Blower Motor Resistor Replacement (with pics)

I knew I had to change the blower motor resistor because on my '02 Sebring LX the 1-2-3 options on my fan didn't work, and 4 did. So I did a little bit of researching (mainly on this forum and a few other Chrysler pages) and went straight to the dealership.

The part cost less than CDN$10 and took me no longer than an hour to install (the reason it took me a whole hour was because I was working with a complete lack of tools.) Those two bolts that hold in the resistor took me longer than anything.


This is what you should be looking for:
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/8554/IMG_6114.th.jpg (http://img7.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img7&image=IMG_6114.jpg)
To get to this, I reccomend moving your passenger seat all the way back (as well as tilted all the way back).. under my glove-box there was a foam'ish covering being pretty much held on by one bolt, remove it.

Now you should have access to your blower motor resistor and a whole bunch of other fun, colorful wires.. lol, something like this:
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/6465/IMG_6116.th.jpg (http://img7.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img7&image=IMG_6116.jpg)

Just remove the two bolts holding in the resistor, it should slide right out. But this is where i encountered quite the obstacle.. I'm > 6ft tall and getting to the 2nd bolt was hell, as it's conveniently hidden 'on the other side' of the resistor.. out of reach from anyone with big arms/shoudlers/hands.. Anyway, replace the old with the new (in the same slot of course):
http://img45.exs.cx/img45/8669/IMG_6124.th.jpg (http://img45.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img45&image=IMG_6124.jpg)
<-new / old->
put bolts back on, foam'ish cover back on, and you're done!
(see where the bolts go on my old resistor? note how chewed up it is, i was having a field day trying to get the f**ker off.)

I'm gonna sleep off the back-ache and i'll be back fixing the sucker before too long.

Enjoy!

hehe - I guess being a five foot tall female has it's advantages - for once!

The one i changed actually looks different than the one you show, but it did not work either. Maybe the new part is bad also. I did a continuity test on the switch, it was OK. From the schematic I have i do not see any thing else in between the switch and the resistor block.

Mine is also like the one in the pic... I wonder when they changed them? I have an early '01.

Wow, this is exactly what I'm looking for. I have the exact same model...

My dealer charged me $52 for the part!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello:
Thanks for the great detail on changing the fan/heater switch on Sebring 2002. The photos should help out. I will be doing it on Saturday and will let you know how it worked out.
THanks again Paul S. Hudson, NY

I have replaced the block twice on a 99 Sebring convert, and... its still bad (only high speed works) Did as all others have and found nothing. I went to the local Radio Shack to try to buy the (what I thought was a Zenior Diode) and found out it was a thermo type sensor. Meaning, when the current draw over the network (resistor block) gets too high, which causes heat in the little diode thingy, thus causing heat generation (that is why they put this thing next to the blower) and opens the circuit. I went online to find replacement part,not resistor block, and had zero luck. The block cost $38 bucks a pop, now times 3. I will continue to monitor, and maybe someone will come up with another solution. Thank You all in advance....lon

To update the price is in the $30s now. It was over $60 for awhile. Chrylser redesigned it so they jacked up the price. It was around $5 before the redesign.

Now to try and fix my other problem. The ABS and Brake light came on today, the milage and radio lights flickered, then the battery light came on. Battery is new and was replaced because it went dead. Im wondering if I have a short some where?

Thanks for the great pictures. I just replaced the resistor on my 2001 Sebring. Just a couple of notes. The part has been changed to #5174124AA and it's about $35 or more. It doesn't look like the old one as others have noted. It is thicker which means it doesn't fit in the old slot. I was able to use a file and quickly enlarge the slot to accommodate the thicker one.

The hardest part for me was removing the wire connector from the back of the resistor. I first removed the red tab, and then lifted the locking tab. Sliding the two pieces apart was tough.

Since the new part looks much sturdier, I hope that it will now last indefinitely.

