. You can find it here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=175159

This is how you are going to locate it in the 98 and the 01 for both of your problems. You are going to look under the dash on the passanger side. First you have to take off the plastic piece that covers up all the components. There are two way to get it out. I am going to tell you the easiest way. First take off the computer that slides (not screwed in) and drops down. Then take out the blower motor witch is held in by 3 screws. Then right up next to the fire wall you will see a plug and that is that resistor that you are going to have to replace. Unplug that and take out the two screws that hold it in. It has a green card on it that looks like a computer chip. if this is what you took out then you got the right piece. When you are putting the new one in be REALLY careful not to break the card like resister or it will not work. If you have any questions just e-mail me
[email protected]

Jody

just had the same problem on my 00' malibu. it turns out it was a relay in behind the glove box. hope it helps you.

matthew872

I had blower fan speeds 1,2,3 die on my '00 Malibu (second time it has happened, first time was fixed by a dealer 2 years ago). I decided to try and fix it myself this time and went to Autozone and got the replacement resistor pack part for it ($17). After replacing the part, the blower worked on 1,2,4,5 (NOT 3). Looking inside the 5-pin connector on the part, I saw that pins D and C were connected on the new part, but not on the old part. I figured that Autozone had the wrong part, so I returned it and went to my local Chevy dealer's parts department to get what I thought would be the "genuine" part. Sure enough, when the parts guy pulled the AC Delco labeled part out of the box it was the IDENTICAL part (D-C pins connected, colors, size-new one is bigger, both made in Japan, same 4 little lumps on the back, etc., etc...). I'm 99.9% sure that both the dealer and Autozone had the exact same part, but the Chevy dealer swears up and down he has replaced dozens of these and never had a problem with one blower speed not working. Has anyone else here who has tried replacing the resistor pack had this problem? I would rather not give the dealer $100+ bucks to fix what is inherently a bad design.

I'm a parts manager in a chevy dealership and if an autozone part is the same as a GM part, it would be because autozone bought it from GM and reboxed it.
By the way, it's not neccessarily a bad design, blower motor resistors just go bad from time to time. The new part is redesigned and has a bigger circuit board, they don't seem to fail as often.
The resistor is on the bottom of the heater case, kind of behind the glove box. You have to take off the lower panel under the right side of the dash. You don't have to take out the blower motor or anything else. Some of them are hard to get at though, depending on how thick the carpet is under there, especially the screw in the back (towards the front of the vehicle).

You don't have to take out the blower motor or anything else. Some of them are hard to get at though, depending on how thick the carpet is under there, especially the screw in the back (towards the front of the vehicle).

Well I just replaced the resistor, and the quote above is a serious understatement; without removing the blower motor it I would have had to contort myself even more to remove that back screw. As it is i did not replace that screw as the resistor weighs next to nothing and the one screw is enough.

On a good note though, the instructions on the link in one fo the above posts, are spot on. :smokin:

'98 Malibu's AC/heater blower works only on the top 3 speeds; 2 slower speeds inop.
I've read about a resistor that sometimes goes bad causing this problem but can't locate it. Is it located under the dash or under the hood? Thanks for your reply!

I have 98 Malibu... The resistor is located in front of the blower motor. It on the inside of the car on the passernger side. (I changed mine 2 days ago, works great).

You have to take off the black cover, it is inborad of the light, do not take off the small panel at the light. The cover should have 3-4 screws holding it up. If you follow the wire bundle coming up from the floor, the switch is attached the the larger set of wires. Do not remove the blower motor.
I used a 7/32 x 1/4" drive socket to remove the screws (2). The fwd screw is a little difficult to turn as there is little room for the ratchet. I used force on an angle to loosen it then used fingers with the socket to remove it...

So

1. Remove cover under dash at passenger side
2. Remove screws on the switch

NOTE: Easiest way to see this thing is to lay across the seats from the drivers side. use flashlight to view the switch.

The switch is no longer made, there is a subsitute of which is heavier and longer than the original. Got mine at Auto-Zone $22.99+tax.
Make sure you disconnect the negative battery terminal before starting. Reconnect after installation.

Ron P. USAF (retired)
www.poserina.com

I'm a parts manager in a chevy dealership and if an autozone part is the same as a GM part, it would be because autozone bought it from GM and reboxed it.
By the way, it's not neccessarily a bad design, blower motor resistors just go bad from time to time. The new part is redesigned and has a bigger circuit board, they don't seem to fail as often.
The resistor is on the bottom of the heater case, kind of behind the glove box. You have to take off the lower panel under the right side of the dash. You don't have to take out the blower motor or anything else. Some of them are hard to get at though, depending on how thick the carpet is under there, especially the screw in the back (towards the front of the vehicle).
Barry I know this don't have nothing to do with blower motors but since you are a parts man at a Chevy dealer and all and this came up a day or so back and I bet there are a few other Malibu owners in here like me that would like to know the answer to one thing. Why did GM put the transmission filler where they did on the Malibu? I am not a contortionist so I have to tear the whole air box off to get my chubby hand in there.

Barry I know this don't have nothing to do with blower motors but since you are a parts man at a Chevy dealer and all and this came up a day or so back and I bet there are a few other Malibu owners in here like me that would like to know the answer to one thing. Why did GM put the transmission filler where they did on the Malibu? I am not a contortionist so I have to tear the whole air box off to get my chubby hand in there.

if you can't reach it without pulling the box off, then yes. but before you fill it, did you take that plug out of the bottom to make sure it was full/needing fluid? Would hate for you to overfill your trans.


as for the blower motor resistors, if you have multiple failures, make sure to look at the connector to see if it is melted in ANY way shape or form. if so, then you should replace it. should be able to buy it at autozone...if not your local chevy dealer will have them.

My blower only comes on after about 5-10 minutes on the road. would that also be the resistor problem?

My blower only comes on after about 5-10 minutes on the road. would that also be the resistor problem?


is this any speed, or just certain speeds? might be the resistor, might be the switch....that is a weird one. more info would be good

Actually, it quit altogether yesterday; it's -30 up here in Alberta. I'm taking it to the GM dealer to fix it. I'm not out to save a few bucks in this weather.

The shop's flat rate on replacing this is 30 minutes.

This is wierd! After having installed the resistor, the blower was OK for a day, then stopped. In frustration I slapped the cover panel hard. Lo and behold, that got it going. Same thing happened this morning. It's got to be a wiring or motor problem now, not a resistor problem. Any comments please?