Hey folks, I landed my dream car 8 months ago. 91 firebird convertible and have done a fair amount of work to it. The hvac heater switch literally glows orange and melted between pins 4 and 5 , but everything works. Also noticed a melted connector under the hood that controls the cooling fan and blower. I did replace it carefully.. I can’t for the life of me find that 5 pin rotary switch or even a part number anywhere. Anyone have an issue like this? And for the love of god, anyone know where to get one??

 

About the only way to get that switch is likely to be, a car that's getting parted out. Might want to watch the classifieds on this site. People do that all the time. Might have to wait awhile for a car that has what you need to appear (probably not, but maybe), since after all, it's kinda hard to place an order for someone to go out and wreck their car and sell it to someone who will make it available to you.

Looks to me like you have even more wastage than usual in that part of your electrical system. (which is rather remarkable... EVERY ONE of these cars burns up all those connectors sooner or later) All that stuff is REAL BAD about burning up, but yours is beyond the pale. I'd be REAL SUSPICIOUS of your blower motor; maybe, just replace it. It's not too $$$ anyway. I'd be concerned that you could replace all that smoked stuff, and as soon as you turn it on, your narfed blower motor would just burn up all your new crap too, same as it did the old. Also, if you follow the brown wire away from your control head up into the dash, within a foot of a foot and a half, you'll come across another one of those INCREDIBLY STOOOOPID connectors, same design as the one under the hood that you already found burned up. Odds are, the one in the dash, which is what supplies power to the entire thing except for the blower high speed, is just as bad as the one in your photo. Replace it too.

 

I used to have a bunch of HVAC units, but apparently now just have some from Camaros. I think the only difference between these and the Firebird ones was the front plate, *****, and the third light socket on the Firebird ones.
If that is indeed correct I can sell you one of these and you can swap the part over. Check it out and I can send pics if you get me an email address to send them too. Follow Sofa's advice first to insure it will last a while.
Just LMK Henry

 

So I managed to find one in a local classic car yard, one of the yellow switch styles, anyone ever for fun felt the top of the switch while driving? Still gets warm, but doesn’t go supernova. New blower motor too, the old one was almost seized and the bearings were screaming, sure that didn’t help the electrical load. Oddly, thanks to you fine folks! The blower was a good recommendation, and believe it or not the goddamn vacuum switch on the old car had a 1/4 inch gap giving me an odd intermittent misfire at idle, the climate never worked so well, and the vacuum system is sealed, as a side effect.. the car never ran so damn sweet.. if there’s ever a third gen meetup one bee England. Looks like I’m bringing a shitload of beer! Cheers to you guys, and many more miles and smiles with your cars too!

 

 

Cool, always good to hear about a problem being solved! Have fun!