They upgraded the resistor card. The card now has small thorns coming off of it. It will not fit in the original slot. The dealer told me to simply cut away the slot in order to fit the new card in. Worked great for my 02 Stratus, and the dealer charged me $24.45 for the part and nothing for the advice.

I checked my passenger side as described in your post, but it must be different than the 97, any help finding those resistors on my car would be appreciated. Thanks

Oh my gosh!! Thanks to you I have replaced my blower motor resistor with relative ease. The part cost $37.00. The two local dealers wanted $220.00 to fix this problem. Thank you soooo much. If you hadn't talked about widening the hole for the board I would have gone back to the dearler and forked out the extra cash. I feel empowered!!!!

Oh my gosh!! Thanks to you I have replaced my blower motor resistor with relative ease. The part cost $37.00. The two local dealers wanted $220.00 to fix this problem. Thank you soooo much. If you hadn't talked about widening the hole for the board I would have gone back to the dearler and forked out the extra cash. I feel empowered!!!!
Glad I googled "Sebring service manual" and found y'all. Put me in the Guiness book: 6'1" and 230 something and was able to manage this. I first tipped car upside down in order to help visibility:-) One little timesaver, on the 2001 the screws have a 5/16" head. BTW, previous to this experience I refused to drive this car because I bumped my head on the ceiling and couldn't get the steering wheel up enough to slide into the driver's seat. My wife thought that was funny! Think I'll go mess up her mirrors while I'm thinking of it. Have an awesome day, and thanks for sharing!

Hey Thanks for the pics VERY HELPFUL!!!! Have a '99 that had the same problem. 20 minutes work and $21.99 from the dealer now it works perfectly. I'm over six feet tall and it was still not much of a problem getting to it. Biggest headache was putting the sound absorbtion cover back on, Tried to finnesse it fo a few minutes and then did it my way with a hard shove went right in. Thaks again

I can only echo the thanks of the others. My 2002 had the same blower problem. Lots of other websites pegged the resistor solution, but none could identify where to find it. As my small contribution to this knowledge base, let me add that the bolts in question are 8mm. I spent quite a while jamming my 6'2" frame upside down under the dashboard trying to find the right socket for those hidden bolts. Thanks again for the time and money saving information.

I knew I had to change the blower motor resistor because on my '02 Sebring LX the 1-2-3 options on my fan didn't work, and 4 did. So I did a little bit of researching (mainly on this forum and a few other Chrysler pages) and went straight to the dealership.

The part cost less than CDN$10 and took me no longer than an hour to install (the reason it took me a whole hour was because I was working with a complete lack of tools.) Those two bolts that hold in the resistor took me longer than anything.


This is what you should be looking for:
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/8554/IMG_6114.th.jpg (http://img7.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img7&image=IMG_6114.jpg)
To get to this, I reccomend moving your passenger seat all the way back (as well as tilted all the way back).. under my glove-box there was a foam'ish covering being pretty much held on by one bolt, remove it.

Now you should have access to your blower motor resistor and a whole bunch of other fun, colorful wires.. lol, something like this:
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/6465/IMG_6116.th.jpg (http://img7.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img7&image=IMG_6116.jpg)

Just remove the two bolts holding in the resistor, it should slide right out. But this is where i encountered quite the obstacle.. I'm > 6ft tall and getting to the 2nd bolt was hell, as it's conveniently hidden 'on the other side' of the resistor.. out of reach from anyone with big arms/shoudlers/hands.. Anyway, replace the old with the new (in the same slot of course):
http://img45.exs.cx/img45/8669/IMG_6124.th.jpg (http://img45.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img45&image=IMG_6124.jpg)
<-new / old->
put bolts back on, foam'ish cover back on, and you're done!
(see where the bolts go on my old resistor? note how chewed up it is, i was having a field day trying to get the f**ker off.)

I'm gonna sleep off the back-ache and i'll be back fixing the sucker before too long.

Enjoy!

