blower motor resistor and...?

[beetlebz]

Hey guys, new to the forums, be gentle!

after a couple hours of reading, its apparently no surprise that the blower in my 01 SE only works on 5, nothing at all on settings 1 through 4. A new resistor is in my future.

but heres why im posting...
at the same time not only did the fan crap out, but the vacuum selector (forgive my atrocious terminology) switch that controls where the air comes out of... defroster/floor/vents... no longer works at all. When I do turn the blower on setting 5 the air comes out of the vent, defroster AND the floor at the same time.

also a problem, related or coincidental, is the heater doesnt generate heat like it used to. If I put the blower on 5 and set both zones to full heat (this is manual hvac btw) I get no heat what so ever until I get up to around 1500-2000 RPM, at which time I get normal heat. If I let the car return to an idle at a stop light or some-such, the heat dissipates very quickly and stays cold until I again get the engine RPMs up. I cant say this started at the same time, as this happened in early spring and I was no longer using the heater. It could have started happening at any time.

could the resistor still be the culprit or is there something more sinister afoot?

[BNaylor]

Welcome to AF.

First did you check the fuses to the climate control system? In most cases no blower pos. 1-4 indicates a bad blower motor resistor.

The HVAC system uses accessory vacuum which comes from the engine intake system to control the dash vent actuators. Check the plastic vacuum line at the back of the upper intake manifold, along the firewall and over by the battery and engine compartment fuse box and make sure it is not cracked or disconnected.

On the heater issue what is the engine temperature gauge reading? Is it normal or reading low. Could be a thermostat issue, water pump or worse case a lower intake manifold gasket issue since you have the 3100 V6 engine. Try bleeding the cooling system and see if there is any air in it.

[beetlebz]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Welcome to AF.

First did you check the fuses to the climate control system? In most cases no blower pos. 1-4 indicates a bad blower motor resistor.

The HVAC system uses accessory vacuum which comes from the engine intake system to control the dash vent actuators. Check the plastic vacuum line at the back of the upper intake manifold, along the firewall and over by the battery and engine compartment fuse box and make sure it is not cracked or disconnected.

On the heater issue what is the engine temperature gauge reading? Is it normal or reading low. Could be a thermostat issue, water pump or worse case a lower intake manifold gasket issue since you have the 3100 V6 engine. Try bleeding the cooling system and see if there is any air in it.

So... I read this quick yesterday, just didnt get a chance to reply. I physically checked the fuse box for blown fuses, primarily because im a MORON. lol SOooo, I was leaving lunch yesterday and I was thinking about what you said, and it dawned on me. Hit me like a sack of bricks is more accurate. I pulled up the fuse block, sure as heck the vacuum line underneath it was broken. 1 down 3 to go, though now im sure the 3 problems are NOT related, and im just an idiot.

Still need to bleed the coolant.. but when I installed the 4ga wire for my stereo I zip tied it to the radiator overflow that goes back to the reservior, because when I bought the car that hose was kinked. Turns out the zip ties on it slipped a little bit, and it was kinked again. Im not so sure that could cause an issue quite like that (temp at the dash was 210 almost all the time, would overheat at an idle in the sun randomly, turn it off let it sit 5 mins and it would be fine) but so far the temps have returned to normal and the heater works just fine dont ask me man, I just work here. I was all ready to replace the radiator fans.

now I just need a resistor and im good to go! thanks for pointing me in the right direction BNaylor

[StevePT]

Sounds to me like your car could use a new thermostat and at the same time a coolant flush.

Get an AC Delco thermostat, even from the dealer they are only ~$15. Don't get a cheapie thermostat, they are just that... cheap.