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98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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ChicagoGirl
New User
Jan 4, 2006, 7:56 PM
Post #1 of 17
(37664 views)
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98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Hi,
I have a 98 Ford Escort LX (no frills model..lol) manual transmission. It's always been a great car. Then about two weeks ago (once it's nice and cold here in Chicago :P ) I start my car one morning and no heater. I have no idea what happened.
When I turn the control to heat and the switch to vent I can feel warm air, there's just nothing blowing it through the vents. When I switched it to a/c to check that it gets cold but doesn't blow out the vents either.
This happened one time this summer when I was driving and had the a/c on, it just wouldn't come on. Then after about half hour of driving on the interstate in suddenly kicked on so I forgot about it till now :(
So after my heater died my hubby was nice enough to let me drive his warm car and while driving my car, hit a bump in the road, sure enough my heater kicked in and started blowing again, but next time he turned it on, nothing :(
I checked the fuse located under the dash by the hood release and it appeared to be fine? Would it look different if it needed to be replaced? I thought I saw in the owners manual that there's a fuse for the blower (under the hood maybe?) could that be it? I called Ford and they said it would be minimum two hours labor for them to look at it regardless of what the problem was, so that's out.
Any ideas??? Please :)
Thanks
-Meredith
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 4, 2006, 9:13 PM
Post #2 of 17
(37643 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Congrats with a great discription of your troubles. You have spare fuses but I'd bet that's not it. My guess is you need a new blower motor. If you can find it (I don't know that car intimately) give the motor a rap with a small hammer (not too hard) or the plastic end of a screwdriver and it may start up again. This is NOT the cure but may get you thru a day. Motor is likely to be on passengers side underhood but not sure. - T
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ChicagoGirl
New User
Jan 4, 2006, 9:27 PM
Post #3 of 17
(37639 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Thanks for the quick response! So not much hope of my blower fuse theory, huh? Blower motor?? How involved is that? In other words, how much overtime am I going to have to work to pay to have heat in my car this winter...lol...of should I just get a better winter coat? Can we do it ourselves and pick up the part at say Napa? or is this a mechanic job? Just trying to get a feel for what I'm in for.
I'll try the tapping on it thing? How do I know what it is I tap on...lol? Will it be evident?...the thing not spinning?? I know you said you weren't all that familiar so you may not know. Just don't want to be tapping on everything under the hood...but if it makes the heater work...it might be worth it.
-Meredith
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 5, 2006, 5:40 AM
Post #4 of 17
(37634 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Don't beat on everything under your hood. Truth is I don't know where your blower motor is. Many are easy and underhood. Some are a real pest. Computers are magic but I can't see your car. Don't whack anything too hard, even though that works with electric motors. If you find it and want to do this job hit back - I'll walk you thru it, careful as many use reverse threads for the squirrel cage blower. - T
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 5, 2006, 6:19 AM
Post #5 of 17
(37633 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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The blower motor is under the dash; kind of behind the glove box, if you get down on the floor and look up behind the glove box you should see the butt end of the motor. There maybe a sound deadening pad you’ll need to remove to see the motor.
The motor itself is fairly easy to remove it’s held in with three screws that after they are removed the motor almost drops out by itself.
Before you go out and get the replacement, have a close look at the wire connector that plugs into the motor. I’ve seen a lot of them partly burn due to the high current flow and cause an intermittent connection.
As for the cost of the motor they’re around 50 bucks here at home, but you live in the windy city so you could have someone seal one for you. LOL
Joking aside almost any local part supplier should have one for you.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 5, 2006, 12:18 PM
Post #6 of 17
(37629 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Magic from Dan as usual!! - T
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ChicagoGirl
New User
Jan 7, 2006, 2:03 PM
Post #7 of 17
(37615 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Thanks you both for such awesome help. Hubby went to work my heater this morning and checked the wires first (as suggested). Well he ended up cleaning them off a bit and then reconnecting them and what do you know it works again!!! :) We're going to keep a close eye on this, but we definitely know what to look for first next time and what direction to head to. Fuses->Wires->Blower Motor.