It was a piece of cake after reading your directions. The part was $34.00 and it took about 20 minutes. Thanks for your help, it was greatly appreciated!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

Well I have those same symptoms on my wife's 2001 Sebring.
Blower only works on 4 (high), so thanks to PashaDNN for the instructions with lovely pictures and happyfamilyman for the 8MM socket tip, I got the resistor assembly out without much trouble.
I'm about 6', but found by pushing the seat back and lying scross the door sill on my side (saving my back) I could get the assembly out with the connector still attached.
The Chrysler maintenance manual suggests removing the connector first, but I doubt the manual writer had done that. In fact it was a task to remove the connector after the assembly was out of position.
The manual then suggested testing both the resistor and switch with an ohm meter. Unfortunately both passed, so now what?
Next I'm going to try both the switch and resistor under load, by using a few temporary wire connectors.

Thanks for all posts on this subject.
I replaced the resistor in my Sebring 2001 Convert with the latest one.
Part #5174124-AA.
Being 6'5" and 240 lbs I did it in 30 minutes from outside the car leaning in with the passanger seat all the way back and on my knees.
Alls well and no aching back. Thanks again for all the help. Cost $36.57

Hi all,

I have a Sebring 2004 LX Sedan. Blow motor stopped working three weeks back for no apparent reason whatsoever - well, all speeds except for the highest speed. I live in Canada and the dealer offered me a part at 48$ + 15% tax. Got the part in Rochester Hills, Michigan for 36$ tax included. The part is thicker than the original one. First though that I got the wrong part or that there was a difference between the Canadian vs. American parts, yet then found that I am not the only one with such problem. Will try to enlarge the slot tonight and get the thing in.

Thanks to everyone for posting their comments, especially to the guy who posted the photos. I'm 6'2'', 220ish pounds not into acrobatics, yet a bit of twisting and turning was required to get the part in and out. Taking the actual resistor off was much more painful than it should have.

Aloha,

The same thing happened to my 1999 Sebring Convertible last week. Thanks to the info here, I was able to replace the Blower Motor Resistor in less than 30 minutes. And it only cost me $26 from the dealer. The part number is 04885844. Here is a picture of the resister:

http://www.geocities.com/ebayesfan2/04885844.jpg

Good Luck!

Eddie

I just replaced the blower resistor in my wife's 2001 Sebing. I found out that you should not try to remove the connector from the socket/resistor while the socket/resistor is still fastened to the duct. First remove the 2 bolts holding the socket/resistor and remove the socket/resistor and connector together. Then you can see and remove the red lock tab that locks the connector in the socket/resistor. I had to file the opening for the new designed resistor module and replaced the socket/resistor with the connector inserted in it with the red lock tab inserted. It took less than an hour and yes I removed the negative battery terminal first to prevent possible air bag deployment.

Note: I could not remove the connector from the socket/resistor while it was fastened to the duct because you can not see and can not get to the red lock tab.

Aloha,

Well, I replaced the resistor on my '99 Sebring, it worked for a week and then it quit again. I think it blew the resistor when the fan was in dial 1, any idea will be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Eddie

Aloha,

Well, I replaced the resistor on my '99 Sebring, it worked for a week and then it quit again. I think it blew the resistor when the fan was in dial 1, any idea will be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Eddie
Maybe you got a defective part is the new part the same design as the old one or is it the new design?

Maybe you got a defective part is the new part the same design as the old one or is it the new design?

