97 resister question

[casinonut531]

Ok I was wondering about the resister for my heater. Only works on setting 5, 1-4 is gone. Where is it and what does it look like? Any help would be great!!!!

97 3800 V6

[BIG-L]

The fan and module is located below the glove box. Take down the finish panel there by removing two push plugs. These things are a PITA in themselves!! Once you have the panel off, you'll have to take the fan out. Some may argue that you don't have to, but it really opens things up so you can actually SEE in there.

First disconnect the wiring harness that passes in front of the fan. Try and undo the clamp if you can but usually I get so P-O'd that I just cut it. Then disconnect the fan harness and make some clearance. Now remove the fan.

The fan is held in by three screws. The best tool I've found is a nut driver with a flexible shaft but you can get at them with a regular nut driver or 1/4" drive ratchet and long extension. There is a little rubber vent tube that can be simply pulled out. Once the fan is out you should be able to see the resistor module in the air plenum up against the firewall. It looks like a printed circuit board.

Disconnect the wire harness to the module and move it out of the way. Now comes the fun... Oh yes! We weren't really having fun yet! The module is held in by two screw of similar size to the fan. The PITA part is that they are almost completely burried and the floor curves in such a way that it's almost impossible to get a tool on the screws! I can get the driver's side screw out but the pass side one is near impossible. The best I've ever done was to loosen it enough to make the module get a little loose. Then, since it's getting replaced anyway, I break it out of there

Once the module is out, you can get at the pass side screw and back it out a little to allow the new module to go in. Replace the driver's side screw and get it tight. If you can get on the pass. side one, more power to you. Either way, it's not going anywhere. Now replace the fan and all the wiring, panels and all that.

Now comes the good part. I've found the best way to get at this thing is to lay on my back on the floor and then to get the right angle my feet have to be up on the seat back (reclined) so you end up pretty contorted.........~Larry~


Here is a pic of the blower motor resistor