Question Hi, Roland!
You're very popular! You're always "maxed out."
I had written about the blower control on my a/c on my 2001 Chrysler--how it worked sometimes when I put down the rear window. You wrote back a long, detailed answer, and I really appreciate it.
I had my son check the fuse and make sure all were tight. Everything was fine. When I couldn't get back to you, I took my car to the Chrysler dealership where I bought it, and they fixed it.
The mechanic said that the heater box was full of water--condensation--and the drain or plug was clogged. He said he unclogged it and water drained out of it for about ten minutes. There was a resistor in the box that was all rusty from the water accumulation, so he replaced the resistor and everything works fine. He said the fact that it ran intermittently had to do with the water level being lower from evaporation or "sloshing out" when I stopped fast. He also said there was no way I could prevent this problem, check for water accumulation, or know whether the drain was clogged.
Total bill was $339 (central Massachusetts) - split almost evenly between parts and labor.
When I mentioned this problem to a friend, she said that had happened to her Chrysler LHS last summer, and she had heard of other people with the similar problem. I hadn't heard of it at all!
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that we did get it fixed, and what the problem was. I still can't believe you spent so much time answering my question in sufficient detail so that my son could check to see if that was the problem.
I can see why you are "maxed out" so often!
Many, many thanks. Also, no need to reply to this unless you want to. You are a peach!
Sincerely,
Ellie
AnswerHi Ellie,
Thanks so much for writing back with that explanation. I hadn't heard of that happening, electrically-wise, heretofor but it makes sense since the blower motor resistor block is right near the blower motor and the condensate from the AC coil will back up inside the ducts if the drainpan outlet gets blocked up. So I will keep that possibility in mind for future questioners with a similar problem.
By the way you will notice that after you park the car, following a ride in hot humid weather with the AC in use, that there will be a puddle of water when you return under the midline of the car about even with the firewall (separates the engine compartment from the cabin). That puddle shows that the drain outlet is open, and is normal. When you don't see such a puddle, that is a good sign that the drain is plugged. You get to it from underneath, just a little rubber tube sticking out of the firewall at about the level of the floor. You can stick a piece of stiff wire up the lumen to clear out the plug.
Usually the symptom of this problem is a musty odor from the system rather than what you experienced, and the apparent tie-in to the power window is what led me astray. But again, thanks so much for replying.
Roland
