Heater/AC fan problem - doesn't start right away

[tenngreg]

I have a 2002 LeSabre. A few months ago the Heater/AC began acting up.

When I first start the car, the fan doesn't work. Then after driving for several minutes, the fan starts and everything works fine.

A few pieces of info.

1) the problem occurs regardless of any settings. manual or auto, heat or AC, any fan speed or air flow (floor, defrost..)

2) The time it takes to start can vary from 30 seconds to 20 minutes)

3) Nothing seems to trigger the fan starting

4) all the displays for the Heat/AC controls look normal

5) Once the fan starts, everything works fine and it never stops once it is on.

Any thoughts??

 

[imidazol97]

I have a 2002 LeSabre. A few months ago the Heater/AC began acting up.

When I first start the car, the fan doesn't work. Then after driving for several minutes, the fan starts and everything works fine.

A few pieces of info.

1) the problem occurs regardless of any settings. manual or auto, heat or AC, any fan speed or air flow (floor, defrost..)

2) The time it takes to start can vary from 30 seconds to 20 minutes)

3) Nothing seems to trigger the fan starting

4) all the displays for the Heat/AC controls look normal

5) Once the fan starts, everything works fine and it never stops once it is on.

Any thoughts??

When it doesn't start the next time, take you toe of your shoe and tap on the underside of the heater box on the right side of the hump. The vibration will start the fan moving. It is vibration of the car that's causing the brush to make contact again.

When you replace the fan (3 screws) you'll find that the brushes inside are sticking in the slide. As the fan turns and wears the carbon against the commutator, the electricity keeps jumping and working with the hot brushes and material. But cooling after shut off, means the brush doesn't quite touch the commutator. The commutator will be grooved badly as well.

I had this on a 2003. Put in an Autozone fan because they had them in stock. Other box stores treat it as an order item: buy it and wait 2 days for them to get it.

Now I would have checked Rockauto.com and used their 5% discount to purchase. I had waited until the fan just quit completely one day before getting down to replacing it.

 

[tenngreg]

You, my man, are a genius! It worked like a charm.

I also went to RockAuto (and another supplier website). I put in year, make, model,etc) and it gives me several different options for fan blowers. How do I know which one is correct?

 

[1380Ken]

You, my man, are a genius! It worked like a charm.

I also went to RockAuto (and another supplier website). I put in year, make, model,etc) and it gives me several different options for fan blowers. How do I know which one is correct?

I would guess that the fan blower that you installed, and it works like a charm , is the right fan blower

 

[tenngreg]

Sorry, in my excitement, I wasn't clear.

The temporary fix of banging on the old blower to get it to start is what worked. I still need to replace it before it completely dies.

Thanks.

 

[psycmeistr]

I have the same thing happening with my 2005 Park Avenue (non ultra). It was happening again last night, and the fan finally started after I went over a speed bump in the bank parking lot...

I'll have to look into this--thanks!

BTW--I spoke to a guy yesterday who told me the problem was most likely the resistor for the blower motor. The resistor itself was between $129- $179 (solid state), so I went to the local boneyard and took one from a totalled 2004 PA Ultra. Luckily for me, they threw in the blower motor with the deal, and it only set me back $40.

I haven't installed it yet, so we'll see how it works.

 

[imidazol97]

You, my man, are a genius! It worked like a charm.

I also went to RockAuto (and another supplier website). I put in year, make, model,etc) and it gives me several different options for fan blowers. How do I know which one is correct?

I'm glad it worked for you.

Look up at the underside of the blower motor housing. The descriptions on rockauto.com for the 1st design and 2nd design seem to hinge around the 2nd design having a silver color housing-metal and a cooling tube. The first does not have a cooling tube.

See the little open tube sticking out on the left side that has a rubber tube that goes to the air duct and allows air to go back to cool the motor in the blower...

I got a local blower at Autozone at a store that had on in stock. That way I knew I could return it for a correct replacement. For my 2003, they offered on ly one choice at Autozone. The difference is the housing brack is strong plastic. On the original blower, the bracket was metal IIRC. My price was $139 as opposed to $173 plus a little shipping, a 5% discount with the number at Rockauto, and no sales tax.

 

[tenngreg]

Thanks again. I really appreciate the help. I'll get right on this, as it's getting colder around here!

 

[livingez123]

Lifetime guaranty with that?

 

[imidazol97]

Lifetime guaranty with that?

Autozone had a limited lifetime warranty--they took my name and address when selling me the blower with fan.

 

[Maxsdad]

When it doesn't start the next time, take you toe of your shoe and tap on the underside of the heater box on the right side of the hump. The vibration will start the fan moving. It is vibration of the car that's causing the brush to make contact again.

When you replace the fan (3 screws) you'll find that the brushes inside are sticking in the slide. As the fan turns and wears the carbon against the commutator, the electricity keeps jumping and working with the hot brushes and material. But cooling after shut off, means the brush doesn't quite touch the commutator. The commutator will be grooved badly as well.

I had this on a 2003. Put in an Autozone fan because they had them in stock. Other box stores treat it as an order item: buy it and wait 2 days for them to get it.

Now I would have checked Rockauto.com and used their 5% discount to purchase. I had waited until the fan just quit completely one day before getting down to replacing it.

I tried that trick just now with my wife's 2004 Lacrosse and it worked perfectly. Just a couple of moderate hits with the palm of my hand and BINGO! It's nice having AC again when it's 105 degrees and rainy (Palm Springs). Thanks, imidazol97.