Back to all

Such a Little Part (Climate Control Resistor)

August 25, 2024

You expect your heater/air conditioner to work like it should.  You have a control for temperature and one for fan speed.  You even have a control for what vents the air comes out of. 

Don't be surprised one day if your blower fan develops a mind of its own and starts going crazy.  Most of the time, you may find that it starts blowing at full speed, and nothing you do to try to control it does any good.  This is what may be happening.

Your blower motor has an electronic component called a resistor.  It does what its name says; it offers resistance.  When you want the fan to run more slowly, you turn the fan speed down.  That resistor accomplishes that by turning its resistance up.  When the resistor fails, the power has nothing to slow it and the fan speeds up. 

It's a small part and can fail due to age or corrosion.  It's usually not an expensive part, either, but it's often found in a location that's not that easy for the technician to get to.  That means labor costs will vary depending on the design of your vehicle. 

Occasionally, a faulty resistor can cause the blower motor not to work at all or only partially come on.  But other things can cause that as well, such as a faulty fan switch or vent control. 

This is where a technician's training comes in.  Special equipment can track down precisely where the issue is so you can be assured the correct part is being replaced.

It's just not pleasant when the blower motor isn't following orders.  Have your service facility check it out so you can be the blower's boss, like it should be. 

Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville
701 S. Perryville Ave
Perryville, Missouri 63775
575-517-0022
http://www.charliesfastlubeperryville.com

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville

Regular Schedule or Severe Service Schedule at Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville?

August 25, 2025

Today's Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville article focuses on severe service maintenance. Many Perryville drivers are not aware of them and yet there are also very vocal advocates in Missouri who think that severe service schedules apply to everyone. Somewhere between a complete lack of awareness an... More

Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced

August 18, 2025

The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Perryville drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure.Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more ex... More

Lubricate Driveshaft

August 11, 2025

See if any of these are happening to your vehicle. You feel it vibrating excessively underneath when its running, or you hear strange clunking, grating, or grinding sounds coming from beneath. Maybe its hard to turn your vehicle, or you can hear squeaking when youre going slow. Perhaps you fee... More