Heater Motor Help

Smoothie007 · #1 10-08-2007, 04:27 PM

Hi,
this is my first post to this forum, I'm hoping that someone can help with this problem. In the last couple of days, the fan does not work on the low (1) setting. All of the other settings work fine, but when I put it on low, there is no air movement. We've been experiencing a heat wave, so I've been using the A/C, not the heater.

Has anyone else encounted this? If so, is the repair a DIY job or a job for a mechanic? I'm not sure how the fan works, so I don't know if it is a problem with the switch or the motor (although I'm guessing the switch since the higher settings work).

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

777stickman · #2 10-08-2007, 07:27 PM

Welcome to the forum. Need to know year, model , eng, etc in order to try and help you.

Also, when you say "heater motor" I'm sure you mean the blower (fan) motor. It really doesn't care if it's in "heat" or "A/C".

So, give us the above info and we'll try to help.

Sonny01 · #3 10-08-2007, 09:34 PM

Most problems like that are the fault of the fan resistor pack located in the air duct under the dash on the passenger side...at least that is where I found mine on a 2000 ext.cab. I didn't have the 3rd or 4th setting I think it was and when I pulled the pack out I could see where it had caught fire. The pack was like 15~20$ at my local auto parts store.

Smoothie007 · #4 10-09-2007, 06:43 PM

Thanks for the offer to help. The truck is a 2001, 1500 ext. cab Silverado. It has the V6 engine. You are right, I'm really talking about the fan blower. Since the fan works on settings 2-5 I'm presuming the issue is in the switch somewhere, but I'm not sure. Also, if it is in the switch, does anyone know how difficult it is to get at? I'd probably just live with it instead of pulling the dash apart. If it's not too difficult though, I wouldn't mind trying to fix it.

Thanks for any help,
Tom

Sonny01 · #5 10-09-2007, 08:11 PM

I bet it's not the switch...and it's easy to get to the resistor pack...some of the screws are had to get to with the hardest being under the center of the dash. I used a small ratchet and a 1/4" Phillips bit. It's in the top of the ductwork.

Smoothie007 · #6 10-10-2007, 07:39 PM

Where do I look for the resistor pack? Also, is there any test to perform to check it, or is it simply replaced? If I need to replace it, any idea how much it costs?

Thanks,
Tom

Evansamms · #7 10-10-2007, 08:24 PM

I'm thinking Sonny01's hit the nail on the head. My 2000 silverado went the same way. the first setting went. Its kind of inconvenient, because once you have the interior at a good temp, you really just want the blower set on 1. Mine was the same case, resistor pack packed it in. You could see where it was burnt up. I forget how much it cost me, but for some reason I thought it was more expensive than $15-20. The most recent one I replaced was in a Grand Prix, and i know that one was close to $80, and I also replaced one In a mazda pickup, which was only $17. Either way, It should be forward of the blower motor, if that makes sense, towards the firewall. And kind of up top, if my memory serves me correctly.

Sonny01 · #8 10-10-2007, 08:42 PM

When you sit in the passengers seat the thing that runs left and right just under the dash is the ductwork for the fan...all you do is remove the bolts holding it up and the pack is attached to the top of it...the resistor board hangs down into the ductwork in an effort to keep it cooled. You could invest in a Chilton's or a Hayne's reference book but it will tell you the same thing.

Smoothie007 · #9 10-14-2007, 03:43 PM

Thanks All! I replaced the resistor pack this afternoon ($26 @ AutoZone) and now it works fine. It took me ~ 2.5 hours, but about 2 hours of that was on two screws

Anyway, I enjoyed the work. Next up, I might try to replace the fuel sending unit. My guage goes all over the place, generally ending up on empty even when I have a full tank. I'll review other threads for that and post any questions that I have before I start.

Thanks again!
Tom

j cAT · #10 10-23-2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoothie007

Thanks All! I replaced the resistor pack this afternoon ($26 @ AutoZone) and now it works fine. It took me ~ 2.5 hours, but about 2 hours of that was on two screws

Anyway, I enjoyed the work. Next up, I might try to replace the fuel sending unit. My guage goes all over the place, generally ending up on empty even when I have a full tank. I'll review other threads for that and post any questions that I have before I start.

Thanks again!
Tom

If it took you that long to replace the blower fan resistors in the air box under the dash on passenger side, I think you best stick to light bulbs and not even think of replacing the fuel pump/sending unit assembly ...

ftxlcincy · #11 10-27-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoothie007

Thanks All! I replaced the resistor pack this afternoon ($26 @ AutoZone) and now it works fine. It took me ~ 2.5 hours, but about 2 hours of that was on two screws

Anyway, I enjoyed the work. Next up, I might try to replace the fuel sending unit. My guage goes all over the place, generally ending up on empty even when I have a full tank. I'll review other threads for that and post any questions that I have before I start.

Thanks again!

Tom

I don't know if this would pertain to your gauge problem, but I just received a letter from GM 0n my 2003 silverado extending the warranty on the dash cluster to 70,000 miles or seven years. Something to do with the gauges sticking and giving erratic readings, might be worth a call to your dealer.

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