Quick history on the problem, I'm hoping someone can at least point me in the right direction so I can go into this well informed in case I need to take my truck somewhere to have a more involved repair done.

First, I have an '03 Durango SLT. Roughly two years ago I initially had the blower motor resistor replaced at a dealer (I had just purchased it from them a month previous..) Then, two months ago, it appeared that the resistor failed again. Only this time instead of the blower working on low/full speeds it did not work at all. I was actually told by a reliable source who works for the OEM that the newer resistors do not have the default of low/full speeds when they blow out. I did some more research on the problem, and with a severe lack of funds purchased and replaced the resistor again myself.

Well, I went out to my truck this morning and again there is nothing from the front blowers at all... I think it's safe to say that the resistor is not the only problem here. It doesn't seem normal for the resistor to blow after only two months....

What else exactly could be causing the problem?? I've read through some earlier posts on the issue here on the forum and I'm still a little bit lost as to where I need to look next. I would rather have the capacity to do the repair myself as opposed to taking my truck in but as always sometimes that's unavoidable..

Thoughts???

 

Try checking fuses.... If that is not it... If you have a Volt Meter, I can try to help you out...

 

Gotcha, will check fuses...

I do also have access to a Volt Meter..

 

Do a new resistor.

Check the fuse to unsure that the proper fuse in it there. Check the wiring for ground out arching and also check the grounds.

 

Quick update,

Checked the fuses, proper fuse in place and no problem there. I decided I was going to at least check the resistor to make sure that was the problem in the first place.

When I disconnected the resistor from the wiring harness, I noticed that the plastic was melted on the resistor around one of the metal prongs and also around one of the contacts on the harness...

So, I'm going to assume at this point that there is possibly a short somewhere in the wiring harness????

Crazy thing is, this morning, the blower turned on......

 

Do you often keep the fan on high speeds?

 

Not as of late no.. However during a lot of the Winter when it was below zero wind chills up here in MI I did have it on high often until it would warm up and then turn it down or off.

 

Like I said, there's your short. Fix the short in the harness and replace the resistor.

 

I am betting against a short. See this all the time. Just replace the resistor. When they go they can tend to melt a bit. Most of the time, a failed resister WILL work on high blower only.

The part is cheaply made. They have redesigned it but it's pot luck to get an old-old one or an old-new one.

All in all, expect it to fail again sooner or later.

IndyDurango

 

I know the older resistors will allow the use of high speed on the blower, the newer resistors do not allow for any speeds at all. (As I said prior, reliable source that works for the OEM told me this..) I wasn't getting any speed at all, and then now I'm getting all speeds like nothing happened in the first place.

I'm going to go with my gut, and advice here, on there being a short somewhere. Having someone check the harness for a short, possible replacement of the harness.