How to replace fan speed switch on 2000 Focus?

My wife's 2000 Focus has been losing speeds on her fan speed switch (AC and heater fan) for over a year. Now it's gotten to the point that it'll only work if you set the switch between 1 and 2. The dealer quotes a price of about $100 parts and labor. The switch itself is only a tiny portion of the charge, but I have no idea how to get into the dash. I'll admit with the currrent spike in gas prices and huge number of miles we have to drive, our budget is stretched pretty thin at the moment. My wife thinks you might be able to access it if you can pull the stereo out of the dash, but this appears to require a special tool.

Can anyone give me a clue how to get in to replace the switch?

I actually am not sure exactly what you are replacing, but i know if you want to pull out the radio you need the factory tool to do so. I got mine from wal mart for around $5 (By the automotive speaker/amps). Hope this helps. good luck with the install.

Thanks, I'll check out WalMart here to see if they carry that tool. The switch I'm talking about is the blower speed switch, you know, the one with speed settings from 1 to 4, just below the radio.

It will be difficult to access it from the stereo but it is possible.... easiest way to do it is to dis-assemble the lower part of the dash kit around the knobs.... i believe the screws to start that step are behind the glove box so you have to pull the glove box out (open the glove box squeeze the 2 walls of the box together and pull down the 2 rubber tabs will pop out with a little effort)

i have the 99 model focus. to access the dash in mine you have to take the stereo out and the screws are behind there.

you do require a special tool to efffectively remove the stereo but it is possible with a couple of gud old fashioned knives down the sides, to loosen the clips (which is how i get mine out when i need to)

behind there you should find 4 screw, unscrew them and the central part of the dash can be pulled away, exposing more screws for the rest of the dash

( im not quite sure what you are trying to replace though, im guessing it has something to do with the dials on the front, below the stereo?)

Disconect the negative of the battery. Pull out the stereo. You can do this by using the u-shape tools. You can buy them in Autozone for $4. You unscrew the for screws and pull out the front of the dashboard. The three switches can be take out by unscrewing four screws and then the fan speed control has 1 additional screw. By carefull to dismantel all electronic plugs and put them back in the right place.

My 01 zts fan was only working on 4. Turned out it was the resister pack. Cost $17 at the dealer today. I had tried to replace the switch first but this did not solve the problem. Thanks guys, great info..

The vent selection on my 2004 is stuck in the dash vent position and won't turn to select the defrost vents or floor vents. It feels like a cable is broken or stuck. Is this the way to get to it (referencing the posts above) to see what it is?