Scroll up to Look at my earlier post for the replacement part #

I got here late!, I just came from my dealer. The cost was $45 for the resistor and $90 for labor. Plus taxes I ended paying $ 142.
Mario

Kurt hant (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=419400): I have a 98 Sebring Convertible with the same problem. IE no blower on speeds 1 or 2. Only 3. Can't find the blower motor resistor under the glove box. Where did you find it on a '99? (hoping it's the same for a '98)

Hey Thanks for the pics VERY HELPFUL!!!! Have a '99 that had the same problem. 20 minutes work and $21.99 from the dealer now it works perfectly. I'm over six feet tall and it was still not much of a problem getting to it. Biggest headache was putting the sound absorbtion cover back on, Tried to finnesse it fo a few minutes and then did it my way with a hard shove went right in. Thaks again

I'm having the same problem with my '98 Sebring convertible. I've looked under the glove box but can't find the blower resistor as described in your posts. Anyone know where I can find this guy on a '98 Sebring?

Anyone have a part number for an 02 so I can buy it online? The stealership wanted 50 bucks for it.

Anyone have a part number for an 02 so I can buy it online? The stealership wanted 50 bucks for it.
The first dealer I went to wanted $35 but didn't have it in stock. The next one wanted $50 but had it. I told them the first one was only charging $35 so they gave it to me for that price. It was the green one with the horns and the extra component on top, so I had to use a dremel type tool to grind away some more of the slot. Mine is '03 Sebring LXi four door.

$35 for the part, $250 for the doctor bill. Just kidding. Actually I found it easier to go in from the driver side and lay across the driver seat with my head up under the dashboard.

Note to anyone doing this. If you want to test it before re-mounting it, just run the blower for a couple of seconds, long enough to verify it works. There is a reason it is in the duct - to keep the resistors cool so they don't burn up.

Important note to anyone replacing the blower motor resistor in thier Sebring Convertible. The design of the resistor changed somewhere along the line. The photos you see of the "credit card" looking resistor is in the '01 '02. If you have a '98 '99 Sebring, it looks completely different. It's has two "coils" inside of it. I hunted and hunted for a resistor that looked like the photos posted on this thread. Then found the design had changed.

So happy to find this post !!!! Does anyone knows if it's the same location for a '99 Intrepid ?

Still looking for location and instructions for the 99 Sebring. Any help is appreciated

I know this is an old thread, but yet it is still revelant.

It needs to be stickied up to the top for easy viewing.

I also thought would let you know that I found that part at our local carquest for under $20.

I know this is an old thread, but yet it is still revelant.

It needs to be stickied up to the top for easy viewing.


Hahaha I concur.

I even remember the day I was doing it, and decided to come here... Wow that was a long time ago.

Thanks so much....I was able to change the resistor for my 2001 Stratus. I'm pretty proud of myself. When I told my boyfriend that I was going to try to fix it, he said "Good Luck". It took less then an hour. It would have been faster if I could have found an 8mm socket, but it was know where to be found. Instead I used a pair of pliers, it worked but took a while. When you seperate the resistor from the block I fould it easy if you pry the red "?clippy?" thing up, then push the blue "?clippy?" things on both sides. It came of easily. I used and exacto knife to make the hole bigger. I cut the hole up to the line in the plastic. When you put it back together don't forget that the red "?clippy?" thing is on the top side, where you can't see it. The part was under $46 from the dealer. I'm so stoked that it works. Thanks again everyone for all the info.

Thank for all the info. I was able to fix my 2001 Stratus for under $46 and in less then an hour.

Hello,

I have all the symptoms you all have regarding the blower... except my 4 / high setting doesn't work either. It seems to be stuck on 1 or just vent if anything. I have a 2003 Chrysler Sebring V4.

I took it in to the repair place today... and they determined that it was the "Blower Motor Resistor". They told me it would be $90 and they couldn't find a part anytime soon... So I called a dealer and they said that the part would take 2 days but it is really easy to replace (just like you all say here). So I told the repair shop I would take my car and get the part from the dealer. The repair shop insists it will be hard and will have to go the the glove box... ANYWAY...

Does anyone have an opinion regarding my problem being that I need a blower motor resister, that is if my 4 setting also doesn't work? I am concerned that I am going to buy this part, install it... and find that it doesn't fix my problem.

