With intermittent issues like this that progress and get worse, i would start with having scanned the transmission control module to see if there are any stored codes. There are multiple TSBs on this Park to Reverse or Park to Drive "Shock" they're calling it. If the transmission is sending a signal that is incorrect from one of the speed sensors, neither the TCM nor engine computer doesn't know what to do. And it might be defaulting to a failsafe mode. These input and output speed sensors are Pulse Generators with built in transistors, the output speed sensor happens to be on the same power feed as the blower motor. I have seen transmission shift solenoids being activated and deactivated so fast by a faulty circuit that there was 29volts back feeding into the fuse panel. So, checking wiring and scanning for codes to begin with is a must. There's no way to give you an absolute answer to what might be happening with the vehicle, Thats why these manufacturers post the TSBs, it gives technicians a place to start checking. They only put out recalls or TSBs if they have seen thousands of the same issue coming into the dealerships. You can try pulling these Blower Motor fuse and see if there's any change, but I think the heater coming on is a result of the problem, not the cause.
All the modules in the vehicle are on a data bus network together, so almost anything is possible these days. Start checking some of the wiring harness plugs on the transmission for bad connections or corroded contacts. You might unplug something, plug it back in and the issue disappears. With the pins in these connectors heating up and cooling down year after year, especially with the high mileage you have, pin fitment becomes a huge issue. With the key off, I would check every connector on the transmission, and the control module if you can find it behind the center of the dash.
And the only way to check the speed sensors correctly is to monitor them with a scan tool or oscilloscope and see if one is faulting or if there are any voltage spikes while shifting into Drive, and that's what kicking on the heater control. Bad ignition coils can cause voltage spikes that trigger other sensors as well, we see that all the time. These vehicles are also known for the wiring harness inside the transmission breaking the solder joints.
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May 1, 2023 at 8:21 AM