Car repair question

[Orrex]

So my vent has five settings: off, low, med1, med2, and high.

Recently it has only worked on the "high" setting. Any other setting doesn't run at all.

Any guesses?

It's a 98 Ford Contour, with a KBB value of about $27.00

[Orrex]

1. kick, because it's still damned hot outside

[commander bunnypants]

2. bad electrical switch

or the differential space/time discombulater is screwed

:shrug:

CB

[Orrex]

3. I just had the discombobulatlor recalibrated, so it can't be that

Electrical switch, eh? That doesn't sound too horribly pricey...

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. Fan speeds other than high are controlled by resistors.

High is direct voltage to the motor. The other speeds are controlled by a multi-tapped resistor (there are various arrangements of this assembly). Cars with climate control with a slider for the fan control do it differently, but this seems not to be your system.

The resistor assembly is available over the counter, and is usually found attached to the plenum somewhere. They often are placed so that the resistoir elements are in the airstream but the plug is external. Just gotta find it.

[Orrex]

5. I'm offended by your use of the word plenum

It sounds dirty to me, you fiend.


I have the Chilton's book--I'll try consulting it for info. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[Gold Metal Flake]

15. Plenums are often dirty.

But it's not the fun kind of dirt.

Look around under the dash. You are looking for a wire bundle made up of kinda large dianeter wires, cuz the fan takes quite a bit of current. The wire bundle will go from the switch to the resistor pack. If yours is similar to my various old Fomoco products there will be a squarish plug at the end of the bundle. That will be pluggd into the resistor pack. The resistor pack will be on the backside of a flat piece of plastic. You will see the plastic, the plug and bundle, and you should see 2 or 4 rivet-like objects retaining the pack. The pack is usually removed simply by gently prying. The resistors themselves are coils of resistance wire.

I only own old cars. I've done this job a few times.

[Orrex]

18. Is this something that I can fix?

I'm not a complete idiot, but I don't have a lot of experience with swapping out resistors and suchlike.

Thanks again for the advice.

[Gold Metal Flake]

19. Sure, you can fix it. If you can find it!

The part looks kinda like this:



See how it's all mounted on a little plastic plate?



There are little plastic pins that hold it in place by friction. They can just be gently pried out. Remove the unit. Unplug it. Plug in the new one and reverse the procedure.

It's easy once you locate it. Be sure to take the old one with you when you go to the parts store or you will probably have to take back the wrong one they sell you.

Good luck!

:thumbsup:

[mikeytherat]

17. The resistor advice is correct

I, too, have older cars and have done similar repairs many times (too many times, actually!).

I never knew how important my computer soldering skills were until I owned three BMWs - two 20 years old and another one 33 years old. Lots of cracked soldering to reflow and small bulbs and resistors to replace (in the first two cars, not so much the the really old one!).

mikey_the_rat

[IA_Seth]

6. Word.

Take this guys advice, it sounds spot-on based on my limited knowledge of your issue.

[LeftyMom]

7. Your Heisenberg Compensator is faulty

I'd advise you to put in at the nearest starbase for repairs.

[Orrex]

8. As long as my flux capacitor is still fluxing, I'm okay

And I hate crawling around in Jeffries tubes.

[jobycom]

9. Where do you live that you'd even know whether the lower settings work?

My fan hasn't been off high since May. It might not even turn off, for all I can tell.

[Orrex]

11. Valid question

When I have the fan on "high," the car sounds like a hovercraft, so usually I run it on med2 except in extraordinary circumstances.

Of course, circumstances have been pretty darned extraordinary lately...

[jobycom]

12. Well, in Austin,

I just don't need the quiet as much as the cool.

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. There's your problem

Your hovercraft is full of eels.

[Orrex]

14. As much as I hate to drop Python quotes

Please fondle my buttocks.

[Gold Metal Flake]

16. My nipples explode with delight!

Personal fave.

[commander bunnypants]

10. just use your automobile tricorder

should pin point the problem in a nanosecond

CB

or just call scotty

[qnr]

20. I haven't read the replies, but I have the "sister car", with the exact

same problem. A 98 Mercury Mystique. Thanks for asking about this :) :hi:

[Orrex]

21. Check replies 4, 15, 17, and 19

Very helpful! I printed them out and will keep them close at hand when I perform this little bit of surgery.

I didn't know about the "sister car" until I bought the Chilton book. And then I said, "You know, they do look a lot alike..."

I'll probably attempt to do this either this weekend or next. I'll report back here afterwards!

[qnr]

22. Thank you n/t

[Kali]

23. except the sister car's parts will cost 3 times as much $$

signed, A Mercury Tracer owner. (Escort sister car)

[qnr]

24. Ugh n/t