heater/ac fan problem

My heater/ac fan recently stopped working on all settings except the highest[5th] setting. Anyone have an idea whats wrong?

Blower resistor. Located behind the center console on the firewall Pita to remove easy to install.

I am in 100% agreement with Herc. Common problem on our cars. Shouldn't cost more than $20-30 for the part

WISH I would have known that 2 years ago. I passed up a '97 GT coupe with 45,800 miles on it cuz of that problem. It spooked me. They wanted $6000 for the car. Boy was it nice. And the air bag light was on too.

Is the air bag light another common problem?

Yah my 1,2 were not working on the a/c. Think was $19 and change at the autozone. After you put it in, you'll have never thought of the crazy positions your body can handle. It is one of those life events that you ask yourself who the f designed that?

GM designers had this great blower motor resistor and decided to build a car around it. That's how things get designed

I guess I'm just going to only have the highest setting then, I'm not digging all the way to the firewall. Not that I can't, it's just not that big of a deal. Is there any chance that this will cause my blower motor to completely die?

Really, the repair is not that big of a deal... just do it... it's better than having the only two options be no air and full blast air. It shouldn't take more than 45min-1hr.

Old post but I believe that I have the same problem only that I only get the blower for 3rd on. Does anyone have a pic or diagram to show where this resistor is located or do I have to go to the dealer and get the system diagram printed out for me? Where is the best price/place for that part?

Just purchased it at like advance auto parts. Passenger side, follow carpet up underneath, see the blower. Behind that sits the resistor. Two screws, one comes out the other you loosen and the resistor comes out. Have to be patient and rambuncious. Pull back carpet and take off that gray color plastic fabric that covers the underneath of the glove compartment area.
Resistor2 ,
Resistor1
Those wires are to the resistor. Unplug it and the front srew is fairly easy compared to the one you can't see behind it.

20gtp02 you are the man, quick and photo ready, thanks.

Yes yours is the same problem. People don't usually notice the loss of fan at lower setting because the first couple of settings are a little on the wimpy side. As the resistor starts to fail you lose the lower fan settings. Alot of people don't notice the problem until only settings 4 and 5 are the only ones left.

Agree... easy job. That last screw in the back (firewall side) doesn't need to be taken out all the way! I spent too long trying to completely remove it, when all you have to do is loosen it and pull the resistor part forward.

I dont wanna hijack this thread, but just a short question... when the fan is on speed 1, i should be able to feel air coming our, right? cuz i belive i've lost number 1, so the resistor ill fix...
ALSO, is there a way to stop air from coming through the vents when im driving!??! it drives me insane when the faster i go more air is going through the vents when they are off. Is there a door that opens up the vents the could be stuck open, or is this just a bad GM design?

My moms trailblazer does that. That sheot is so damn annoying just blowing when things are off. I don't notice much in the gp but I can feel some heat coming from somewhere upfront floor or dash I don't know.

Out here around White Sands/Las Cruces/Alamogordo, the winds can easily get up around 50-75 mph sustained, so having that "flow-through" venting is actually a blessing for us: I have NO worries about wind/air pressure blowing MY glass out like so many other vehicles here.

why does my fan run when i have my system is off

The fan is not running, its jsut the outside air coming in cuz there is nothing blocking off the air vents... I belive it is a BAD GM design, everyone I know with a GM vehicle does it, and everyone i know with Dodge or Ford or dare I say it (rice), have a door that cuts off the vent when it is turned off so air does not come in

problem solved guys, I will post some pics of the install for more info to anyone that needs them. Thanks again.

My Dodge doesn't cut off the air, acts just like the GP in that regard.

If you put your controls on recirculate that will close off most of the outside air.

But mine does not have an option to recirculate the air

On the digital iirc it's on the mode button. I'll have to confirm it later.

I have a manual control, I was looking into upgrading it, but saw what it took, and decided against that. Just something ill have to live with

I had the same problem, with only 5 working... occasionally. I changed the resistor and the problem is the same. Only 5 works and not all the time. Could this mean the blower motor is dead or nearly dead too?

Or is it the switch?

My local dealer will diagnose the problem but he wants $60 just to do that!

HELP!!!!

Doesn't MAX recirc?

Also, I think you can divert all the blowing to the floor at least, by setting it to that. Should close up the passage to the top vents.

I'm at a loss here. I don't have air comming in thru the vents when the air system is off. I've had this car for 4 years and havent had that happen. My climate control is digital, so does that have anything to do with it....

Didnt know that about MAX, I will try that out. Thats what I do is Divert it to the Feet, but My a/c compressor stopped working, so when its hot outside and with the temp all the way on cold, its HOT air blowing at my feet, drives me insane! But winter, dont have that much of a problem, cept in the afternoon when its up to the 70's

When I don't want air blowing on me, I switched it to defroster. I'll try max and see how that works.

BTW, I just got done installing a resistor on my GP... OMG what a pain! I just lost a lot of respect for GM engineers.

Putting it on MAX works great!