Chrysler Repair: 97 Concorde battery/alternator, blower motor resistor, chrysler concorde

Question
Hi, I have a 97 Chrysler Concorde with 87K+, & recently the lights started to dim, the heater slowed down, etc., upon stopping @ intersections. As of right now, the battery & alternator have been replaced, & it's still doing it. It always starts right up (knock on wood) although sometimes the idle doesn't seem very strong the first few minutes. The only code that came up when the computer was scanned was a misfire on the 5th cylinder - nothing with the battery or alternator. The only other problem with the car is that the heater's stuck on high & can't be adjusted or shut off, but I don't think that has anything to do with the system charging. Do you have any idea what could be doing this? Thank you for any help you can give me!!

Answer
Hi Jane,
Begin by fixing the blower motor problem. There is a component called the "blower motor resistor block/power module" depending upon whether you have a conventional/automatic temp control type of unit. It is located on the lower right corner of the unit. There is a silencer/duct on the lower edge of the dash panel on the passenger side which if removed will give you better view/access. Then look for the round blower motor housing (or turn on the ignition and you will find it that way by sound/touch) and notice a twisted wire pair that runs from that housing to the block/module that needs to be replaced. Remove the plug and then notice two screws at either end of the plug socket. Remove those screws and then pull the unit out of the duct into which it was mounted. Then put in a new unit. That will restore the control over the blower motor speed. It may also solve the dim down problem you are experiencing. The defective unit may be shorting so much current that the alternator can't maintain the voltage of the system. Alternatively there is some other circuit that is doing the same thing and by pulling fuses it will be possible to find out which, or it may require an amp meter to do that. But begin with the blower motor and see if that fixes things.
Roland
PS Sorry for the delay; I just noticed your question in the 'pool' to which it was referred only recently.