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Intermittent blower motor issue

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Old Mar 13, 2018 | 05:01 PM
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Default Intermittent blower motor issue

I have a 2000 XJ and have been fighting an intermittent issue with the blower motor for several months.

Basically, from time to time my blower motor will not work at all. The A/C compressor will kick on if I turn on defrost or A/C, but the blower motor does not do anything.

It will eventually work, but I have not been able to get it to work the same way twice. Sometimes I move the fan speed dial, sometimes I tap the control panel, sometimes I just wait, but eventually it will work.

I have replaced the resistor (factory one was rusty, and looked terrible), the A/C relay, and the control panel. The control panel was replaced with one from a junk yard.

Basically nothing has fixed the problem. Every time I think I have fixed it, it comes back after a month or so of not happening.

I have also gone through as much of the wiring as I can looking for a frayed wire, and also checked the blower motor connection.

The only item left to replace is the blower motor, but I hate just throwing parts with no justification. I also have my doubts on the blower motor considering it will at times work for a few months without any issue. Unfortunately, it has never happened at a time when I can test anything, and also it has never happened for longer than a few minutes.

Been pulling out my hair, and hoping someone here has a suggestion for me.

Thanks.
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Old Mar 13, 2018 | 06:13 PM
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something similar i had it was the plug that powers the blower motor it would work at times and other times just act up eventually i ended up just cutting the connector and put new pressed connections on it and works everytime now.

- Marc

edit: it was really deceiving at times i checked the plug many times and looked good every time, tho i do not recomment cutting into the original wiring just a suggestion

Last edited by LadyKenai; Mar 13, 2018 at 06:23 PM.
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Old Mar 13, 2018 | 06:29 PM
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when you have the blower motor out you can look inside the spinning part it could have some small piece of junk in it that locks the motor up, if thats the only thing left to check.
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Old Mar 14, 2018 | 04:15 PM
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Thanks. I will have to dig back into this soon. I have a feeling it is simple solution (frayed wire, bad connection, etc), I just haven't been able to get it to happen when I have the time to test anything.
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Old Mar 14, 2018 | 05:33 PM
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when this happens you could check that plug right away wiggle it since its so randomly or check at the time if the blower motor is buzzing or is just dead no power

marc
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Old Mar 15, 2018 | 07:08 AM
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Default Blower Motor

How many miles on that blower motor? Some of the field windings could be shorted and it will still work, but weakly and intermittent. Of course first check all the electrical connections and GROUNDS.


Knucklebuster
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Old Mar 15, 2018 | 07:51 AM
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What Knucklebuster said. I've seen this. Disconnect the power/ground connector from where it connects to the resistor. Use jumper wires to add power and ground to the fan. If it starts spinning RIGHT NOW and spins FAST, more than likely, it is still good. If it kinda spins and gets faster and faster and faster, I'll bet you need a new blower motor.

YMMV,

KenR

Last edited by KenR; Mar 16, 2018 at 07:23 AM.
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Old Mar 15, 2018 | 09:51 PM
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The blower motor is original. Also, when it happens the blower motor is completely dead, does nothing at all.

I have only had it happen to me once at home, and it was about 10 degrees that day so I couldn't really check too much

Most of the time it has happened when I am far from home with no ability to anything but hope for the best. it usually starts working again in a few minutes, sometimes seconds.

The weather is starting to warm up here so I'm hoping to get it resolved before we get into summer heat.
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Old Mar 15, 2018 | 10:00 PM
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18 years is a pretty good run for a blower motor. In fact, I'd replace it just to prevent the wire melting b.s. that occurs when the motor goes bad. Assuming you've already confirmed grounds and connector are good.
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Old Mar 16, 2018 | 07:24 AM
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JPZ,
Yep, sounds like new blower motor time.

KR
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