I knew I had to change the blower motor resistor because on my '02 Sebring LX the 1-2-3 options on my fan didn't work, and 4 did. So I did a little bit of researching (mainly on this forum and a few other Chrysler pages) and went straight to the dealership.

The part cost less than CDN$10 and took me no longer than an hour to install (the reason it took me a whole hour was because I was working with a complete lack of tools.) Those two bolts that hold in the resistor took me longer than anything.


This is what you should be looking for:
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/8554/IMG_6114.th.jpg (http://img7.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img7&image=IMG_6114.jpg)
To get to this, I reccomend moving your passenger seat all the way back (as well as tilted all the way back).. under my glove-box there was a foam'ish covering being pretty much held on by one bolt, remove it.

Now you should have access to your blower motor resistor and a whole bunch of other fun, colorful wires.. lol, something like this:
http://img7.exs.cx/img7/6465/IMG_6116.th.jpg (http://img7.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img7&image=IMG_6116.jpg)

Just remove the two bolts holding in the resistor, it should slide right out. But this is where i encountered quite the obstacle.. I'm > 6ft tall and getting to the 2nd bolt was hell, as it's conveniently hidden 'on the other side' of the resistor.. out of reach from anyone with big arms/shoudlers/hands.. Anyway, replace the old with the new (in the same slot of course):
http://img45.exs.cx/img45/8669/IMG_6124.th.jpg (http://img45.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img45&image=IMG_6124.jpg)
<-new / old->
put bolts back on, foam'ish cover back on, and you're done!
(see where the bolts go on my old resistor? note how chewed up it is, i was having a field day trying to get the f**ker off.)

I'm gonna sleep off the back-ache and i'll be back fixing the sucker before too long.

Enjoy!
unable to see pics. Can you send them to me?

Seabring o4 the problem continues used the picks and info took about 45 minutes and had it back toghter and working wow thanks.

Hello,

Thanks to this site and to the advice from those that replied, my 2000 Sebring Convt. also had the blower motor resister go out. Following the instructions posted, I was able to remove the part and purchased a new one for $27. Fitting under the dash, as others have posted was the hardest thing.

Ok, I have a 2000 Sebring Convertible and it has the problem posted where it only works on high. I ordered the replacement part on the pictures but when I removed the old one it looked like something out of a mad scientists lab. Did I get the wrong part? Can I use the flat credit card resistor that I bought or do I have to look for the caged, blob thing? I thought that this was going to be easier but now all I have accomplished it a pounding headache. :) Thanks

Thanks All! I just replaced the cage resistor on my 99 Sebring. It took 20 mins and 22.00 US.

Thanks Again.

Thanks you made it easy...none in stock but 5 day order from NAPA for $37, was 48 at Carquest. Thanks again!

Thanks you made it easy...none in stock but 5 day order from NAPA for $37, was 48 at Carquest. Thanks again! O2 Sebring convertible LXI

My fan only operates on speeds 1, 2, 3. It DOESN"T operate on High Speed.

Would this still be the resister?

All I know is that the resistor itself controls the 1,2 3 speeds and 4 keeps running. When I remove the resistor 4 will not work either, when I plug the old one back in 4 works...so it has to fun through there too, I would assume the resistor would fix 4 too...but all I do know is it does fix 1,2,3 when 4 works.

have a 1999 sebring Covt.

SO SO SO EZ

1. Buy part at O reilys or Pet Boys
2. Pull out plastic molding retaining pins on lower plastic part below glover comp which covers the fan. One is dead center in the back, the other is mid right.
3. pull part out, give it a good tug.
4. Resister is on the bottom and very very ez to get to. Unplug, unscrew the two bolts (11/32), part will drop off in your had.
5. attach new one to wires
6. Stick in hole, install screws by hand, tighten them.
7. replace plastic molding by pushing towards driver side and fitting over platic heater duct.
8. push plastic molding washers in (2) from step 2, push center retaining pin to hold them.

