Chrysler Dodge Caravan 2002 Manual page 2258

RS
BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR
DESCRIPTION
Fig. 9 Blower Motor Resistor
1 - BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR
2 - INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRE HARNESS
3 - SCREW (2)
4 - GLOVE BOX OPENING LOWER REINFORCEMENT
5 - BLOWER MOTOR PIGTAIL WIRE
6 - EVAPORATOR HOUSING
A blower motor resistor is used on this model when
it is equipped with the manual heater-A/C control
(Fig. 9). Models equipped with the optional Auto-
matic Temperature Control (ATC) use a blower power
module, instead of the blower motor resistor. The
blower motor resistor is installed in a mounting hole
in the heater/AC housing, directly behind the glove
box opening of the instrument panel. The resistor
consists of a molded plastic mounting plate with two
integral connector receptacles. Concealed behind the
mounting plate within the heater/AC housing are
four coiled resistor wires contained within a protec-
tive stamped steel cage. The resistor mounting plate
is secured with two screws to the heater/AC housing
and is accessed for service by rolling down the glove
box from the instrument panel.
The blower motor resistor wires will get hot when
in use. Do not touch the resistor wires or the protec-
tive cage if the blower motor has been running. The
blower motor resistor cannot be adjusted or repaired
and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
OPERATION
The blower motor resistor is connected to the vehi-
cle electrical system through a dedicated take out
and connector of the instrument panel wire harness.
A second connector receptacle receives the pigtail
wire connector from the blower motor. The blower
motor resistor has multiple resistor wires, each of
CONTROLS - FRONT
which will reduce the current flow through the
blower motor to change the blower motor speed. The
blower motor switch in the manual heater-A/C con-
trol directs the ground path for the blower motor
through the correct resistor wire to obtain the
selected speed. With the blower motor switch in the
lowest speed position, the ground path for the motor
is applied through all of the resistor wires. Each
higher speed selected with the blower motor switch
applies the blower motor ground path through fewer
of the resistor wires, increasing the blower motor
speed. When the blower motor switch is in the high-
est speed position, the blower motor resistor wires
are bypassed and the blower motor receives a direct
path to ground through the blower motor switch. The
blower motor resistor may be diagnosed using con-
ventional diagnostic tools and methods.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - BLOWER MOTOR
RESISTOR
Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The
wiring information includes wiring diagrams, proper
wire and connector repair procedures, details of wire
harness routing and retention, connector pin-out
information and location views for the various wire
harness connectors, splices and grounds.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness
connector for the blower motor resistor and the
blower motor pigtail wire connector from the resistor
connector receptacles.
(3) Check for continuity between each of the
blower motor switch input terminals of the blower
motor resistor and the resistor output terminal. In
each case there should be continuity. If OK, repair
the instrument panel wire harness circuits between
the blower motor switch and the blower motor resis-
tor or the blower motor pigtail wires as required. If
not OK, replace the faulty blower motor resistor.
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