blower motor problem

[sonicbloo]

I've started a thread over on the VOA site to see if any of our US friends can help, but if anyone here knows anything (especially where to get parts quickly) that would be great

I've had the car just over 2 weeks (2006 coupe) and the blower motor never seemed to work very efficiently (maybe not at all?) , but as a newbie I wasn't sure how good they should be.

Driving home from a car show today, the car was hot inside so I tried to put the fan/AC on and got a wierd chemical smell, which then turned into a burning smell, then smoke from the dash vents, then PANIC!!!!!!!!!!

If the blower motor worked before, it sure doesn't now.

Will this be an easy fix (I'm guessing not) or is it an expensive fix (I'm guessing yes!)

I'll take the car into a local auto-electrician to diagnose, luckily I have a Dodge service manual for the car which may help

Anyone else had similar problems?

[sonicbloo]

All info is good, so thanks crackle, as I'm sure most of what you said still applies. I'm playing safe and letting an auto-electrician check it over (he's a mate anyway) to see exactly what parts I need.

[sonicbloo]

Quick update, I removed the resistor and blower motor yesterday in about 30 minutes (after disconnecting the battery but without removing the seat!) and its obvious both are knackered. I checked the blower with a 12v supply but it didn't work. If anyone knows why the blower motor has had water in it , let me know - I presume its from rain getting through the vent in front of the windscreen?





A quick google told me the resistor is the same part number (5014212AA) as a 2000-04 Jeep cherokee. I could have got an aftermarket one for $59 on Amazon, but found a genuine Mopar one in the UK for £69 so I bought that.

It appears the blower motor (5093248AB) is unique to the Viper, so I've ordered from the US ($125)

I've also got a new foglight on order (one of mine has a cracked lens) and a fusebox cover as my decal has been partly removed and looks a mess.

Hopefully that's my shopping done for now (total spend for the 4 items including shipping £273), it was funded by the sale of my exhaust, so no real cost (that's how I explain it to my nearest and dearest anyway!)

P.S. If anyone ever needs an export headlight for a 2003-10 Viper without the orange reflector they are only $4395 each !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by sonicbloo on Sunday 17th May 09:37

[sonicbloo]

Whilst awaiting the parts I decided to do a hosepipe test on the windscreen, and as suspected, water is getting into the hole above where the blower motor sits. I removed wipers, vents and the fresh air intake plenum to investigate further.

Upon removal, it seems water can creep under the intake plenum, and there is only a thin sponge gasket to stop moisture getting into the car. Obviously a design flaw methinks.

To prevent this I decided to make a small dam with a bead of silicone, to direct water away from the blower motor hole. Not pretty, but it is hidden. I waited overnight for it to dry so the plenum didn't stick to the car and make it hard to remove in future.

Early tests indicate that the problem is solved

pic 1 and 2 are before/after the silicone was applied





Whilst I had the wipers off, I repainted them satin black to get rid of pits and chips.

Just need the blower motor from the US to complete the job. (The resistor should be here today)

[sonicbloo]

fatboy18 said:

Might have looked better using Black Silicone sealant

I thought that, but it wouldn't have shown up in the photo's

Actually I couldn't be arsed going to the DIY store, and I only have white or clear

[sonicbloo]

N GTS said:

Did you get a blower motor sorted ok? If not, I have one and a lot of parts from a very low miles 2005 car.

It's still on order from VPoA, along with a foglight and fusebox cover, but it maybe a couple of weeks 'til I get them, presumably as they've been bought out by Partsrack (at least I think that's whats happened!)

I'm still driving the car, but it does get warm in there!

If I need any more parts I'll make sure to email you, thanks very much

[sonicbloo]

It's been a total 8 weeks without a fan, but at last I got the parts and fitted them last night. Trying to get both arms into the narrow footwell whilst laying on your back, and wearing a headtorch is immense fun. At least the fusebox cover was a breeze to fit. The foglight can wait until I get the front of the car repainted.

All is cool again in Viperworld, literally!

.........and I had to use the keyhole under the mirror for the first time as I couldn't open the door with the battery disconnected. I thought I was going to bend or snap the key as quite a lot of force was needed, but the door popped in the end. phew!