Jump to content

How to: Prevent Fire (clean blower resistors)


ticker
 Share

Recommended Posts

Well decided to check this today. Some of you might remember a mouse problem I had, from last summer. Well it seems I found another nest in the far corner of the box. I got the nest out and was surprised that there was very little in it(mice might have move it). I can still smell mouse tho. I know their smell from both my rig's and if I smell it stronger. The hunt is on. I HATE them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reminds me of the blower motor from my Triumph project... it didn't come on at first when we tried it, so we figured the motor was seized. The motor wasn't the problem... the mice had jammed most of the passenger's seat into the fan housing to make a nest. :lol:

 

I'll bet your heater smells better now!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I need to clean mine. The wife reported a burning smell but it's frigging cold and windy out. I'll opt for the alternative until it's warmer... turn the fan off or on full. In both conditions, the resistor does not heat up.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Cleaned mine out a couple of months ago. Handful of leaves in there, some of which looked black like the resistor had singed them. I also vacuumed everything else that was stuck in there like little pine twigs. Pulled the blower motor out while I was down there and cleaned out a couple more pine twigs and cleaned all the little fins on the mouse wheel using degreaser and an old toothbrush. To finish, I sprayed lots of air freshener up in the holes and now my air con is actually stronger than before and smells a whole lot nicer too! I'm going to do this inspection every six months now as part of normal servicing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I still have not looked in there but will get around to it sooner or later. I have always run my fan on full since an HVAC buddy of mine told me to not run the AC on cold and the fan on a lower setting. That coupled with the hot resistor thing I just run it on high and turn the temp up or down or turn the fan off. I am curious what is in there though!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah well if it's smelling like swamp water or burnt leaves, expect there's crud built up in there. Remember to wear gloves in case of hidden nasties like bees, spiders or even furry rodents! Vacuuming is the best option imo.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got the resistor out, and the fan, but I wanted to disassemble the box that holds the heater core.

 

Looks like the drain tube prevents this, along with possible another screw I can't find?

 

Either way, you really don't need to take the bottom off, I was just hoping that I could get more of that darn dog hair out that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't attempt it, you'll end up tearing the foam seal. I tried pulling mine apart and the seal started tearing a little so I quickly put the clips back on before I destroyed anything else lol

 

PO took care of that foam seal, I have nothing to worry about. P...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

SO glad this was out there. Kept smelling smoke type smell in vents. Quit using fan for fear of fire. Read this, cleaned my junk wasn't bad but 1 tiny leaf was wedged in resistors, peace of mind is a wonderful thing. Also got leaves out of squirrel cage fan working MUCH better now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

My fan started making a lot of noise, then I blundered into this thread. After cleaning out all of this junk the fan has quieted down and my heater seems to be more effective now that it doesn't have to blow the air through a layer of forest duff.

 

I also tried to undo the little clips and take the bottom off of the box, but gave up when it seemed more difficult than that.

 

A couple of things I discovered while getting in there: 1) Slide the round plastic things that hold the top of the glove box toward the middle to drop it down (this took me way to long to figure out!). 2) You don't have to unscrew the glove box latch screws. I had one strip out so I drilled it out, only to discover that the whole thing was unnecessary.

 

IMG_2935_zps2531cd03.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

I cleaned mine out again and this time found only one leaf, what looked like some seed pods and a dead bee. Handy tip - spray some of your favorite cologne or deodorant in there and enjoy the nice smell that comes through the vents.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Was put onto this thread thankfully. Had a terrible fishy smell sometimes. There may be still some other issues like maybe antifreeze leaking from the heater core... Didn't see any damage except for some fins dented in so will keep an eye open. Otherwise like everyone else here seems it was time to get that done before a fire started. Here is the damage mine was when I removed the resistor block.

 

PF1993XE_BlowerResisterBlock01.jpg

 

I had removed a bunch of crap before taking the image. She was almost completely filled up. The entire bottom was packed from the bottom up tight. Surprised I got any air at all to be honest. Might have been a dead mouse in there too, not sure as the vacuum seems to suck it up fast. Looked like something furry went out... So happy. Great thread!

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My turn! So I pulled my glovebox, and was presented with the black barrier thing. I was supprised to see that the screwheads were a little stripped, because my luck usually goes that no one improves anything before I own it.

11949282_1163424300353029_47875096004680

Then I unscrewed the resistor box. It says "Up" on the top, in case you're an idiot!

11953246_1163424323686360_45252129355578

When I removed the box...

11988327_1163424340353025_72896589761874

WHOLLY CRAP!

So I started scooping. And scooping. And digging. And sucking. Good thing for my tiny girl hands!

11221343_1163424377019688_69996775881588

Afterward, I was left with a sparkly clean blower box, resistor cage, and a mountain of leaves, pine needles, and mats of some sort of gray fiber.

11038920_1163424417019684_77056607767457

11903841_1163424357019690_29797492621027

11902454_1163424393686353_24967928010200

I didn't find any poops, so I don't think the weird fiber is a nest... but who knows!

 

And as for the mysterious white powder on the floor, I assure you that I'm not trafficking contraband. It's baking soda, to improve the smell of my filthy truck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My turn! So I pulled my glovebox, and was presented with the black barrier thing. I was supprised to see that the screwheads were a little stripped, because my luck usually goes that no one improves anything before I own it.

11949282_1163424300353029_47875096004680

Then I unscrewed the resistor box. It says "Up" on the top, in case you're an idiot!

11953246_1163424323686360_45252129355578

When I removed the box...

11988327_1163424340353025_72896589761874

WHOLLY CRAP!

So I started scooping. And scooping. And digging. And sucking. Good thing for my tiny girl hands!

11221343_1163424377019688_69996775881588

Afterward, I was left with a sparkly clean blower box, resistor cage, and a mountain of leaves, pine needles, and mats of some sort of gray fiber.

11038920_1163424417019684_77056607767457

11903841_1163424357019690_29797492621027

11902454_1163424393686353_24967928010200

I didn't find any poops, so I don't think the weird fiber is a nest... but who knows!

 

And as for the mysterious white powder on the floor, I assure you that I'm not trafficking contraband. It's baking soda, to improve the smell of my filthy truck.

 

Nice work. Be sure to check the blower motor squirrel cage to the right for leaves as well. Unless you like having your blower sound like a 10 year old's bicycle with playing cards clothes pinned to the spokes, lol

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...