What happens when a blower motor resistor goes bad?
If the resistor shorts or fails, it may cause the blower motor to remain stuck on one fan speed. The heating and air conditioning systems may still function at one speed, however the resistor will have to be replaced in order for full functionality to be restored.
How do you know if a fan resistor is bad?
Here are some of the warning signs of a bad heater blower motor resistor:
- Fan does not work at all, so no air comes out of the vents.
- Fan only works on some speeds and not others.
- Fan only works on the highest speed.
- Fan runs all the time and can’t be controlled with the fan switch.
- You see smoke coming out of the vents.
Why does my blower motor work sometimes?
When a blower resistor fails, the highest fan speed usually is the only one that still works because it essentially bypasses the resistor and receives the maximum amount of voltage. When the resistor is working, it reduces the amount of voltage going to the lower fan speeds so the fan runs slower.
Do blower motor resistors get hot?
Many blower motor resistors are designed such that they would burn up if they are not in the path of the air from the blower fan. They are that close to tolerance. Not because manufacturers like to burn stuff up but higher wattage resistors get very big and very expensive….. even those will get hot.
How can you tell if a resistor is bad?
Set a digital multimeter for “ohms.” Set an ohms range that is equal to or higher than the value of the resistor to be tested. Touch the red lead from the meter to one side, and the black lead to the other. Resistors do not hold a polarity, so it doesn’t matter which side gets the red or black lead.
Does a resistor get hot?
Burning of Resistor When a resistor has been overloaded with voltage exceeding its power rating, the resistor will become very hot to touch, darken considerably and possibly even melt or catch on fire. Although a resistor may appear damaged at this point, it can still be functioning.