Heater Blower resistor

Lateer · Post by **Lateer** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:46 pm

Hey,

I spent most of my beloved Saturday and several swearwords trying to fix something.

The first two stops on the heater blower switch on my heater don't work. I get off, nothing, nothing fast and flat out, in that order.

The switch is fine, the blower motor is fine. All tested with a multimeter.
When I hook up the multimeter, there's infinite resistance at the first two stops, then correct resistance from there, which makes me think it's a dodgy connection to the blower resistor.

What took most of Saturday, however, was finding something that *looked* like a multitapped resistor.

Does anyone know where it's hidden?

takza · Post by **takza** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:49 am

Well, it has to be connected to the lever that you use to control the fans speed....most likely right behind it...that's where I'd start looking.

First thing I'd do is to spray thru the slot with WD40 or contact cleaner (electrical), move the lever back & forth a lot, and see if that cleared it up. I'm lazy.

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:21 am

It's on the heater unit behind the radio and heater controls. From the outside it looks like a rectangular piece with an electrical connection and 2 screws. The resistors are coils that stick into the air duct in the heater. They are the same on other Toyota cars from the same period.

dug320 · Post by **dug320** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:24 pm

It is without question the blower resistor. If you pull it out you will porbably find the first two coils broken. Any tercel from 83 - 87 has the same part. It is not difficult to replace and if needed I can guide you through the swap. The wreckers usually charge a couple of dollars for the part. If you live in areas with salted roads this is common.

WD-40 is a wonder lubricant. It is a good solvent too. I would try to spray some lithium grease onto the mechanicals of the switch to ensure good lubrication (not the contacts).

Lateer · Post by **Lateer** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:09 pm

Awww, crap.

:rolleyes:

I saw that, and wondered what the hell it was. I thought it was a small heater coil and then wondered why it was where it was.

Takza, I had the whole panel in bits hunting for the resistor. I took out the switch and worked it over with the multimeter, making sure it was fine. Hence, I was sure it was the blower resistor. But I couldn't find it.

Thanks for the info, 3A-C Power and dug320. Now I know where it is, I can go about fixing it. Where did you get the diagram, 3A-C? If it was in the manual, I didn't see it <_<

I wonder. Can you simply replace the coils with a resistor of the right ohmage? That'd make life a lot easier....

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:19 pm

I got it from the Toyota parts catalog, the same one that the dealers have. It's on the internet in a few places with both European and Japanese data.

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:52 pm

EPC = Electronic Parts Catalog

Qoute from another post on this forum:

"
For those of you who would like to have the same access that Toyota dealers have to parts information and diagrams, you can download and install these. Note they are not North American. One is European and one is JDM.

European:

<a href='http://www.yankeetoys.org/docs.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.yankeetoys.org/docs.htm</a> (links near bottom of page)

Japanese:

<a href='http://www.speedtoys.com/~arnout/' target='_blank'>http://www.speedtoys.com/~arnout/</a>
"

dug320 · Post by **dug320** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 4:23 pm

I am not sure if it is worth figuring the impedance and matching.

I think the wire is a nickel plated resistor wire. It would be way easier to get one from the wreckers. If not I can send you one if you cover the cost of shipping from 98281 or V6J 4E2.

Cheers
DUG

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 4:40 pm

These resistors are used to directly control the current to the motor so they are very low resistance. There are specs in the service manual for how much resistance each should have. I wouldn't expect to be able to find anything off the shelf in an electronics store that would work. A good unit from the junkyard is probably the cheapest and best way.

Lateer · Post by **Lateer** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:26 pm

It's looking that way.
*If* I can find a Tercel and *if* it still has that part intact.
A lot of Tercels around here get stripped as soon as they hit the junkyard.

Again, thanks for all your help, everyone...

dug320 · Post by **dug320** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:39 pm

Hi

I looked it up in the toyota manual

between terminals 2 - 4 the resistance is approx 0.4 ohms
between terminals 1 - 4 the resistance is approx 1.3 ohms
between terminals 2 - 3 the resistance is approx 3.0 ohms

My guess is that you could use a resistor to replace the wire.

Lateer · Post by **Lateer** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 11:48 pm

I saw that in the manual, yes. It's how I'm planning to test the resistor, once I have the time to pull the car apart to get it out.

Right now, though, I have to deal with a misbehaving Weber carburettor. Something's not right with it, and the mechanic I talked to thinks the same as I do about what's wrong.
However, it's going to take me a while to fix it.

Wish me luck.

takza · Post by **takza** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 7:57 am

Might try this for some ideas:

<a href='http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/vres.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/vres.htm</a>

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:57 pm

They probably use those coils placed in the airstream because they keep cool well. Materials increase in resistance as they get hotter, and lower resistance resistors, since they flow alot of current through, get hotter. Given some steel wire, you could just make new coils by measuring along the wire until it reaches the right resistance, then cutting it that length and winding it up into a coil. They have different sizes of steel wire at regular hardware stores, and it's cheap. I would go this route rather than try to use a semiconductor type resistor, I think you would find that they would be rather large for the application. I have a resistor that's only a few ohms, and it's half a foot long.

Lateer · Post by **Lateer** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 7:05 pm

3A-C Power wrote: They probably use those coils placed in the airstream because they keep cool well. Materials increase in resistance as they get hotter, and lower resistance resistors, since they flow alot of current through, get hotter. Given some steel wire, you could just make new coils by measuring along the wire until it reaches the right resistance, then cutting it that length and winding it up into a coil. They have different sizes of steel wire at regular hardware stores, and it's cheap. I would go this route rather than try to use a semiconductor type resistor, I think you would find that they would be rather large for the application. I have a resistor that's only a few ohms, and it's half a foot long.

You're kidding. :blink:
You've *got* to be kidding. :blink:

I'm hunting wreckers at the moment, and if I can't find an intact one in good nick soon, then I'll go the coil of wire at the right resistance route.

Thanks.