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Ford Escort RS -96 - Blower stopped working
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project6
New User
Jul 27, 2010, 5:38 AM
Post #1 of 5
(3437 views)
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Ford Escort RS -96 - Blower stopped working
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Hi all. I just returned from a phone conversation with a Ford repair garage. On my girlfriend's Ford Escort -96, the blower stopped working. I called this guy at Ford and he said most likely the entire fuse box needs to be replaced, and gave me a total of 350-400€. He said it's a typical problem on the Escort, the fuse box is located above the pedals and a lot of moist moves up from the rubber mat and kills the circuits after a couple of years. Apparently the blower/AC is the first component to suffer from a faulty fuse box.
I'm not the handiest man in the world when it comes to cars, but for that price I'm willing to fiddle a bit myself before I pay up.
Some history and symptoms:
The blower had a delayed start once, a couple of months ago, but after 20-30 mins of driving it started up. Then it worked fine until one morning when it didn't start up at all. All other electric components work; lights, seat-warmers, stereo, etc. The only thing is the blower, and the lamp on the blower speed handle for AC. (It should light up when pressed to indicate AC is used, but it doesn't) If I turn the temperature knob from cold to warm, I can feel the temperature change but there's no fan blowing the air around, so hopefully the heating/cooling works. The fact that the light for the AC, which is the same handle as the one controlling the fan speed, doesn't work makes me think it's just something with the blower (possibly the blower motor) and not the entire fuse box like the Ford guy said.
I tried changing the fuse for the blower in the fuse box on the driver's side, which didn't help.
Can I remove the fuse box and wiggle the wires a bit? Can I just pull it out when removed the cover, and take it inside to look at it? Are there a bunch of cables connected in the back?
Is it easy to locate the blower motor, and wiggle/clean up the wires connected to it? If so, where is the motor located, indoors or under the hood?
I'm aware since the car is 14 years old the fuse box might be on its last trip, but we're about to get a new car anyway in probably a year or so. Therefore I'd like to just get the blower going a bit longer without big investments, just to survive one more warm summer and perhaps one more cold winter.
I'm thinking of buying a multimeter to be able to measure the voltage over the fuses etc, but I'm not entirely sure how to use that kind of instrument. I guess it's useful to identify the problem, and upcoming electronical issues. It's only like 10 € for a basic one.
Edit: Found a picture of the fan control panel. Pressing the handle inward turns AC on/off, lamp on the handle should indicate this, turning it left/right adjusts fan/AC speed.
Thanks for any help!
Robert,
Sweden
(This post was edited by project6 on Jul 27, 2010, 6:12 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 27, 2010, 10:40 AM
Post #2 of 5
(3423 views)
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Re: Ford Escort RS -96 - Blower stopped working
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Not sure the exchange rate for Euros right now but sounds expensive. The Escort sold to Europeon countries could be all different that what's sold to the US and I know no such common problem.
If only this problem exists now, I'd check that there's power at that fuse box by test light for that fuse. If so, the break in power is further along or rare to me behind it out of sight.
If you have a good basic shot at this to remove this fuse panel I'd try to clean it up - WD-40 type stuff and clean up the ONE connection. That or if you find power at the fuse and not at the wire going to the blower perhaps a same amp fused wire jumped such that it bypasses the box but remains fused would be ok.
You can get in line fuse holding wire to use with a jumper wire to test that the motor is good for sure before you pull any tricks,
T
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project6
New User
Jul 27, 2010, 1:03 PM
Post #3 of 5
(3416 views)
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Re: Ford Escort RS -96 - Blower stopped working
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Thanks for your reply Tom. I'll check the fuse box as you suggested.
Also I just found out where the blower motor is located, under the hood, driver side, below the windshield wipers. Apparently there should be some connectors on it that could be rusty/glitchy, etc, I'll try to locate and clean them up tomorrow to see if it helps.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 27, 2010, 4:29 PM
Post #5 of 5
(3402 views)
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Re: Ford Escort RS -96 - Blower stopped working
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I can't speak for exactly what this car is. When sold to US many early 90s were almost all a Mazda and Ford for other coutries has used same nameplate for totally different cars.
No matter as there's some general things about all cars. Blowers are usually a sealed motor driving a squirrel cage for air movement. The metal flange can frequently be mounted on all plastic and needs to have a connection to ground.
A test light should be all you need to follow path of power. Back feed a test light to see if something is ground.
I'm speaking of a scratch awl type that the handle lights with a wire and alligator clip at the butt end. Don't know what's available to you for parts stores or department stores with an automotive section but these things, jumper wires, in line fuse holders are common items at least in many places.
Site welcomes anyone from anywhere and techs are NOT all from the US,
T
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