If you own a 2001-2004 model year Dodge Durango or Dodge Dakota and you have experienced blower motor resistor troubles, this article is for you! Tell-tale signs of a Dodge blower motor resistor which has gone on the fritz commonly involve the high-speed functionality of the vehicle’s blower motor. This is typically noticed in one of the following two scenarios:
- High speed blower function no longer works but all other speeds work fine
- Only high speed blower function is operational while remaining speeds are inoperative
If this happens with your vehicle, the likelihood is that the blower motor resistor will need to be replaced. If the blower motor has completely stopped working in your vehicle, the resistor still may be the problem, but other potential causes for the failure should be ruled out first so a bit more detailed troubleshooting is prudent. Even when the problem is caused by a defective blower motor resistor, the repair may not be as simple as replacing the resistor itself.
When a blower motor resistor failure occurs on these specific vehicles, a quick visual inspection of the electrical connection to the resistor may reveal that a large amount of heat accompanied the failure. It is not uncommon to discover a partially melted electrical connector and in some cases, the wires entering the connector may show signs of burned or melted insulation as well. Fortunately, all of the components required to perform this repair are available bundled together as a single repair kit. The parts gurus at Ann Schmidt Chrysler Dodge Jeep market this kit on eBay for a very reasonable price. Any of the following Metro Detroit Dodge dealerships should also be able to order the parts, with the wiring harness pigtail repair kit being part number 5017124AC and the blower motor resistor being part number 5061575AA:
- Bill Snethkamp - Highland Park
- Ray Laethem Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram - Grosse Pointe
- Northland Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Oak Park
- Galeana's Van Dyke Dodge - Warren
- Roseville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram- Roseville
- Telegraph Dodge Chrysler Jeep - Taylor
- Southfield Dodge Chrysler Jeep - Southfield
- Suburban Chrysler Jeep Dodge Of Troy - Troy
- McInerney's Woodhaven Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Woodhaven
It is not for the casual do-it-yourself individual, however, as it does require cutting, splicing, and soldering the vehicle’s electrical wiring harness. If you do not feel comfortable performing this level of repair on your own, purchasing the kit and then taking both your vehicle and the repair kit to your local certified automotive technician is a good option.
Once the new blower motor resistor has been installed and the wiring connector repaired, you will find that the blower motor is functional again. As everything will appear to be working properly, most people will consider the repair complete and move on, only to find that the blower motor resistor fails again a month or two later. This problem can be avoided.
Remember the large amount of heat we discussed earlier? This heat frequently results from a blower motor which is drawing too much current, thus causing the resistor and connector to heat up and fail. To ensure your vehicle is truly “fixed the first time,” be sure to replace the blower motor with a new one anytime a blower motor resistor failure is accompanied by a melted electrical connector. New blower motors can be acquired directly from your local Dodge dealership (Chrysler part number 4885669AC) as well as numerous aftermarket vendors. I have personally used Discount Starter and Alternator with great results but there are others out there too so don’t be afraid to shop around a little.
Happy Motoring!
