Heater Controls or Blower Motor Not Working

[Prafeston]

I'm not sure what's not operating, but my blower motor isn't pumping out any air anymore. I don't hear it kick on. I know it has worked in the past, but now all of a sudden it's not. I'm not sure if it's the blower motor or if it's the switch for it on the heater controls. It's starting to get cold and I need this thing to work...if for nothing else to help defrost the windshield.

Is there anything I can do to diagnosis the problem? Or do I just need to purchase a blower motor...swap it out and see if it works...if it doesn't then do the heater controls? I took all the heater controls out today to see if there was something not hooked up right. Everything seemed fine. My lights for the heater controls have been wonky lately...sometimes they work and sometimes they don't...though I have tested and whether they are off or on I still don't get any movement from the blower motor.

[GenevaDirt]

not to be a ^%$$^*(% but did you check the fuses? Also fusible links on the strut tower...I thought one says blower or something like that.

[Prafeston]

You aren't buying a ^%$$^*! Sometimes we look over the little things. I'll check my fuses and fusible links...thought someone was going to be mailing me some of the better fusible links. I'll have to see whatever happened with that.

[KingFish]

Provided all your fuses area OK. If you don't have a test light buy one, very useful and under five bucks for the cheap ones at McParts, then pull the plug going to your blower motor (it's on the driver side) put one end in one hole and the other in the other hole (that's what she said) and turn the fan on. If it lights up get yourself a new fan. If not, then we will need ti figure out where the resistor board is...

[georgeb]

I think it's the ROOM fuse. Also see if it works on HIGH. If it does, then it's the resistor which sits next to the blower motor.

[scitzz]

Of course, the blower motor itself just dies at times Pretty cheap and easy fix IF that is what is wrong. If the other tests show nothing wrong, pull the fan, three bolts, and wire it up to the battery, or any other 12V DC current. If it doesn't run...BINGO! Kingfish already gave you most of this though, so I guess I am just rambling.

[koRnhead]

Stick a long handled screwdriver up there and smack then blower motor. Will more than likely come back to life. It's a common problem.

[melgar]

I had a similar problem with my 89.
After doing all the electrical troubleshooting, it turned out that my ignition switch had loosened up over the years, and had developed something like a second detent in the run position.
A little jiggle of the key and my blower works fine.

[bravekozak]

If it is the resistor, here is the Kia part number.

Usually what happens, is that the ceramic protecting the thinner, more fragile resistor wire coils, breaks off from vibrations. Then, the wires might be subject to breakage from vibration.

The resistor should be handled carefully. It is located high on the driver's side of the blower motor housing.

This would be the last thing I would check. Before I even pulled it out to look, I would make sure the connector is on securely.

[Movin]

Stick a long handled screwdriver up there and smack then blower motor. Will more than likely come back to life. It's a common problem.

I had a similar problem with my 89.
After doing all the electrical troubleshooting, it turned out that my ignition switch had loosened up over the years, and had developed something like a second detent in the run position.
A little jiggle of the key and my blower works fine.

Right on!! A little tappa tappa and wiggle of all parts in the circuit, while looking for burned connectors and corrosion should come right after
checking fuses. Look at the last known electrical repairs... like somebody hacking in to wires looking for power to run a stereo..
The parts are all mentioned above.

If that fails you can borrow the tools needed to test this stuff at autoZ or Oreilys. If needed take pics of what you are doing and come back here.
Kingfish listed the tools ..

[Prafeston]

Yeah, I installed a stereo months ago, but I'm pretty sure the blower motor was still working after the install. Thanks everyone for giving me some more things to look at.

[blkfordsedan]

Yes. I drove mine for 2 winters like this. Every time I started the car the blower wouldn't run. I'd reach under the dash and rap on it with my knuckles and, presto!.....it would turn on. Only had issues when it was below about 30 degrees.

[Movin]

2 winters !! you might have me beat for procrastinating my own stuff!!

[Prafeston]

I've been too lazy to track down this issue yet, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to handle it this weekend. Hoping it's just a fuse or the fusible links.

Here's what I had to deal with on the way to work. It was fine when I first got the frost scrapped off from the outside, but the short drive to may work it started coming back. Luckily I live just a mile from work and it was only bad when I turned onto this road to park and the sun was right in my eyes. Usually I'd walk to work, but I was running late.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SBqA84BzZI

[Prafeston]

Well I tried removing the blower motor today and I couldn't get it to clear the gas pedal and other stuff under the dash to get it out. I had unplugged the blower motor and the resistor plug to the upper right of the blower motor...when I couldn't get it out I just put it back in and plugged both things back in. Turned the car on and tried the blower motor...what do you know it worked! Gonna go on a ride here in a bit when it gets a little colder and see how well that thing is pushing out the warm air!