You Should Know This About Your Blower Motor

The blower motor is found at the heart of most automotive HVAC systems. This term refers to the fact that this component is an electric motor that is fixed to the fans and helps to move the air through the HVAC system. At times, a single blower motor helps to deliver both hot and cool air, on-demand, based on how the climate controls are set.

The blower motor is found in the heater box, although every vehicle has a different type of configuration. A few blower motors are easily accessible whereas others are buried under the dash. You can find the heater boxes and blower motors inside the passenger compartment in most cars and trucks, but sometimes you can find the heater box and blower motor, or both, are present inside and are easily accessible from the engine compartment.

There is more than one blower in large vehicles, like big SUVs and vans. In such a case, you will find one blower motor in the front heater box and the other one is present in the rear part of the vehicle. You may also find an additional heater core in the rear end of the passenger compartment.

Have a look at the working of car blower motor: 

The functioning of a blower motor is very simple. When you apply a voltage to the electric motor, it starts spinning. This in turn will make the fan spin. As the motor assembly is fixed in place with bolts, that is - inside a heater box, the fan will be able to move large volumes of air at high velocity.

The blower motor has a few different controls that are linked with its operation. One typical control is a speed selector, where the speed of the motor can be turned up or down. Components like blower motor resistors and fan relays will help you to accomplish them. The airflow from the blower can be directed to either heat or cool the passenger compartment. The channeling of air differs from one vehicle to another and the mechanically operated doors, flaps, and vacuum will remain common. When heat is needed, airflow from the blower motor will be directed so that it can pass through the heater core. This will cause the air to heat up, and eventually, the hot air will be blown out of the air vents. The airflow is then directed through the A/C evaporator instead of the heater core.

The common car blower motor problems are mentioned as follows:

• Without the blower motor, there won’t be airflow in the system. If your blower motor is damaged, there won’t be heat or cool air. 

• When you turn on the HVAC and if you don’t hear anything, you will have to check the operation of the blower motor. 

• The design of the blower motor circuits is often the same. You will have the motor, a switch, and some form of resistor or transistor assembly that helps to control the blower speed. On studying the problem, you might get to know what is wrong. 

• The battery voltage will run at full speed as the blower is on high. If some other speed is selected, then the current will flow through a resistor or transistor assembly that takes away some of the feed voltage. 

• The blower will run slowly if it has less voltage.

Mostly all vehicles are equipped with a heating and air conditioning system to keep the passengers of the vehicle comfortable. One component of the system is the heater blower motor. The main electric motor is the blower motor that is responsible for blowing air through the vents. It is controlled with the help of a blower motor resistor and switch. They can operate at several different speeds to help them control cabin temperatures.

If the heater blower motor is faulty, then the heating and air conditioning system of the vehicle may not function properly, where it may disable a few of the useful functions such as the window defogger. Generally, a bad or faulty heater blower motor will show a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential issue.

1. Weak Airflow From The Vents

Low airflow from the vents is one of the first symptoms of the vehicle’s faulty heater blower motor. If the air or heat, when turned on is very less, or if the air is weaker, then it is an indication that the heater blower motor is starting to wear out. Adequate airflow needed to regulate the cabin temperature is impossible by a worn or weakened blower motor. It may also be reaching the end of its service life.

2. Fan Only Blows At a Certain Speed

Another indication of a damaged or faulty heater blower motor is that it only functions at a particular speed. In order to control the different cabin temperatures efficiently, most blower motors are designed to function at different speeds. The blower motor may be faulty if it fails to push air at any of its designed settings. A failed blower motor resistor or switch can also cause this, and so it is recommended to properly diagnose the vehicle.

3. No Air From The Vents

Another symptom of a bad blower motor is that there won’t be any airflow from the vents when the heater or air conditioning is activated. The heater blower motor will not be able to produce any airflow for the system if it burns out or has short circuits. You will have to replace the blower motor to restore the proper functioning of the system. A faulty blower motor can disable the fully functional heating and air conditioning system. This in turn will make the driving experience less comfortable for the vehicle’s passengers. Take the vehicle’s interior separately if the blower motor fails. So, it is best to get it inspected by a professional technician.

If you want to repair your Blower Motor all by yourself, then let’s face it that you will need some auto body tools. You can always start by building your tool chest. Searching for some tools needed to repair your Blower Motor? Don’t worry! We are here to help you out. Here are some common tools that you will probably end up needing while repairing your Blower Motor.

• Safety Glasses

• Gloves

• Tool Set

• Screwdriver

• Blower motor

• Flashlight

The brands which we use make a statement about who we are and who we will be in the future. Several car lovers are emotionally attached to a specific brand for their car parts. So if you are searching for a particular brand for your Blower Motor, then you have arrived at the right place. Have a look below:-

• Four Seasons Blower Motor And Parts

• Blue Streak (Hygrade Motor) Blower Motor And Parts

• Federated/Four Seasons Blower Motor And Parts

• Cooling Depot Blower Motor And Parts

• Dorman/Techoice Blower Motor And Parts

• Standard/T-Series Blower Motor And Parts

Till now you must have understood what a car Blower Motor is, but still, are you thinking that what its associated parts are? So let’s just dig out what its components are:

• Blower Motor Resistor

• Blower Motor Fuse

• Blower Resistor Connector

• Blower Wheel

• Blower Motor Vent Tube

• A/C Control Panel Resistor

More than any other kind of failure in a car, there's almost nothing that's quite as heartbreaking as a completely damaged Blower Motor. Now when we talk about the replacement cost, it might vary a lot even on the same car depending upon its performance, labour cost, brand, etc. If you want to replace your car blower motor, then it will range between $200 and $550.

Keen to know about the procedure of changing the Blower Motor? Well, we have simplified the entire procedure for you. You can follow the guidelines below to easily do the job yourself.

Step 1 - Prepare the vehicle

Disconnect the negative battery terminal, and place it elsewhere where it doesn’t touch the metal. If possible, try to remove the passenger-side floor mat. You will find the plastic cover underneath your glove box. Separate the cover from the bottom of the lower dash which is usually fixed in place by screws or clips. 

Step 2 - Remove the blower motor

The blower motor is fixed with screws at the bottom of the plastic climate control unit. Separate the wires from the blower motor. Take off the screws which hold the blower motor to the climate control unit. Carefully pull the motor out of the housing and you will find a plastic wheel on the far side of the motor. 

Step 3 - Remove the spring clip 

Once you remove the motor, you have to transfer the plastic wheel to the new motor, and take away the spring clip which is the fixed end of the motor shaft. Make sure not to lose the spring clip because you will get it only from a dealer. Carefully take the plastic wheel off of the shaft. If you have to transfer the blower wheel, check it carefully for any defects. If there are any defects, replace it now. 

Step 4 - Reinstall the motor

Now attach the motor into the climate control unit. Once it is carefully fixed, connect the wires again. 

Step 5 - Check and reassemble the vehicle

Now, connect the negative battery terminal again and start your vehicle to see if the new motor functions properly. Fix the cover under the dash and place the floor mats again.