darn blower motor resistor screw, HELP

[indymajor]

i have an olds alero 3.4 1999, and have tried about every tool i have and still cant get the screw closest to the firewall out to release the blower motor resistor. does anybody know what type of tool to use? i can get the 5.5mm socket on the head of the screw but because the firewall has that bump out right in the way i cant get my ratchet on it. extensions dont help either. please help.

[jr6078]

You need one of three things. Either a universal (swivel) socket, a universal joint, or a "wobble" extension.

The swivel socket is a socket that has a built in pivot point between where it attaches to the ratchet or extension.

The universal joint is simply the pivot without the socket attached. You attach a regular socket to one end and the ratchet or extension to the other end.

The "wobble" extension is an extension that has a shape at the end the socket attaches to that allows the socket to tilt slightly on the end of the extension. Not as much tilting of the socket is available here as with the other two, probably not your best bet in this situation.

One or all of these should be available at your local Sears store or maybe Autozone or someplace similar if there's no Sears nearby.

Good luck!!

[indymajor]

thanks jr. do you think there is enough room to use the universal joint and just add the standard 5.5mm socket i already have or should i just bite the bullet and purchase a full metric set of swivel sockets. Or just be cheap but not very practicle and purchase just the swivel 5.5mm socket, i would prefer to purchase the universal joint if there is enough room to get both the joint and the socket in the small space provided. any info will be appreciated. thanks

[jr6078]

You should be okay with the universal joint. I think that's what I used because I didn't have a set of metric swivels either. It will only add about 1/2" to the length of the socket, so having enough space shouldn't be a problem.

[xeroinfinity]

it also helps if the sockets/swivles are 1/4" drive and not 3/8" drive. just my

[indymajor]

thanks for all the help, i got the resistor out and it is toast. i wonder if it just burned up the resistor or did it harm the blower motor also. well i guess we will see after i put the new resistor in. should i purchase the resistor from a dealership or is one from a local parts store such as autozone ok to use. thanks again for the help

[JTrujillo86]

Buy the resistor aftermarket...its obvious the GM ones suck.

- Jeremy

[jr6078]

GM redesigned the resistor due to the poor reliability of the old ones. I think a new one cost me about $32.

I don't know anything about the aftermarket resistors, but they're likely to be cheaper to start with, so even if they don't last as long, you may come out ahead.

[jrozanc]

FYI...
Blower Motor Resistor from Stealership cost me $23.00 (Kalamazoo, MI).
I never checked the price of an aftermarket, has anybody else?

[xeroinfinity]

I've bought most of mine through NAPA and they were $25.
The local stealership was $30.
They both looked exactly the same, just a different box and price.

Heres a pic of an old and new resistor.
blowerresistor

[indymajor]

thanks for the help, i got it and replaced the resistor thanks again