A thousand thanks to you both again! :)
-Meredith
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Muira123
New User
Feb 20, 2009, 8:15 PM
Post #8 of 17
(32747 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Awesome, was having same problem. Just wiggled the wires a little bit and made sure everything was snug. Literally took me 2 mins tops. THANK YOU!!!
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 22, 2009, 6:14 AM
Post #9 of 17
(32742 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Glad that we were able to help and good for you, for looking in the archives or using the search feature of the board.
Not all issues with a vehicle are as easy as this one to diagnose; some take more time, knowledge and equipment to figure out what’s wrong.
Everyone here really does try their best too help; maybe to stroke our egos a bit; yea? LOL
But I also think it’s because we want to show people that even though mechanics/technicians have a (not the best) reputation most of us, really do care about people and their needs.
One of my biggest reasons for coming to the site is too try and take some of the mystery, out of auto repair.
Things that are not understood are usually not trusted.
If I can help another tech’s client feel more at ease with their diagnosis; maybe we can change this reputation?
Thanks for telling us we helped; it’s the best and only form of payment, we receive here at the site.
Thank you again.
Dan & everyone here at the site.
Canadian "EH"
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 22, 2009, 8:18 AM
Post #10 of 17
(32730 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Well said Dan Well said. ^^^^^^^^^^What he said.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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chriss1018
New User
Mar 19, 2009, 10:15 AM
Post #11 of 17
(32579 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!I can't believe it,but I ,too,was having the same trouble with my 93 Escort Wagon.I googled for help,and your site was found.My fuses were fine,but low and behold,when I wiggled the wires(as you said),the blower started right up!!I am sooo happy b/c I live in Ohio and the mornings and evenings are still VERY chilly! This is my second car that I've been using since the engine in my 2000 Bravada went bellied up(for the 2nd time,not to mention every other part I 've replaced on this JUNK!)Plus,with me being divorced with little ones,I sure don't have the money to spend on this second car that you helped me for free!!I am so blessed to have found this site and to have you offer this info.This lady and her children can't thank you enough!Thanks again!!!Take care!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 19, 2009, 2:09 PM
Post #12 of 17
(32572 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Chriss, Chriss, Chriss! Flattery will get you everywhere but the thread is a few years old and glad you found what you needed out of it from back when.
You made another post about your 93 Escort which I moved out of the A/C dungeon to another spot and renamed it. You should get a notice of reply made already on that and one on this.
Again - I/we appreciate the kind words about this thread but probably best to let the archives sleep. See you at the other thread now,
T
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ccstap
New User
Mar 25, 2009, 6:37 PM
Post #13 of 17
(32535 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Thank you so much for all of your replies. The dealer quoted me over $400 to replace the blower and labor. I read all of your posts and jiggled the wires behing the glove box and woooo hooooo the blower started working. It is 32 degrees here and snowing. Great time to have heat.
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Linusthe2nd
Novice
Dec 26, 2009, 4:43 AM
Post #14 of 17
(30608 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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I have a 96 escort with the same problem. I will check the blower motor and wiring but I would like to know how to identify the blower fuse. The labels on the fuse box don't mention a heater blower fuse but there is one called " fan. " Would that be it or does that refer to the fan for the radiator?
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 26, 2009, 11:46 AM
Post #15 of 17
(30592 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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Start a new thread for your problem pls......less confusing that way
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dwaynepippin
User
Aug 11, 2010, 11:46 AM
Post #16 of 17
(28738 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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another thing to keep an eye on is that no rats or mice make a nest in your squirell cage where the fan blades are that move the air thru the vents. i have had this happen also. they love making nests in there cause its up out of the way..
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 11, 2010, 12:02 PM
Post #17 of 17
(28735 views)
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Re: 98 Ford Escort AC/Heater stopped blowing
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This thread is nearly 5 years old. Please don't post to old threads.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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