Heater fan Motor

[slerby1st]

My fan motor for the heater/AC has been stopping every once in awhile and today did not come on at all until I stopped and shut car off and restarted. Could this be the contol module for the switches or perhaps the fan motor it self going. I am reluctant to take it to mechanics because of the price they will charge to check. If there is self diagnosis I can do please advise.

Thanks in advance.

[Mr Bean]

blower motor is going. next time it stops...leave your fan setting on "high" leave your ignition "on" open your hood and take a stick and tap the blower motor housing (give it a good rap...you'll need to hit it hard enough to shake the motor inside)...this should get it going again. If that works, then you can do one of two things: 1. replace it and be done. 2. take off the housing, and using the tiny plastic nozzle hose that comes with the can, spray electrical motor cleaner into the vent holes on the motor. spray liberally. turn the fan to the high setting...then turn it off and spray again. this will give your fan some more life. you can the the electrical contact/motor cleaner at autozone.

[mntnbkr]

As Mr. Bean said, you're going got have to knock that fan housing pretty good, but be careful as well. That housing is probably VERY brittle (mine was) and will crack if you hit it too hard, or with an object that is too hard.

[slerby1st]

I will try this suggestion and see what happens.

Thanks

[bill buttermore]

Unplug the electrical connector at the blower motor. Connect a 12-volt test lamp across the leads of the connector. Set the motor controls for the fan to run at high speed. The lamp should light if the controller and all the wiring to the motor are OK. If the test lamp lights, undo the test lamp from the connector and plug the connector back onto the motor. If the blower motor does not run, replace it.

Some blower motors come with an insulating cover that becomes very brittle with age. Whacking it may cause it to disintegrate. When you change the motor, make sure you replace the rubber cooling tube, or the new motor will not last long.

Step-by-step instructions for changing blower motor on '95 SE

Here is what it looks like with the engine out of the way:

[malatu]

For what it's worth ..... I had my blower motor replaced a few years back. If I remember correctly, it wasn't very much money. I can't remember exactly what my mechanic charged me but it wasn't over $50.

[adinini]

$45 at Autozone

[Bugsi]

Other items that can cause your fan to not spin are the fan speed switch (sounds like you have the climate control unit, so this may not apply to you) and the blower fan relay. There is apparently a high-speed fan relay that was bad in mine. My symptom was that the fan didn't work sometimes on the high setting. I think it is unlikely that either of these possibilities are your problem, but just be aware that they are also possibilities if your other troubleshooting doesn't solve your problem.

[slerby1st]

I replaced the fan with new one and still have the same problem of it shutting off. Can someone please tell me where to find the relay for the blower. If this does not stop problem then I think control switch may have to be replaced.

Thanks.

[raymwr]

I replaced the fan with new one and still have the same problem of it shutting off. Can someone please tell me where to find the relay for the blower. If this does not stop problem then I think control switch may have to be replaced.

Thanks.

If you have the electronic climate control it could be the blower motor control module.
Our 97 was doing the same and also the blower motor would stay running with the ignition off.

[ptrfair]

Just for the record, how exactly does that rubber tube come out? I tried to remove the fan on my 97 lesabre and i was afraid to break anything. I didnt see any clips or anything.

[bill buttermore]

Just for the record, how exactly does that rubber tube come out? I tried to remove the fan on my 97 lesabre and i was afraid to break anything. I didnt see any clips or anything.

The rubber tube is shaped like a grommet at each end. Squeeze the tube near the end and wiggle it out. But do so carefully on the ductwork end. The black mastic insulation cover becomes very brittle with heat and age and is easily broken.

[ptrfair]

thankyou

[klindstedt]

Another possibility on intermittant heater fans is the connector itself. Last summer (on one of the hottest days!), the fan in my LeSabre stopped working. I have the dual climate control and I wasn't sure if the problem was the fan or the control module. I unhooked the connector and jumpered 12V to the fan - it spun right up. Thinking "aw shoot, it's the expensive control module", I metered the output at the connector and found that it was working correctly as well. I plugged the connector back in and all seemed well...Until the next afternoon when it was hot as blazes and the fan stopped again. I checked the fan and module again with the same results. Plugged the connector in and everything worked. Aha, the light bulb went on - the only thing I was changing was unplugging and replugging the connector. I took a small screwdriver and bent the contacts a little tighter. I've had no trouble since.

[revbradl]

Hi All,

My Heater Fan has been squealing for a while, so I finally replaced it last night. The black mastic insulation cover over the fan was mostly gone (there were just scraps of it still attached around the mounting screws). This meant that my cooling tube was basically detached. After putting in the new fan, I struggled with what to do about the cooling tube. My solution was to attach it to the fan with some aluminum foil duct tape. Can anyone make a better suggestion? Should I buy a new mastic cover? If so, is that something that has to come from the dealership?

Also, the cooling tube connection to the heater box was also broken. I taped it in place (also with the Aluminum Duct Tape) but noticed that it has a baffled end and I'm not sure I got it inserted correctly. Can anyone verify the proper orientation?

Thanks in advance!

[sgmburke]

This worked for me ! "open your hood and take a stick and tap the blower motor housing (give it a good rap...you'll need to hit it hard enough to shake the motor inside)...this should get it going again."

[Bugsi]

This worked for me ! "open your hood and take a stick and tap the blower motor housing (give it a good rap...you'll need to hit it hard enough to shake the motor inside)...this should get it going again."

Holy old thread, Batman! If this worked for your car, it's a good indication that your motor brushes are worn, and that you'll ultimately need to replace the blower motor to prevent the problem from recurring.

[sgmburke]

Certainly true, and will do that replacement for sure. But certainly nice to have this Bonneville forum like this that saved me hours of troubleshooting in the middle of a hot sticky Maryland day!

[Bugsi]

Certainly true, and will do that replacement for sure. But certainly nice to have this Bonneville forum like this that saved me hours of troubleshooting in the middle of a hot sticky Maryland day!

Yeah, the "poke it with a stick" trick also works on starters. It's a super-simple troubleshooting step that really works to narrow down the problem.

Now if only that worked on my wife. . .

[stephenssei]

I'm having to replace the AC fan/blower housing/case and cannot find that part for my 94 Bonneville. I just need the housing. Mine was very brittle and rusted. Seems the part is discontinued at GM. Anyone know where I can find that part? I have looked everywhere. Even junk yards, can't find it and getting somewhat despite. Looks like we are going to have to fabricate a new one if we can't find it.