98 buick low fan switch not working

[NINFan]

hi-
i have a 98 buick century. the heater fan works fine on the top settings, but not the low ones. all the fuses are good. is there a relay or fusible link somewhere (on the fan itself maybe?) that i'm missing? could it be the switch itself?
thanks.

[GTP Dad]

The blower motor resistor is going bad and will need to be replaced. You can get one for about $45 at a dealer. You will need to remove the fan and then remove and replace the resistor as it is right next to the fan. Once it is replaced the fan should work normally.

[NINFan]

ughh. ok, thanks. where's the fan on that beast (it's my son's car that someone gave him)? please don't tell me i have to take the dash apart. i'm hoping it's under the hood and fairly easily accessible.

[GTP Dad]

Unfortunately, it isn't in a good spot. The fan should be on the passenger side up under the dash. You will have more luck and find the job easier if you remove the seat. I would check with the service manager at the parts counter to make sure the exact location on this model.

[NINFan]

thanks. just found it at autozone. you have to register now to get access to the service manuals, but i did, and it's actually better now. you enter a car in your pro, and just click on service manual and it brings you to the right one.

the fan is accessible under the dash. looks like you just have to take out one trim piece.

[GTP Dad]

The trim piece isn't bad to remove. The problem is how far up under the dash you need to go to get to the fan housing bolts. Once you get to them they can be hard to get out. Good luck and let us know how it turned out.

[NINFan]

will do!

[NINFan]

ok, did it this morning. turns out it's an 02, not a 98. it was pretty easy, except one of the bolts on the resistor that was up against the firewall. there are 3 bolts, one is easy, the other two - not so much. i got the second one out by rigging up a 3/8 ratchet to an extension with a universal then 3/8 to 1/4 reducer, then 7/32 socket. there's no way to get to the third one, so i just yanked the old resistor out. then i had enough room to loosen the bolt a little, slid the new resistor in and tightened up the 2 bolts i could get to.
the hardest part of the job was getting the felt cover off. those friggin plastic holddowns are a pain in the rear to get out!
btw, i hooked it up before bolting it all up to make sure it was really the resistor. worked like a charm. the old resistor was in pretty tough shape. you could see the break in it.

[GTP Dad]

Thanks for the update! I am glad your car is back in working order.