Blower Switch Problem

[TomoHawk]

Last summer my blower switch started working funny. Some of the settings stopped working, and would only work if you moved the switch back & forth some. Then it didn't turn on the fan at all.

Are there contacts in the switch that can be checked? I could probably trace the power through, but I'm wondering if I should look into getting a new fan switch.

thx

[sblake01]

There's a small plastic gear that turns the switch when you move the lever. Either it or the pinion on the switch itself could be worn to the point where it doesn't turn the switch. The switch is kind of a rheostat and I don't know if you can do much inside of it. You might be able to open it up and clean it. I replaced mine with a working used one when I had problems with it.

[MikeW]

The switch is kind of a rheostat and I don't know if you can do much inside of it.

If the switch on a 280 is anything like on a 240 it's just a rotary switch. I spent the last couple of days getting my blower fan working again and I ended up removing everything from the switch to the harness to the blower itself to figure out why it wasn't working. It turned out to just be a loose connector in the harness. What was interesting to me was the way that the 3 speeds actually work. There's a couple of open coils of wire that provide extra resistance for the two lower speeds. These coils are inside the blower housing and completely exposed to the airflow itself. I suppose they get warm from the current flow so having them in the airflow would cool them back down. This amounts to having a tiny heater when not running full speed. The bundle of wires that come from the switch simply determine which, if either, resistor is used.

[ZSaint]

We just went through this with my '71. We do not have the switch like the 280 does. My 3-way switch is very simple. I took it apart and it will last forever. My system does have some resistors in the fan housing (cools them) to cause the fan have 3 speeds. What we found was a short in the power system. We disconnected the red wire (wire for the rear defogger)

and the blower works.

It sounds like you need to replace your switch. Tomohawk is giving you good info. Sounds like a trip to the yard will solve your problem.

[TomoHawk]

Thanks Steven.

I'll open up the panel and see how things look.

ZSaint-

I'll just buy one from a catalog. There are no Z cars in JYs in Ohio.

[Jackhammer]

ZSaint-

I'll just buy a ne one. There are no Z cars in JYs in Ohio.

Tomohawk...When you find the place to buy those switches new....please post were that is. :classic:

[sblake01]

I'm not really sure that the switch is set up like MikeW described as I never opened it up, I just replaced it. I doubt if you will find a new one. The part number is 27141-U2000 but I couldn't find it three years ago. As I recall, it would have only been about $20 if they could get it.

[TomoHawk]

I didn't really mean a brand new one, just a new one from somebody's catalog. Not a hacked one from some car in a JY.

[MarkDixon]

I have some sort of short in my fan system that keeps blowing the in-line fuse. I thought it was my switch so I bought a used one.

Unfortunatly I found that both switches work but I still have a short.

The stem on the switch I bought is much longer than the one on my 71' so I asume it was meant for a 280.

I don't need it so I will sell it for $10 plus shipping. That is what I paid for it.

email me if you are interested.

Mark

[TomoHawk]

I've got slow speed bavk on my fan, so I'm going to leave it on that settin until I can fix it. Thia makes me agree with Steven that there is a gear in there that's loose or something.

[sblake01]

You should take a look under there. The two gears have to be properly meshed to get all fan speeds and the off position. Might be an easy fix.

[TomoHawk]

Ok,

I opened up the front and I looked to see what there is. I could see the switch lever arem, and some of thte teeth on the arm that drive the gear, but the gear itself was inside a little metal housing. After I get the car back ( and after next Saturday's car show) I'll see if I can get that gearbox out. After that, I hope some JB Weld will help fix things.

I want to vacuum out the blower box too. I hear some tinks that I don't recognize.

thx.