Blower motor or resistor?

[Ryan from Ohio]

Im at a loss on this one guys.

Over the last few months my blower motor has been getting a bit noisy, sounds like the wheel is rubbings or the motor is going out- grainy, etc.

The motor also fades out while in use. The longer I use it, the less it works until it stops... Gets annoying when its colder than Alaska out.

So today I yank the bastage out. I left it plugged in, start it up and it works fine?

Think its the motor or the resistor?

[Nate's Alero]

hmm, is the motor worn? sounds like the Start Capacitor in the Motor is gone, BUT it could even be the switch..heard of them getting hot, and gaining resistances the temp goes up, so it slows down

[Ryan from Ohio]

DC motors dont use starting capacitors?

Only AC motors do.

Unless I missed someing in AC/DC Machines class?

:p

I was livid. I actually hate this car and just dumped $300 for struts. Now a $100 blower motor or $30 resistor... Looked up parts the resistor is $20 and motor is $40 so not terrible. Still alot for a car that I wish would disappear... rofl

[Nate's Alero]

jeez....someone hates the Alero

hmm, so maybe they don't....heating up and slowing down due to worn windings?

[Ryan from Ohio]

Well its a DC motor so it has brushes and a commutator. The brushes wear into the commutators. Also the springs weaken.

Im guessing its the blower motor.

I fired it up and put some resistance on the squirrel cage and she had some power... So it must be when it heats up...

But Im not 100% positive and i dont feel like tossing $40 out the window if thats not the root cause. So looking for confirmation or other guess's/ideas.

[Nate's Alero]

Well its a DC motor so it has brushes and a commutator. The brushes wear into the commutators. Also the springs weaken.

Im guessing its the blower motor.

I fired it up and put some resistance on the squirrel cage and she had some power... So it must be when it heats up...

But Im not 100% positive and i dont feel like tossing $40 out the window if thats not the root cause. So looking for confirmation or other guess's/ideas.

let it run, for like 10 or 15 minutes, and then try to stop it

[freeze12]

Bushing is probably worn in the motor

[Ryan from Ohio]

I opted for the new motor. $40 at autozone.

So far so good, smelled a bit funny at first.

Will know more tomorrow on my 1/2 hr drive to work.

[Runaboveit]

So what happened?

[Ryan from Ohio]

Blower motor 100%

Works excellent now. $40 fix.

[lonnie]

Was it a bitch to get the motor out...I need to replace my resistor and if it isn't too bad to take out the glove box\motor...I'll go that route?

[Ryan from Ohio]

The resistor is another beast. You will have to remove The glove box, the computer and the blower motor to even get to it. Then its against the firewall.

its a real SOB.

Im not sure if your a large guy or not, if you are you way want to hire it out. I ended up flipping upside down and working left handed, which is ahrd for us righties...