1996 DeVille AC/Heater Blower (Fan) Stopped Blowing

[Catfisher1952]

I bought a 1996 Sedan DeVille with about 144,000 miles on it. For 2 months the car seemed perfect. Because I bought it at the end of October I did not have a need for cooling.

I do not know if it is related; but about a week before the blower quit, I got the service warning that refrigerant is very low. I put the system on Economy (vs Auto) to wait for a warmer time to recharge the system. It's about 10 degrees here.

My usual practise was to set the temp at 85 degrees for my feet, and set the fan to lo-auto; which seemed to limit the fan speed to low or medium.

A few days ago, the fan was on auto-lo and I hit the button up to auto-hi to speed up the blower. At the same time the blower just cut off. I now have no air, hot or cold, coming out of the blower. On the interstate, heat does bleed into the car. You can feel decent heat coming thru the rear seat outlet at 65 mph or above. But in town or sitting still, no heat or air blows.

Every Buick or Olds I've owned had a blower relay, sometimes a regular and a high speed blower relay. Or a master fuse or circuit breaker. I cannot find anything in the 3 fuse blocks specifically linked to a heater or blower fan. The fan was not noisy in any way, I do not think the fan has failed. The wire plug-ins at the blower motor are all looking clean and good, do not appear burnt or badly connected at all.

The service writer at the Caddy dealer said it is probably something called a blower control module or just blower module; somewhere under the dash. He also said it was a dealer only part and cost maybe $250.00 for the part alone.

If anyone can help me determine if this is the problem, or hopefully a simpler reason why the blower might have just stopped suddenly; I am grateful to work thru all replies.

Thanks for all knowledge and help.

[Ranger]

The blower control is built into the blower motor. Yours has failed. It is not an uncommon failure. The electronics get fried by the ignition wire voltage. The new blower will look very different as it has been redesigned. Be prepared. It's not cheap.

[junkpicker]

i have a 95 deville,same just happend to me,it was the blower. dealer repaired cost 800.00 total

[Tonkin]

Just put another blower in my 96 this week. (After market blower I put in in April last year was too noisy!) Picked one up at wrecking yard for $125. See tip on this site on how to remove and install blower fan. Takes about 45 min. Don't buy after market blowers as they really make a lot of noise. Some GM used blowers on e-bay for less $ from time to time. 1994 to 1999 blowers work.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...d.php?t=145808 (1994-1999 Cadillac Deville Blower Motor Replacement)

[Catfisher1952]

Thanks for the great guidance, I really appreciate it. Especially the link to some tech advice on changing the blower. I've heard you have to loosen up motor mounts and jack up the engine; that's sad if it's true.

I love the ride, the sound system, and even the gas mileage of my '96 Caddy; but why do they have to make all the equipment so over-complicated or over-engineered? On my Buick it takes about 10 minutes to replace a blower motor; and as I mentioned previously, you could replace a blower relay without replacing the whole blower.

I also will look for a used Delco motor. I had wondered if the aftermarket fans were any good. I really hate noisy fans. I have heard of a re-designed fan; something about improvements. Should I try hard to get a "new" design? If so, what is it?

Again, all opinions and advice is appreciated.

[Ranger]

I'd look for the new design. It should last longer. There is a write up in the Tech Tips section on changing it. I think it was for a '96 or '97.

[smokinbob]

after you replace the heater motor, be sure the spark plug wires are properly secured in their looms and tucked as far away from the heater motor as possible, they are fatal to the blower motor circuitry. Be sure you use the insulation cover on the new motor.