3 Easy Ways to Identify a Blower Motor Issue

Knowing Your AC Blower Motor

When your truck or fleet is on the road, you depend on a lot of small things to work correctly, like the vehicle starting on the first try. Something else you may take for granted is a refreshing blast of cool air coming out of your air conditioning vents when it's hot and stuffy in your passenger cabin. When this doesn't happen, it can not only be frustrating and lead to an uncomfortable journey, it can also signal trouble within your truck's heating and cooling system.

Knowing the major players in commercial vehicle heating and cooling can help you identify what might be going wrong with your AC so you can find the right part and fix the problem the first time around with minimal downtime to your business. The journey to understanding air conditioning components starts with the blower motor.

Where is the AC Blower Motor?

Most recent trucks and automobiles have the blower motor located in the passenger side footwell area near the glove box, although you may want to check the user manual of your truck for the most accurate location. Since the blower motor works in tandem with the vents, it won't be located too far from that area.

Although it's a good rule of thumb to get your AC system checked by a trained technician every 3 months, it can also be beneficial to know the signals that your blower motor may need attention. The more you know about how your heating and cooling system works, such as doing an in-cab inspection like this one shown by CoolStar HVAC, the more prepared you are in the long run once these parts start to cycle through their service lives.

What Does the AC Blower Motor Do?

As you may have guessed from its name, the blower motor's main function is to make sure air gets blown into your passenger cabin. It is the main electric motor that circulates either cooled or warmed air through the vents. The blower motor is controlled by the blower motor relay and switch and when it's working correctly, it can operate at multiple speeds depending on driver preference.

It is immediately noticeable when the blower motor is not working because the AC system will stop responding to the controls when the driver attempts to use them, but there are a few other warning signs that the issue lies specifically with the blower motor.

Is My AC Blower Motor Bad?

When it comes to blower motor problems, your blower motor resistor or relay could also be to blame as these parts see a lot of daily usages and can be prone to wear and tear. But here are 3 easy identifiers to keep in mind when your air conditioning or heating are on the fritz.

There's low airflow coming from the vents

It's bad news when you or your drivers turn the A/C to full blast, only to feel a small gust of air coming through the vents. Weaker air flow can be a major warning sign that your blower motor is in a worn or weakened state and is nearing the end of its service life.

The fan blows at only certain speeds

Blower motors are designed to function at multiple speeds so they can efficiently regulate cabin air temperatures. When air fails to push through the vents at any of the blower motor's designed settings, this is another sign that a blower motor may be faulty. This issue could also be caused by the resistor or switch, so a professional diagnosis is always best, but only having proper air flow at certain speeds should always be addressed nonetheless to prevent further issues with your HVAC system down the road (literally and figuratively!).

Zero air from the vents

This may be the obvious sign, but getting no airflow through the vents could be the result of a dead blower motor. Even though the rest of your heating and cooling system may be operating at one hundred percent capacity, when your blower is shot, zero air will come through the vents.

What is the Best AC Blower Motor?

When you need a new blower motor or suspect that your blower motor may need to be replaced soon, it may be tempting to click and order the first one you see online. But not all blower motors are created equally. A high-service, high-quality AC blower motor from CoolStar can ensure that your cabin stays comfortable whether your HVAC system is at full speed or on low.

CoolStar AC blower motors are part of the MEI Corporation family of HVAC parts. MEI has been an industry leader in truck temperature components since 1957 and currently specializes in air conditioning and heating for the agriculture, mining, and forestry industries and class 6, 7, and 8 trucks. Investing in CoolStar blower motors and other parts for your truck or fleet means you're getting the best quality with a brand that truly knows heavy-duty HVAC.

Where to Buy an AC Blower Motor

If you need a brand new blower motor or think you'll need one soon, shop our online catalog and find the best CoolStar blower motor for your truck. CoolStar makes blower motors for all makes and major applications, and our highly trained parts team is here if you have any questions along the way or aren't sure which blower motor you've got in your truck or fleet.

Visit our online store or call today!

Key Points: When Blower Motors Go Bad

• Your blower motor is part of your air conditioning and heating system that pushes air out of the vents and into your passenger cabin
• If there's low airflow coming from the vents, the fans only work at certain speeds, or if there's zero airflow from the vents, these are three signs that your blower motor needs to be checked or replaced.
• Even if the other parts of your HVAC system are in proper working order, a faulty blower motor will result in limited or no air flowing into the cabin
• A good rule of thumb with your AC system is to have it professionally checked every 3 months to prevent blower motor and other issues from happening on the road
• CoolStar AC blower motors offer the best service and quality with an HVAC brand you can trust
• Shop our online store or call today to get your CoolStar AC blower motor or learn more about our complete catalog of HVAC parts and components