My wife was out today driving our 97 Expo and the front ac stopped working, but the rear continues to work. No air what so ever comming out of the front vents warm or cold. I checked all the fuses and they seem to be good, so I find the blower motor and unplug it and check the plug with a test light and it shows that I have power there. I even checked the pulgs ground by sticking a allegator clipn on one side and then the probe on the other side and everything seems to check out good to the plug. So I pull the motor and I try to hook it up directly(sp) to the battery and I can't get it to spin. So I think the motor is shot. By hooking it up to the battery to make it spin, is this a reliable way to test the motor? Is this a common problem? It just seems kinda weird that it all the sudden stops working with no warning. TIA

Tim N

 

That's how I test them. Or you check resistance across the terminals on the motor. Should be less than 5 ohms.

 

Not that uncommon for them to go out. your test is good. prob. time for a new one. I would only rec. you stay out of the bone yard and buy a new one. Aftermarket should be O.K.

 

where would I find one aftermarket?

 

Not uncommon to be able to find one at napa or another parts place. Most can order one if they don't happen to keep them in stock. You will have to remove the squirrel cage from your old one. Sometimes they even reuse the mounting plate. But al in all an easy fix.

 

I had my blower motor give out a few months ago (7 years of service seems to be good for one of these). Tested it with my battery and it didn't move. Used a multimeter and checked winding resistance (across terminal leads). It was infinite (open) so the motor was fried. Turns out that the motor is interchangeable for the F-150's '97-2003 (not sure about the Expo's).

I do recommend a junkyard. That way if it gives out in a year or two it won't **** you off as bad. I got one out of a 2001 for $35. If it only lasts a year I'll be happy. Mine's running like a champ in the So. Cal. heat.

 

Yep it was a bad blower. I replaced it with an aftermarket one, actually the one I got from the parts store was still Seimens brand and it was all identical to the stocker except the aftermarket had a pig tail plug instead of the plug right on the motor.

Otherwise it all works great now other than it being kinda PITA trying to shove/pry the thing up in there.

Thanks everyone