Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Fan/AC Blower

I don't know if any one has ever run into this problem, but if your fan switch only works on high, your Fan Resistor needs to be replaced.

$7.40 at your local Florida Ford dealer, and it is located right behind the glove box. I hex screw and its off, unplug it, plug in the new one and bolt it back up.

All fixed. Just figured i'd share the knowledge.

Thank you very much Nis.

I had this problem with my tour ever since the winter. It was either freeze my butt off or crank the radio and sweat to death, because high is too loud and too hot.

Couldn't figure out what was causing it. Thought it might be the blower motor, but read the wiring diagrams in the Haynes manual, and knew it couldn't be this. Thought it might be the relay, but that tested fine. Wasn't aware that there was a resistor. Maybe I should look at the diagram a little closer.

Do you still happen to have the part# of the resistor?

Blower resistors are covered by recall/extended warranty from Ford have dealer check if it applies to your particular year/model.

horseydug is correct. There is a recall on this. Simple fix if you want to do it yourself.

If you do bring it in for the recall, they might just do the spring guard recall too without your asking or knowledge. Something to keep in mind if you are considering doing the resistor yourself.

I didn't know this was a recall, and for the $7.40 it cost me, i'm not gonna bother going back there for it. Probably would have made them give me the part if I knew about the recall. Maybe I should check my recipt.

Well, anyway, it was a VERY easy install. Like I said, remove the glove box, use a hex driver to remove the bolt, unplug the old piece, plug in the new one, bolt it back up, put glove box back on, and all is done.

Thanks for all the input. After my last experience with the dealer, I will probably just do it myself. Not worth the aggrevation of dealing with them. (just had a very bad experience) Going to try to see if they can give me the part if under a recall.

Oh by the way, what is the "spring guard" recall. Is this posted on here. Really don't remeber reading about it.

I believe the recall fix also includes new wiring and connector. When my resistor went, it burned the contacts inside the connector. I was getting the new resistor when the parts guy told me about the recall. He sold me the new "pigtail" that goes with the resistor. It has much larger gauge wires and crimp on splices. Apparently the wires as installed at factory were too small to handle the current and overheat the connector section of the resistor. The part num. of the wiring kit is:
F5RZ-14A411-CA
The kit has pre-wired connector (the one that plugs into resistor) and crimp-on splices.
It's still a simple install and easy to do-it-yourself, if you don't want to go through the service dept. hassle.

Thanks Randy. Just talked with the Ford Cust. Svc. people, ran the VIN, and the car is not under this recall. (99 Contour SE V6).

Figures. So anyway I talk to the local dealer parts dept. and the person said that he always has the resistor and the pigtail in stock and it would cost me about $60-$70 total. Does that figure sound correct?

Can I just buy the resistor and not worry about the pigtail. I am figuring that the pigtail is nothing to worry about, since it is not recalled?

Thanks for all your help.

Thanks for the tip, Nis. I had a Ford dealer do the recall. The hot smell was there before, and it's still there now. Had been wanting to get in there myself, but now I'll have a new resistor ready, and also see if I can figure out the smell. I know it has to do with the resistor, because I only get the smell while running the blower on low. The various speeds have always worked alright otherwise.