Heater Fan Tango Uniform @ 7250 Miles

[Shelby Griggs]

Friday I am driving to a job site, road is packed snow/ice, but the temperature is only slightly below freezing. Not thinking, I hit the squirts. Instant ice on the windscreen. Not sure why, I am running a washer fluid good to 0°F. Anyway, I reach over and crank the heater fan to high, for maybe the first time. I very shortly smell a burning electrical smell. The fan seemed to still work OK, so I actually dismissed the smell as maybe coming from outside, I was in a string of cars following an ODOT snow plow. This morning I noticed that the fan was pretty noisy, so stopped by the dealership. They report a "heater fan motor fault" and had to order a new fan motor. It did not take long to diagnose, and the service advisor says "your heater motor is burning up" I say, is this thing safe to drive, ya think I should pull the fuse? And then the dumbest thing I have heard in awhile "I can't predicate the future". So, I guess I will drive it till next Saturday, if it doesn't go up in smoke in the meanwhile.

I wonder if there is a fault code set in the computer for this? It is almost as if they took my word for this problem or else got a code someplace. They never moved the truck to a service bay, and it was only a few minutes before they supposedly had a diagnosis. I know they did not tear into the dash to look at it.

Long novel to report a heater problem. Anybody else have a fan die?

Shelby

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2001. 5 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH (Built 09-10-00), DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 6184 miles as of 02-10-01. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

 

[illflem]

Shelby,not sure if a truck as new as yours had the blower switch recall,but mine did and your problem sounds exactly like a overheated switch. Can't trust those dealers,might want to call and make sure they have a switch in stock before you drop your truck off just in case they tear into your dash then say they have to wait for parts. Most of the blower fan failures I've heard of are more like a bearing going out,the fan gets progressively noisier.

 

[CCahill]

I have to agree with illflem, almost always a bearing problem... . Plus it's hard to belive that DC can pull a code for a fan motor!!!, whooda thunk !

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2001 Quad,4x4,4. 10LS,LB,Loaded,no leather... . 65 Chevelle sedan, Hella nice driver, 53 Nash Rambler Convt,1 of 653 built,[not a Metro], GM drivetrain, injection, and auto/d
Specialized FSR Stumpjumper PRo
Cannondale F2000, Loaded
MTD Lawn tractor with flames

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I would agree with the switch assessment, except the fan is making a noise now. My theory is that something overheated on the motor, and either sagged or dripped and now the fan blade is hitting it as it spins. It kind of sounds like the fan blade is making light contact with something as it spins. If it was just the switch, I don't see the connection to the noise.

Shelby