HVAC blower motor not working

Tiny
02SEDONAEX
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 KIA SEDONA
  • 151,000 MILES
I pulled the blower motor and fan and tested it, it works and spins just fine. The rear heat and A/C and air work just fine. When I push the A/C button in the green light does not come on like its suppose to? When I turn the fan speed knob I get nothing for the front, but back works fine. I checked the fuses and they all look fine, only two things I think it could be are the fan resistor or maybe a relay? If the resistor is out completely will that keep the blower from working all together? Or can it still work with out it?
Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 12:39 PM

25 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
There is a blower motor control relay that sounds like it has gone out.

Here is a guide and the relay's location which is under the hood:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Below are the locations and blower motor wiring diagrams.

Please run this test and get back to us so we can keep helping you.

Cheers,
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
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I have not done anything like that in years, but you layed out what I am looking for and what and how I tested I was sure I could do it. Sure enough the relay has bad I replaced it and it worked. :) I love the site by the way.

Can I send a donation please? You guys saved me a bunch.
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
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When you have the schematics and get the idea it is not too tough. We like this site too glad you can get the problem fixed.

Does the fan work in any speed? Maximum? If no, test the the black red wire at blower motor for battery voltage. If voltage is not available, check the front blower motor relay and ensure you have battery voltage going to it. Ensure the front wiper fuse is good.
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 4:48 PM
Tiny
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I did not think to check that fuse because the layout I have says fuse number 8 says it is (front wider headlight, heat and A/C.) The front wipers/sprayer is fine, as the headlights. I will check it, I think my meter only goes up to 10. I will have a look at all of that, thank you again for all your help.

Yes, the fan does not work on any speed.
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
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I did pull the the front blower relay and put in another 30 amp. Nothing happened? Kind of at a loss. Should I give up and take it to a dealer?
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 8:11 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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We have not really started and I am not ready to give up yet but you are throwing in the towel?

Just in case you want to continue, at the blower motor, check the black/red wire for battery voltage with ignition switch turned on. You can unplug the wire if you wish but not necessary.

If battery voltage is not available, problem is from blower relay.

If you have battery voltage, use a wire to ground the blue wire. Connector must not be disconnected from blower for this test.

If blower works, problem would be from switch onwards. We will get to that if necessary.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
02SEDONAEX
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Not giving in at all just ready to scream, car is driving me nuts. I will have a look at that today. Thanks again for all the help and not giving up.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 2:15 PM
Tiny
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As long as you want to carry on, I will be backing you all the way.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 2:29 PM
Tiny
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Heck yeah, dealer cost is outrageous.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 2:48 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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That is one of the reason we are here, to help car owners save on cost whenever possible.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 3:07 PM
Tiny
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I very much appreciate that fact, thanks again. Hoping we can solve the problem.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 3:14 PM
Tiny
02SEDONAEX
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Noob question alert. I Found the black and red striped wire on the harness. I have the meter set to 10 DC(goes up to 50 DC when set at 10.) I assume I turn the key to "acc"or "on" so there is power to the harness. Then do I stick the meter prob's into the The unhooked harness? The only way I can think to do it is to stick then inside the part that clips onto the motor? Is this right? If so do I stick them into the same side hole? Or one on each side? I have not done this kind of thing in years, any help would be great. The harness should read fifteen volts right? The relay is 30 amps.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 5:50 PM
Tiny
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You need to set the meter to more than 10 as battery voltage is about 12.4 when engine is not started. If you have 20, that would be ideal.

You can probe the wire that you wish to test and ground the other to any part of the body. Look for bolts or bare metals.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 8:24 PM
Tiny
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On my meter I have 2.5 DC setting that goes up to 10 DC, turn the switch up to 10 DC and the scale goes up to 50 DC. Then turn the switch to 50 DC and it goes to 250 DC, then the next switch is 1000 DC. So my manual says set it to 10 DC, but I can set it to 50 DC. I will ground the black probe and test with the red. I will let you know what happens.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
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So I ended up sticking the red probe inside the wire clip in, on the black/red wire side. I touched the black probe to the door frame pin, set meter at 50 DC. I got a steady reading of about 11-12 DC. Is that good or bad? Thanks again for any and all help on this matter.
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 10:08 PM
Tiny
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Oh, I had the key turned to "on".
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Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 AT 10:09 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Yes, that is good. You have power to the motor so that rules out the external power supply.

Use a wire to ground the blue wire and if fan does not work, the motor is bad.

If fan works, you would have to test the switch next.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
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Forgive me for asking, but how can the motor be bad? I tested it on the car battery and it turned over and worked just fine. Again if this is a "Noobie question" please forgive me.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
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Sometimes a failing motor would work intermittently and when you were handling it, the vibrations could make it work. After installing it could fail as the carbons could be running out resulting in the motor not working.

Another way of testing is to probe the blue wire as you had with the black/red. Battery voltage indicates the motor is most probably good.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 4:48 PM
Tiny
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Oh, lol. I do not want to just stick the probe onto the blue side do I? Will sticking the probe in there short the relays?
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 AT 4:52 PM

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