Another Fan Motor Thread

So I've been reading through this thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fan-speed-switch-not-working.70275/ about the real problem with a lot of these things. I decided to order the updated parts and follow the instructions in the TSB to fix it. Looking at all these posts and photos of the connector, I know that's at least one of my problems. Rather than kick the can down the road, I'm just going to fix it right this time and hopefully be done with it. The fan motor doesn't seem to be my problem - rather, it is this stupid connector/resistor connection.

 

I just took mine apart, blew it out good, grease the bearing end, and re seated the brushes real good. It took a half hour or so but its been years of trouble free service from then

 

Yes. Repair the connector. As I see you have decided to do...

 

Can I use regular wire crimps to do the connector splice, and if so, what size do I need?

 

You could, But I prefer to solder and heat shrink. Not sure about the size of crimp splices...

 

Buy the 043 blower and be done with it.

The squeak will always come back.

 

I don't have a squeak. I have an intermittent fan that will occasionally only work on high. This is a classic symptom of the resistor/pigtail connector failure. Its a fairly cheap/easy fix, so I'm going to do that before going for a new fan. My fan made a clicking noise, but that went away after I took the cabin air filter out.

 

I just received my parts today, and I'll post some pics and report the results when I get it all installed. Hopefully these are the correct parts...

 

I just spotted the source of the problem with these connectors!

Look at the label: ACDelco PT1231 GM original...

General Motors Crap!

 

I thought this was the upgraded pigtail....?

 

Time will tell...

 

I finished installing the new parts and have a couple comments/questions. Overall it wasn't too bad.

Comments:
My wire crimper/stripper tool sucks.
I shouldn't have done a shoulder and arm workout just before this.
That little screw on the back side of the resistor is a pain the BUTT to get back in there.

Here's the old connector with the common burn pattern on one terminal.




Then there's the side by side comparison of the resistors. And I agree with whoever said the old one looks like it was made by terrorists in a small village on the side of a mountain in Afghanistan. It says, "Made in Slovenia", but I don't buy it ;-) The thing was cracked, rusted, corroded...etc.... The new one looks like its straight out of Tron.



Here's the entire process:
I disconnected the negative terminal on the battery.
Removed the connector, then unscrewed the two screws holding the resistor and it fell out easily.
Installed the new resistor (back screw is a pain!)
Took a photo of the wires going into the connector so I could match the correct wires within the splice.
Stripped the wires on the new pigtail.
Cut the wires of the old connector about an inch back from the connector interface.
Stripped those wires.
Connected it all up with the crimps provided with the pigtail.
Plugged the connector into the new resistor.

Easy as that.

However, I connected the battery terminal, turned the key, and clicked over to the LOW fan setting and........NOTHING! I was pissed. I turned it to HIGH and the fan kicked on full blast. I took the connector out and re-connected it, then the fan speeds all worked normally.

Here's my question - did anyone else find that the new connector would not click into place on the new resistor? That little green rubber thing at the end would not allow the connector to fit all the way into the resistor. I'll see over the next few days or weeks how it performs, but its currently working as it should. It just bothers me that I couldn't get the connector to click into place.

 

I don't see a little rubber thing that is green in your pictures...

I assume it is a waterproof seal in the connector. If the connector is not plugging into the resistor pack completely you could have another heating issue with the connector due to a resistive connection ( heater ). Can you remove the rubber green thing and plug it in all the way?

 

Not the best photo of it, but you can see it.

 

Also, the rubber seal material seems like it may be glued on or something. It didn't just slide off easily when I tried to remove it.

 

Yes that is the seal I am talking about. It should just slide on ( made of soft silicone rubber ). At a minimum you should be able to get it latched in place.

 

There is no way it will just slide on. It's too tight with the seal in there.

 

Just replace my connector and resistor. Dear Toyota, no more parts from Slovenia please. Thank you.

 

Crazy. Mine both looked identical (including burn marks), but my resistor was a little more rusty/dirty than yours.

 

Solid evidence that the design had a very specific flaw. Glad they redesigned the resistor. Fingers cross that the connector will be ok now.