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[2003 Taurus SES] A/C rheostat/blower replacement
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putnut01
New User
Aug 2, 2007, 10:45 PM
Post #1 of 4
(1473 views)
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[2003 Taurus SES] A/C rheostat/blower replacement
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[From looking thru this forum I see blowers go rather frequently...how baout rheostats?]
Hi, I have a 2003 Taurus that I bought about two weeks ago. Three things to note:
1. According to the guy selling it, the A/C rheostat (the bit that controls the level of airflow, not temperature) went. He said it only worked on high, so he replaced the rheostat and the problem appeared to be fixed.
2. The blower motor squeaks. Slower it goes, the louder the squeak, probably a worn bushing.
3. Earlier tonight, I noticed that everytime I hit a bump, the A/C would momentarily die, as if a plug was loose, and every bump jiggled it enough to result in a momentary decrease in airflow. The squeak also dropped in pitch every bump, so I guess this means it all slowed down for a brief second during every bump. I assumed it was a loose connection, and figured I'd check when I got home.
Well halfway home the whole airflow system just shuts off. Nothing worked. For a while, if I put it on high, the air would flow like it was on the lowest setting, but it doesn't work at all on the A/C setting. I think it was because the vents open and the air from the outisde was flowing in a bit. Then it just quit 100%. Everything, the defroster, the A/C (compressor still kicks in), etc. The squeaky blower motor doesnt turn on at all. Every other eletrical function in the car works as normal. I can hear the various functions kick in when I turn the controls to each one (ie, when I turn the vent on, I can hear the little click as it opens, or the little click for the defroster option). The problem is that no air comes out.
I figure maybe the guy messed up putting the rheostat in. Or perhaps the blower fan just died altogether. Either way, I'd like some second opinions before I start unscrewing things. Also, Ive never had to change either the blower or the rheostat, so a few instructions would go a long way. Thanks in advance for helping out.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 4, 2007, 7:26 AM
Post #2 of 4
(1470 views)
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Re: [2003 Taurus SES] A/C rheostat/blower replacement
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The squeeking will need a new blower motor to fix. The low air flow when on high and loss of A/C could be icing usually caused by low refrigerant charge or failed low pressure cut out switch. Don't add refrigerant without getting both H+L pressures and don't use the kits sold everywhere with junk in the product that WILL mess up the system.
The fan speed resistor may have failed from a straining blower motor,
T
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putnut01
New User
Aug 5, 2007, 11:10 PM
Post #3 of 4
(1468 views)
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Re: [2003 Taurus SES] A/C rheostat/blower replacement
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Perhaps I could have explained the low airflow better. Its just inconsistent, and the more I think about it, the more I think its just what happens when the blower motor starts to strain. It worked again the other night, for about 20 minutes, then sputtered alot, got even noisier than usual, and finally just stopped. I've heard electric motors when they are about to die, and it sounds and acts just the same. It hasn't worked since then. It seems like a broken blower, and thats about it. What A/C did come out of the vents when it was "working" was as cold as usual. I assume the old rheostat broke, as you said, because of the straining motor. I just need to grab a new one, slap it in there, and all should be well (I hope). Now I just need to figure out how to do that...
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 6, 2007, 2:44 AM
Post #4 of 4
(1467 views)
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Re: [2003 Taurus SES] A/C rheostat/blower replacement
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I don't know or have software for all cars as some do. I think this car has a difficult distribution box for heat and A/C where the blower motor is. See if it looks accessable. It may be fairly easy, maybe not. If you get to it and get it out check the squirrel cage for damage. They are usually sold separately from the motor and watch out as the nut that holds it on is likely to be reverse threaded.
For a comprehensive manual for the whole car you can buy it from ALLDATA.com or I've heard many local libraries have a master edition that you can look at. I think specific cars by year is $25 bucks.
If the resister fails you usually get just high fan speed. If that fails a fusable link or regular fuse may have blown. Test for power at the motor before you go nuts looking for any relays, fuses, or fusable links. Motor should have one larger wire (+) that when jumped gets you high speed fan. True: Bad bearing in the fan motor will make noise at different speeds and can struggle with lower speeds.
I doubt the cheaper manuals will be very specific about this area but am not sure on that,
T
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