Question1987 LeBaron Turbo 2.2 4dr hatchback. VIN #1C3BH58E8HN424365
Thank you, Roland, for being there. The blower switch for the AC/heater has
four speeds. With the AC on, it blows cold on speed 1; stops blowing on 2,
but remains cold; blows cold on 3, and stops blowing altogether on 4 (Max
speed). However, if I jimmy the switch, looking for a spot between 3 and 4, it
will often start blowing at max speed, but the AC cuts out. My first thought
was that blower switch needed replacing. The Chrysler dealer parts guy said
that the switch for my car was not sold separately, that the entire panel
containing the temp controls, the AC on/off switch and blower switch was
required and that it was no longer available. Unwilling to accept this, I called
Mopar and a guy there, who seemed to know my car, said that a blower
switch was available, but he believed it was more likely the blower motor
resistor. He recalled that when it failed, you could only get two speeds. This
seemed to jive with my symptom, so I ordered the part. Well, my Chilton
manual states: "On LeBAron (AG body) and Daytona models, the resistor block
is located above and to the front of the glove box opening on the dash panel.
On all other models, the resistor block is located under the front cowl grille
and windshield wiper arms. My car is an H body (4 dr hatchback). The
Chilton manual includes an illustration showing the location, so, I expected to
find the resistor under the hood, behind the windshield washer reservoir. I
did not go so far as to remove the reservoir, because once I removed the
wiper arms and the cowling, I think I could see well enough behind it and
there was nothing there. This was not the first time the Chilton manual let
me down, so I took out the glove box and all the trimmings around it. What
Chilton had in mind when they said "above and to the front of the glove box
opening on the dash panel" was not obvious when I peered into the cavity. I
saw some electrical components above the glovebox, but I believe they are
only accessible by completely removing the dashboard, a task I am reluctant
to
undertake (the manual makes it look pretty hairy). So I closed up that hole
and decided to hedge on the blower switch. I have not yet tried to install it,
because I believe I need to take out the radio in order to disconnect the
electrical connections to the AC panel, and I am missing the tools for this.
Based on my observations, which part do you think is the culprit? If it is the
blower motor resistor block, how do I access it?
I realize this is a lengthy discussion, but I wanted to give you as complete a
picture of my dilemma as I could.
Thank you for your patience and your help.
Roger Little
San Jose, CA
AnswerHi Roger,
When the resistor block fails, it usually will only operate on hi setting, or 3 and hi, or 2, 3 and hi, but not 1, 3 and hi, etc, because the speeds are based on a chain of resistors and if one goes all the speeds below that particular resistor stop working, rather than there being an intermediate speed that doesn't work. But in any case my '87 manual for the H-body says the resistors of the block are located in the air intake plenum but you indeed access the block for removal by removing the glove box where you then should see a 4-wire harness and a plug mounted on the cowl (firewall) at the level of the air intake plenum which is located of course on the external side of cowl below the air intake grille. So if you want to remove the block, remove the glove box and look for a harness coming from the center console AC control area and going up and forward to the cowl and a rectangular with end-tip plug (5 sided). There are 2 screw on the base plate of the block, which once removed allow for the extraction of the block along with the resistors. But if you have a low speed fan function at all, then the resistor block pretty much has to be OK, and the switch is the more likely problem.
The AC console appears to be easily removed: remove the bezel that surrounds the cluster and the console. It appears to have 6 screws (3 on either side of the steering column) which are either on the lower edge or one step up, and once all those screws are removed the remaining fasteners are clips across the top of the bezel so if you pull back gently and evenly the large bezel should free up. The AC control will then be quite accessible with one screw at either end. Just remove the screws and it should pull out. There will be wires and a vacuum hose to disconnect but nothing tricky. You can then examine the sliding fan speed switch and maybe just clean the contact surfaces to restore full functioning.
I'm in Palo Alto but I haven't ever worked on an H-body vehicle. I own a J-body coupe. But keep in touch with any other problems that you have.
Roland
