Calling all automechanics!!!

mp3hombre · 02-07-2003, 10:39 PM

Car: Buick Century 98

Problem: Heating and A/C not working

At first the fan would work on HIGH only.
Then it stopped working completely, but
I tapped underneath (where the ashtray is
located) and it worked again -on HIGH only-
for a while.

Now is completely dead..well sort of,
When I set it on HIGH I hear a relay click
and -sometimes- a faint hum coming from the fan.

I believe the fan contoller is busted,
but I want to make sure.

There's power going to it and the defogger
works OK.

Is there a way I can test the fan -or bypass it - (at the connector) or test the controller ?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

CaffeineAddict · 02-08-2003, 12:09 AM

So what is the exact problem... I might be confused because im tired.. but:

Is it blowing air at all?
If not then it is probably the blower motor itself, wiring to the blower or controls or a physical obstruction. (have heard of mice getting into the air ducts/blower fan)

If it is blowing air but only on certain fan speeds it is probably the fan controls or the wiring to/from the controls and blower. I would check the wiring really well (get a diagram of how it is supposed to be) to make sure something isn't loose or frayed before replacing the controls themselves.

If you can post exactly what it will still do, then what is giving you the most trouble (like what doesn't work at all) I'm sure someone will know what is wrong.

Hope you can get it fixed soon!

-Josh

Edit: Also I know some buicks have electric control for automatic thermost temperature regulation. Is this the case, or do you have "standard" manual controls?

t0ffluss · 02-08-2003, 06:41 AM

bad conection to switch, or faulty fan switch...

would be my best guess...

mp3hombre · 02-08-2003, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaffeineAddict
So what is the exact problem... I might be confused because im tired.. but:

Is it blowing air at all?
If not then it is probably the blower motor itself, wiring to the blower or controls or a physical obstruction. (have heard of mice getting into the air ducts/blower fan)

If it is blowing air but only on certain fan speeds it is probably the fan controls or the wiring to/from the controls and blower. I would check the wiring really well (get a diagram of how it is supposed to be) to make sure something isn't loose or frayed before replacing the controls themselves.

If you can post exactly what it will still do, then what is giving you the most trouble (like what doesn't work at all) I'm sure someone will know what is wrong.

Hope you can get it fixed soon!

-Josh

Edit: Also I know some buicks have electric control for automatic thermost temperature regulation. Is this the case, or do you have "standard" manual controls?

I have the manual temperature control.

For a time the fan worked on HIGH setting only, sometimes I had to tap under the ashtray to make it work.
Now the fan is not working at all.

CaffeineAddict · 02-08-2003, 08:13 PM

I don't think the fan controls themselves would fail since they aren't electronic/computerized. So I am guessing it is a loose wire (since tapping would cause it to make a connection but then it would stop again). Try to trace the wires as much as possible coming from the controls to look for missing insulation on the wires or any other problems. See if there are any terminals which look like they should have wires connected but don't. Find out where the wires connect to the blower and see if there is power at it... then hook power directly to it (disconnect the controls and wire straight to it) to see if it comes on. If it comes on then I suspect controls/wiring... otherwise looks like you need a new blower fan/motor.

mp3hombre · 02-09-2003, 08:33 PM

Thanks every1.
I traced the wiring all the way to the fan, it's busted. I also need to replace the resistors module. I don't understand why the motor
died so "young"

Squeezer · 02-10-2003, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mp3hombre
Thanks every1.
I traced the wiring all the way to the fan, it's busted. I also need to replace the resistors module. I don't understand why the motor
died so "young"

Its because it was made by GM. that should explain it.

CaffeineAddict · 02-10-2003, 05:02 PM

I found this after some searching... Don't know why I didn't see it before, but should have some related information on the blower.

http://www.2carpros.com/topics/blower.htm

As for why it died... I dunno exactly, but I haven't heard of GM having a widespread problem with the blower motors. Now if it had been the water pump, i'd agree with you squeezer