I have a 1996 Dodge Stratus SE, automatic, with a 2.4 engine.

I have two questions:
Can anyone tell me how to go about removing the dashboard?

The second question is the reason for needing to remove the dashboard.

My car creates heat, but does not blow it out, you can feel it coming through the vents. I believe, based on reading another post that the problem is the blower motor resistor. But, does anyone have any suggestions of other issues to check for once the dashboard is off.

Again, getting the dashboard off is the biggest part I'm unsure of.

Any help would be VERY much appreciated!!

Thanks, so much in advance.

 

Welcome to DF
It could be a blower fan resistor or blower motor. To do either one, you don't need to remove the dash.

 

Do you get any air movement on "high" fan speed? If yes, than it's the resistor, if not, than it's the blower motor. The resistor is bypassed for "high" setting. You'll find it up behind the glove box. The blower motor is a little further in than the resistor.

Start by taking the radio surround out. Remove each layer like an onion, keeping track of what parts went where, and what screws are what.

 

There's no air movement at all no matter what any of the dials are set to.

I'm also not sure how to go about getting to the part. If its not through the dashboard, what do I need to remove to work on that area?

Sorry for all the questions, I've never worked on this area of a car before.

 

BLOWER MOTOR AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY
The blower motor is located on the right side of the heater housing.

REMOVAL
Disconnect battery.
Remove lower right under panel silencer duct.
Remove blower motor connector from resistor block Blower Motor Wiring
Remove blower motor case retaining screws.
Lower blower motor case from housing Blower Motor
Remove fan scroll from motor shaft.
Remove motor from motor case.
INSTALLATION
To install, reverse removal procedure.

 

Thank you all, I was able to change out the blower motor.

Unfortunately, I still have no motion of air. I did happen to notice while changing settings that as I moved from vent to defrost, that there was a clicking behind where the controls are. Does anyone have any idea what else this might be or if that clicking could have anything to do with it?

I have also noticed that the A/C light does not come on when pushed.

 

Thanks to everyone for your help!!!

I finally resolved this problem today. The problem was in the dial, so I bought a new control panel and everything is now working good as new.

 

Well then. Glad it was something simple to fix
Was there any signs of what exactly failed in the dial that made it not work?
Burned/corroded contacts, etc? Anything we can add to the list of "check this first"?

 

I haven't taken the full panel apart to find what the problem exactly was. But I did find that while the "tube" to the **** was still connected inside, if I pulled slightly outward (towards me), the heat would blow for as long as I held it out. The second I would let go, the heat would stop blowing again.

I'm not sure if anyone here can make out what would cause such an issue to happen, but I plan on taking the old one apart to try to figure it out.

 

Vacuum controlled? I never looked at the switches that closely. If it's working when you pull on it, there may be a kink or hole in the line. If we're dealing with a wire in the tube, could be a short or open circuit.