Ford Repair: blower motor control resistors get hot and smoke, blower motor resistor, 10mm nuts

Question
QUESTION: I measured current draw for blower motor and its 15 amps at max speed, 8
amps at med speed.  is this too high?  is my blower motor bad?  the speed
control resistors get too hot to touch and the car fills with smoke!

ANSWER: Larry,

Please give me the year,make and model of your car.

Thanks,
Drew

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: '01 ford focus, zx3

Answer
Larry,

You might have had excessive water enter your fresh air intake.
This can come from the fresh air intake tower that is under your right side cowl screen.The tower is held in place by 2 -studs with 10mm nuts.You would have to remove the 10mm nuts and lift the tower out over the studs. I have repaired many of these foam type gaskets on the tower because of the problem you are describing.
Also, if your right side cowl screen has any type of warp in it, it too, will have to be replaced because it will allow excessive water past the cowl screen seal.These things that I described would allow water to enter the heater box and come in contact with the blower motor resistor,creating a short at the blower motor.