2004 Santa Fe Heater/AC Fan blower switch

[madbodger]

I have isolated a non working fan blower problem to a bad switch. This vehicle has the manual dial type controls. The fan speed switch is the center one of three on the control panel.

A very small local dealer insists the entire control panel is a single nonserviceable unit, and must be replaced as an entire unit for a'rd $160.00. That just sounds nuts.

Rock Auto Parts lists a speed control switch that looks like an exact match for a'rd $22. Does anybody know if in fact that switch can be replaced by itself? I'm doing this for a friend and don't want to get into a big mess or buy parts that can't actually be replaced without destroying the panel like the dealer says will happen...

[lowsonoma1999]

Originally Posted by madbodger

I have isolated a non working fan blower problem to a bad switch. This vehicle has the manual dial type controls. The fan speed switch is the center one of three on the control panel.

A very small local dealer insists the entire control panel is a single nonserviceable unit, and must be replaced as an entire unit for a'rd $160.00. That just sounds nuts.

Rock Auto Parts lists a speed control switch that looks like an exact match for a'rd $22. Does anybody know if in fact that switch can be replaced by itself? I'm doing this for a friend and don't want to get into a big mess or buy parts that can't actually be replaced without destroying the panel like the dealer says will happen...

You can buy the blower switch separate. Don't know what your dealer is thinking. Part # is 97263-26500. List is only $19.03, so it's not that expensive. Don't know how far you are from Anchorage, but Lithia Hyundai has one in stock.

[madbodger]

Originally Posted by lowsonoma1999

Don't know what your dealer is thinking.... PN is 97263-26500. List is only $19.03, so it's not that expensive.

Thanks very much for that info including the PN. I'm going to assume then since the part is available separate from the control panel that it's possible to replace it as an individual part, and it's already ordered.

BTW, I'm not currently in Alaska, and the dealer in question was Eckerdt Motors or something in Denton TX. Won't be going back there.

Part was purchased online from Freeman Mazda/Hyundai in Irving Tx for local PU. Extremely helpful people in the Parts dept there... 40 miles away vs 5 miles away but worth every nickel.

[lowsonoma1999]

Originally Posted by madbodger

Thanks very much for that info including the PN. I'm going to assume then since the part is available separate from the control panel that it's possible to replace it as an individual part, and it's already ordered.

BTW, I'm not currently in Alaska, and the dealer in question was Eckerdt Motors or something in Denton TX. Won't be going back there.

Part was purchased online from Freeman Mazda/Hyundai in Irving Tx for local PU. Extremely helpful people in the Parts dept there... 40 miles away vs 5 miles away but worth every nickel.

Eckerdt even shows to have it in stock.

[madbodger]

Followup to initial post...

Wound up getting the part online for $15 from Freeman Mazda/Hyundai in Irving Tx... super great folks to work with.

Time to replace the switch for the first time was less than an hour total and never even came close to "destroying" the thing as the first dealer warned me about. Next time would probably take about 20-30 minutes.

This whole episode has been a good reminder to shop a'rd if you have to go to a Dealer, and reminds me of why I do my own work. If my friend who is an older widow with limited resources had just pulled into that shop, they would apparently have charged her over $160 for the entire panel, and at least an hour of $95 labor to R&R the thing...

Many thanks to the other poster here, John Nance ((lowsonoma99)) for the followup and input. If I lived in Indianapolis, I know the Dealer I'd be going to...

[ghendric]

I'm having the same issue with the heater fan switch. How difficult is it to remove the panel? Also, is the knob held on with a screw? I noticed the center of the knob doesn't move when you turn it so I'm assuming that's some sort of cap covering a screw or something. How do you get that off? Any help is greatly appreciated. This is the second time this switch has gone bad. Fortunately, the first time it happened the car was still under warranty. Why do they make such low quality parts??