Installing a new blower motor in your Ram 1500 is a simple repair that can be done right at home. Damage to the blower motor happens most often from running it at its highest circulation setting all of the time. The blower motor has two main jobs that it does in the vehicle:circulating the air conditioning when it is hot outdoors and also heating the cabin area of the vehicle during colder months. Signs of damage to the blower motor can be a disturbing rattling or squealing when it is turned on. The blower motor may also stop working completely or only blow air on one setting. You can replace the blower motor with the right tools in under 30 minutes. The blower motor in your Ram 1500 is located on the passenger side underneath the dashboard area. The top of the motor will resemble a small black tin can.
Pop the hood on your vehicle. Remove the negative battery cable from its post on the battery with your socket wrench. Wrap the metal end of the cable completely with the black electrical tape. Lay the cable down within the engine cavity so that it is not in direct contact with any other metal or the engine itself. The negative post on your battery will be indicated with a minus symbol on the top of the battery.
Open the passenger side door and locate the blower motor under the dashboard. Follow the two wires coming out of the blower motor a few inches and you will see a wiring harness plug. Unplug the blower motor wiring harness. If you have a hard time lifting the safety clip by hand carefully use a flat-head screwdriver to lift the clip. Gently unplug the harness by its plug; do not pull it apart by the two wires.
Remove the blower motor’s rubber cooling tube on the right side of the motor. The tube won’t be bolted on or secured by a clip. To remove it, gently squeeze the tube where it enters the blower motor and pop it out of position.
Remove the three screws holding the blower motor in place with your Philips screwdriver. Support the blower motor with one hand while removing the screws to prevent it from dropping. Lower the blower motor carefully from its position. Make sure that the two wires coming from the motor aren’t intertwined with any other wires under the dashboard. Set the blower motor to the side of your work area.
Compare the old blower motor with your new one to make sure they are identical. Make sure the wiring harness plug on both blower motors are the same as well. Spin the fan cage on the new blower to make sure that it turns smoothly without interruption. Inspect the blower motor’s cooling tube. There should not be any cracks or bulging areas on the tube. If it is defective you must replace it before installing the new blower motor.
Place the blower motor back into position under the dashboard in the exact way you removed the old one. Support the blower motor with one hand and return all three supporting screws securely.
Squeeze the blower motor’s rubber cooling tube and pop it back into place on the motor. Connect the blower motor’s wiring harness securely. You will feel and hear a small click letting you know the harness plug is locked in place.
Remove the black electrical tape from the negative battery cable. Reconnect the cable securely to the battery post. Turn the power on in the vehicle and test out your new blower motor. Make sure the blower works on all of its heater and AC settings.
