Do you feel annoyed that your car AC or heating system is not blowing hot or cold air as it is supposed to? From the hot summer to the cold winter mornings, the heating and the air conditioning system of your car is very important for your comfort. The blower motor in the HVAC of your car is used to drive air through the vents of the car. If the blower motor is not working as it should, you can be left with very little or no airflow at all.
Fortunately, most of the time you can actually diagnose what is wrong and take measures to have it corrected. Below are the typical blower motor issues, how to troubleshoot them and where to go if you need professional help.
Typical Blower Motor Problems
Blower motor problems in a car have the potential to cause issues with your car’s climate control. Some symptoms include absence of air from the vents, low or irregular airflow and strange sounds including squeaking or rubbing. It may also be a sign of trouble if the car has a burning smell or if the fan works only for a while. The root causes which can vary include a blown fuse, faulty blower motor resistor, worn out motor, clogged or damaged fan, and electrical problems like loose wiring or failing relay.
HVAC Blower Motor Problems Troubleshooting
- Check Fuse: Begin with the first basic diagnostic approach: examine the fuse that governs the operations of the blower motor. Open the hood of your car and look for the fuse box, if you have the owner’s manual, look at the map to find the fuse for the HVAC system. If the fuse is blown, replace it with the one of equal amperage only. A blown fuse may be due to a short circuit therefore watch out for whether the replaced fuse lasts.
- Test Blower Motor Switch: The problem sometimes isn’t the motor, but the switch that activates it. Twist the fan speed knob or change the settings from your car dashboard to test if the motor will react. If it only works at specific speeds, it might be that the blower motor resistor is on its way out.
- Inspect Resistor: The blower motor resistor acts like a voltage regulator that determines the current to the motor in order to set the rate of the fan. If the resistor is bad or burnt out the motor may only run at high or not run at all. An inspection with the naked eye or with the help of a multimeter will help determine if the resistor must be replaced.
- Listen for Unusual Noises: If the blower motor produces grinding or rattling noise it could be that some debris has accumulated inside the blower motor. Lift up the casing within the motor to ensure there are no leaves, twigs or similar objects within this place. If the clogging is cleaned it could return to normalcy. However, constant sound may be as a result of bearing corrosion or internal motor damage in which case a motor replacement becomes necessary.
- Test the Blower Motor: The blower motor can be tested to know whether it is working or not, if it has been checked and it is found to have fault, then it will be replaced. Turn off the motor and connect it to a power supply for instance your car battery. If it does run smoothly then the motor is good and something else is wrong with it. But if it doesn’t respond then the motor needs to be replaced.
- Check the Wiring: The blower motor can be interrupted from receiving electrical power if the wires are damaged or corroded. Check the wiring for a few visible signs of wear and tear and repair or replace faulty wires so your blower can get adequate power supply.
You Can Rely On Our Professionals For HVAC Repairs
For decades, the staff of Lancer Service has been 
offering drivers of St. Paul, MN, top-quality service to maintain their vehicles. You will not have to worry about a technician who is new to the job when you hire us, because we have experienced technicians who focus on blower motor diagnosis and repair and guarantee your HVAC systems to be in good condition. We know how much people appreciate comfort during car trips, especially in the climate of Minnesota. Whether it is just a fuse replacement or a complete blower motor repair, we are just a phone call away. Call us now to restore the comfort of your cabin.