Ok here is the dealio for you all, I have a nice 1998 dodge stratus 4cyl 2.4 L. It a great little car for commuting to and from work. Heres my problem, i live in up state AZ were its now below 1 in the mornings and heater is quite essential. When i turn the **** for low heat, nothing, medium heat, nothing, high heat, bam it kicks on. The exact same thing happens when i have cool air comming out, the ac will only turn on if i have it on high, this just recently happened. I thought it may be my serpentine belt b/c it was cracked and frayed but i just got it replaced to day and too my surprise it is still being weird.

I am wondering if it is some malfunction with the **** or at least hoping thats the problem.

Any experiences with this and or opinions.

Thanks

 

Is it the fan speed switch you are talking about or the temp ****? Is it blowing at all or not until you hit high speed? Or is it the temp itself it blows just fine whatever fan speed you select but the temp doesn't change till you turn it up high?

 

It is the fan speed switch. It will only work at the high setting.

 

Bad switch then easy fix replace it and you should be good. That's the cheaper fix and if that doesn't fix it then the blower motor is shot. Does the blower run at normal high speed or when you have it set on high does it sound like it's blowing like it should at low speed?

 

When i turn it to high and it turns on it does blow at the regular high setting.

Where would i find a new switch? And can i install it myself.

 

Have you ever taken apart the dash of a car before? Being that you have a '98 it SHOULD be the same interior essentially as my '99.. If I'm remembering correctly... I think the switch is above the radio right? You SHOULD somehow be able to remove that bezel and get to the switch. I'll have to look at it when I get home to tell you for sure. but it's a fairly easy thing to change out. If it runs at normal speed on high then I'd say that your contacts are worn out for the other settings. (Remember every time you go to high you pass through al other settings first thus wearing them out faster if you understand what I'm saying). It basically should consist of pulling the **** off taking out a few screws puling the switch out putting the new one in then putting everything back together.

 

my ac controls are below the radio and i have taken it apart somewhat to change the instrument bulb lights, so ill go give it a try before i go to work.

 

That's right... My Sentra has the controls above... If you could get to the light then you should easily be able to get to the switch itself. A new switch shouldn't be more than $10 I wouldn't think... (But then again we ALL know how car parts are priced...) Good luck and let me know if you run into any other problems AND if this fixes it. If not then we'll probably be looking at replacing the blower itself (That can be a bit of a pain). Just let me know though.

 

blower motor resistor

 

daviszx3 is right. It is almost assuredly the blower motor resistor that is at fault. I had the EXACT same thing happen in my 97 Strat. The blower motor resistors heat up and break over time. In my case, there were two of them that became separated. I crimped them back together again (you can't solder them because of the high heat) and they do break from time to time still but I just keep recrimping them until I finally have to buy a new resistor assembly.

Underneath the glove compartment you will have to remove the bottom plastic dash cover (held on by 2 screws and a plastic rivet). Then locate the two sets of twisted pairs of wires going to the blower module that is held in with 2 bolts. Remove the 2 bolts and pull out the assembly. I guarantee you will find one, if not two resistors severed. I hope you didn't go out and buy a switch yet.

If this happens again in a short amount of time, you might consider replacing the blower motor itself as it might be drawing too much current and frying the resistors prematurely.

taco