YOU ARE DONE. 15 minutes

Here is a picture of the heater resistor with the coating removed.
Looks like corrosion damaged the conductive traces on the board.

(http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2002sebringheaterresistec7.jpg)

How did you separate the wiring harness from the relay. I pushed the red tab up but it would not come completely out. Couldn't get it apart and didn't want to force it. Car is a 2004 sebring.

Just to let you know, the repair process works well on the 2004 Sebring.....did mine today. Part is now 41.99 at PepBoys. Larry

I know this is a really old thread, I would like to view the pics but can't seem to find them, were they possibly removed since thread is so old.

I don't have 1,2,3 but do have 4 on my 01 convert sebring. Guess I'll be getting my 8mm socket out and getting the blower motor resistor and possibly some doans for my back. Thanks for the post.:2cents:

Will part #5174124AA work for my 06 Sebring Convertible 2.4L? I think this year is the same generation as the others mentioned here.

I did mine today. Took me awhile (15 minutes my ass:banghead: ) and you have to be a contortionist to get into the passenger floor board and under the dash, but I got it out and back in. Had to go back to Advance Auto to get help with the little red clippy thing. Couldn't get it loose and was afraid to force it. He had it apart in like two seconds then I drove back home and put it together after cutting the hole bigger. The best part is it WORKS!!!:lol2: Oh yeah, it was way cheaper at Advance Auto than anywhere else. I just had to pay for it and then wait overnight for it to be delivered to the store.

Thanks for the great pictures. I just replaced the resistor on my 2001 Sebring. Just a couple of notes. The part has been changed to #5174124AA and it's about $35 or more. It doesn't look like the old one as others have noted. It is thicker which means it doesn't fit in the old slot. I was able to use a file and quickly enlarge the slot to accommodate the thicker one.

The hardest part for me was removing the wire connector from the back of the resistor. I first removed the red tab, and then lifted the locking tab. Sliding the two pieces apart was tough.

Since the new part looks much sturdier, I hope that it will now last indefinitely.

Thanks all who posted. Went to dealer and got one for each of my 01 and 02 convertibles. Can you imagine, both cars going out the same months? Paid the same, about $35, but not after I searched wrong and wound up buying 2 Control Units (on dash) off Ebay for $75. How disappointing when it didn't fix the problem. And how sweet the sound of all the speeds working. The red clip, easy if you use a screw driver to lift it up. Hard part, laying under dash. Came right out with socket. I have a small screwdriver socket set. Wow, does that get hot. That is the reason to have it in the blower so it cools off. I'd bet it would start a fire if just under the dash. Okay, the hard part is cutting away the slot so it fits in. One guy mentioned a file. Tight quarters for a file. I am using a sharp pocket knife. If I can't resell the control panels, at $150 would still be cheaper than having the dealer do one car.

Will part #5174124AA work for my 06 Sebring Convertible 2.4L? I think this year is the same generation as the others mentioned here.

I think so. I know the controls are the same right up to 06. Your 2 year old car crapped out? Wow.

OMG thank you soooo much
i had no idea why only 4 is the fan option that was working and didn't want my heat running on 4 all winter
thank you thank you thank you
i am headed to the store...

The instructions were great and the pictures were very helpful. It took me about 2.5 hours but most of the time was spent trying to disconnect the wiring harness so I had to have my wife do this after I messed with it for over 1 hour.

Thank you again for the instructions
i got the part and got it changed in about an hour
the longest part was getting the wiring apart from the resistor
my shoulder was bruised for a few days from laying up underneath there but i got it done and i am more than ecstatic that my fan blows on 1,2, and 3.
thanks again it was the biggest help

I think so. I know the controls are the same right up to 06. Your 2 year old car crapped out? Wow.

The part worked for my '06.

Yeah I think 2 years old is too quick. I think it was a rental car though as it had 34K on it when I bought it used in June of '07. I've got 63K on it now and this is the only problem so far.