Chevrolet Repair: Heater resistor swithch, resistor pack, glenn smith

Question
I have a 1998 Malibu with 6 cylinder engine. The heater  blower swithch has 5 speeds.  speeds 1 and 2 do not work. I bought a replacement switch and need to know how to get to switch to replace it. Any answer?

Thanks

Glenn Smith

Answer
Hello Glenn,
If you are positive the switch is the problem, you probably need to remove some dash parts to get to it. I would recommend a trip to the public library, refference section, where they should have the actual shop service manual for that vehicle, and instructions on replacement.
But there is another possibility to your problem.
The different speeds are accomplished by use of a resistor pack to reduce power to the blower motor, and that is a more likely problem.
The resistor assembly is located inside the blower housing, but accessable from outside the housing.
It will have a plug with about six wires. Usually two little screws hold what looks like a block just sitting on the housing, but when removed, it coume out, and you see that it was suspended down inside, into the air flow, which keeps it cool.
I would suspect a problem on that item.
Van