Hey guys... winter beater again.. with the sudden drop of snow, I need my defroster... here's my problem.. blower motor does not come on.. and here's what I've done..

Ran a wire from the batter to the blower motor, and it works
Swaped the relays around, and nothing
Replaced the Dash control unit (one with the dosplay) with a wrecker unit, nothing
Replaced the control box under the dash, along with other things I didn't know what they were, with wrecker units, nothing.
The electronic hot/cold "flap" still works...

Anyone have any ideas? Anyone encounter a problem like this with a car like this? (Olds 98 Touring Sedan.. also same as buick and cadillac units)

If not... looks like I'll just run a switch.. cause i NEED a blower motor

 

If the blower motor works with direct power and you tested the relays (depending on the cost, me personally I would just replace them), then I would think that there's a short somewhere. Is it possible to run a new power wire to the blower, replacing the old one?

 

It may be the resistor pack Nathan. THose things go all the time. DOes the fan work just on High? Or not on any of the settings? If not. Have fun, those problems can take forever to find sometime. If you are just going to put a switch in make sure to use a relay. Hope this helps you some??

 

Yeah, thats what I was going to use, a switch and relay setup... I'll do that for now.. and I'll try to fix it right when the weather warms back up.

Chris: I would replace the wire, but the system is a birdsnest of wires, and I can't find the wires... now if I had a wiring diagram, then I could do something.

 

Understood, those wiring harnesses can be quite indimidating to trace out.

 

If this is one of those electronic units that GM started using in the early '80s- i.e. all push-button with a 'moving' led/light temperature selection bar- it will be the control board inside the heater housing (i.e. where the resistor pack is located on a non-electronic control unit). These things fry all the time- moisture and heat eventually get to them. Connector on top of it will have 5 wires- if you pull the board out you will likely find the protective plastic coating falling off and corrosion in places- maybe even the wires plugging into it have corroded.

 

Just thought of something Nathan. that has electronic climate control right??? The temp sensor that allows the heater unit to kick in could be shot. Just a idea???

 

Well.... You can go into manual mode, where you can control the temperature, so I don't think thats it.... I'll look into it though, I believe it's hard to get to though

 

Arent' they up by the rad somewhere???

 

there is one sensor by the rad for outside temperature, then there is one in the dash somewhere, for interior temperature, so the ECC unit can adjust temp and fan accordingly, but only in "AUTO" mode