96 Sable Intermittent Blower Motor Control

This strange problem occurred about three months ago. The blower fan (A/C Defrosters etc) only works when it wants to.

The switch for the fan is incorporated into the radio panel. It is “pressed” and not turned. (I am told that not all Sables have this set up).

When I start the car it’s the luck of the dice whether or not the A/C will work. Sometimes the blower starts upon pressing the switch and at other times it will remain off for five, ten, twenty minutes or more. Once it starts it stays on without a problem. I suspect there is a relay or some other device that’s not failing. Any thoughts?

I have plenty of coolant, the A/C works well, but without a fan it’s useless. My electrical system is fine. Recently replaced the battery and alternator (this problem began for that repair).

Any help is appreciated.

I don't feel that its the switch, but the blower motor itself. You could pull it out and clean the motor and the electrical contacts and make sure that the wire connector to the blower motor isn't loose.

But, as you will see when you pull the blower motor, it is a "cheaply made" unit, and I've replaced two. One was in a previously owned 1992 Mercury Sable at 116,000 miles, and last November I had to replace the one in my 1999 Mercury Sable Wagon, which had 93,000 miles on it at the time.

You can pick a new one up on eBay for about 25%, or less, of what the Ford dealership would charge you, or just cleaning up the wires and the unit you already have might fix the problem.

quote=Averyr]This strange problem occurred about three months ago. The blower fan (A/C Defrosters etc) only works when it wants to.

The switch for the fan is incorporated into the radio panel. It is “pressed” and not turned. (I am told that not all Sables have this set up).

When I start the car it’s the luck of the dice whether or not the A/C will work. Sometimes the blower starts upon pressing the switch and at other times it will remain off for five, ten, twenty minutes or more. Once it starts it stays on without a problem. I suspect there is a relay or some other device that’s not failing. Any thoughts?

I have plenty of coolant, the A/C works well, but without a fan it’s useless. My electrical system is fine. Recently replaced the battery and alternator (this problem began for that repair).

Any help is appreciated.[/quote]

I have a 98 sable that did the same thing for like 2 or 3 months and then it just Quit!!! I was wondering the same thing. Any Ideas on the easiest way to get to the blower?

I am of the opinion that Ford Motor Company, starting in the late 70's, engineered the Mercury, and the Ford, to be difficult, if not almost impossible, for an owner to repair.

Seems they really wish , or hope, that when faced with their crazy placement of parts and weird fittings and fasteners in those cars, and specially required "Ford" type tools needed to do the repair, owners will bring the car into the dealership, and pay four to five times what it is really worth, to have the thing repaired.

I have seven differents tool that I converted from a standard tool, or made myself, just to deal with their corporate greed. I have also found that the Haynes Auto Manual is far more user friendly, and understandable, than the Chilton Auto Manual for the same cars.

I have both for each of the twelve vehicles that I own and do all of my own repairs. The last time I went to any Auto repair place was back in 1979, and that was all warrenty work for a brand new Dodge that I had purchased. Even then, I had to take the car back in two to three times just to get that one problem properly repaired.

In the first five moth period I owned the car, the dealership had the car ten times as much I did. I never bought a Dodge again, nor have I paid an auto repair place to do anything on my cars and trucks, except mount and balance new tires..
I have a 98 sable that did the same thing for like 2 or 3 months and then it just Quit!!! I was wondering the same thing. Any Ideas on the easiest way to get to the blower?