Climate control does nothing...?

Howdy all,

I am new to the Bscene boards here, although I browse regularly. I have a question about a problem that I just experienced this morning.

I recently just acquired my 1986 B2000 truck, and have been trying to fix her up and get her back in order. One of the first things I noticed about this truck was the climate control. Whether on heat or air, the fan switch needed to be on III or IIII in order for the fan to blow at all. When on anything lower, nothing would happen at all.

My father seemed to believe that replacing the resistor next to the blower motor would fix all this. However, this morning when I went to start my truck - NOTHING would happen regardless of what position the switch was set to. Fan would not blow, no noise - nothing. Very much like what would happen previously when the switch was anything lower than III. Heat, air, defrost... nothing happens at all on any of these.

Any ideas what this might be? Or what I might be able to try under the hood after getting off work today? I am simply trying to avoid having to scrape the inside and outside of my windshield and drive with the windows cracked in 20 degree weather tomorrow morning...lol If something needs to be replaced, I will likely get to it - but don't have the means to take care of it right away... which is why I'm wondering about a band-aid fix that might get me to the end of the week.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

-Eddie

Hot wire to the blower motor to see if that spins.

Like dad, if the lower speeds don't work, it's the blower resistor. There are three resistance coils on it (for speeds 1, 2, and 3). Buy a new one or used one.

I've got several used ones available, PM with offer if interested. Both blower motors and resistor packs are available new, about $30 and $40 respectively.

Just thought I would add this into the mix...

After I got off work today (and added some oil to the truck - she's still going thru it), I fired the truck up. It was about 4:30, and while still cold - it was certainly not 20 degrees. Of course, the damn thing worked. Same as how I described above - speeds 3 and 4 work just fine, but 1 and 2 do nothing. Apparently cold weather renders my climate control completely inoperable??

I also have to determine why my leftmost driver vent (with defroster) and rightmost vent (same one with defroster) do not blow anything at all with the fan... but when I get up speed and open the vent, it feels like it's just blowing air from outside on me. If I have those vents open, when I sit stopped, it feels like nothing is coming out of those two at all - but once I gain some speed, outdoor temperature air is blowing on me. I've had to keep it closed mostly because it's been so damned cold...lol Definitely feels like whatever hose/pipe or whatever is normally connected is not connected at all. Not even really sure how to get to it... I am a noob when it comes to B trucks, if you couldn't tell...heh Until my finances get fixed, my first order from you Cusser and the manual i wanted to order is on hold... I may PM you about adding one of those to my order. Happen to have any used working AC compressors? My truck does not have one at all. Just thought I'd ask.

Thanks!

I've heard that if you hot wire the blower motor, it'll burn it out..

You can repair resistor packs though.. The 2 common failures are corroded terminals and breaks in the wire coils.. You can clean up all the contacts if its corrosion, or fix the coils by soldering them.
..But I'd just buy a new one and save some time

If you run the blower motor while it's outside of the housing using the "on" blower switch as the source of voltage, then there's no airflow over the resistor pack, and that can do harm. If you hot wire for just a few seconds, or to the battery, to see if the blower motor works, no damage. So you're partially right.

Eddie - no, I do not have any operational AC compressors (just one spare AC clutch assembly). I personally don't like going used for AC compressors, too much invested with adding refrigerant, etc, to warrant that. I've bought my quality rebuilt AC compressor from ackits.com here in Phoenix, and don't get the chain store ones - Four Seasons (for Seizin's), Evercool, etc. - they're typically junk.

I have a problem similar but different at the same time. My truck keeps popping the blower motor fuse. It will run for 15 minutes with the blower on full blast, but as soon as i put it into reverse (which is on the same fuse) it pops it. I dont know what to do. If anyone has had this problem or knows how to fix it any help is much appriciated.

What's the size of the fuse you have in there?

Also.. invictus, my blower is exactly the same, 3 & 4 work sometimes 1 & 2 never. Just another thing on the list... as everyone has said... it's the resistor pack

Your issue sounds like something in the reverse light circuit is shorted. Typically this circuit goes from the fuse box to the switchon the side of the transmission, then on to the reverse light assemblies. So first thing I'd do would be to unplug that harness from the transmission, and troubleshoot from there.

What else is connected to that fuse? I'm assuming by your name your truck is an 02 model right?

Check for loose wires in the engine bay mainly near the exhaust manifolds. I had a similar issue with my 4.0 Ranger.