Intermittent Blower Fan
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 
Intermittent Blower Fan
My blower fan has begun acting up on my 2005 Honda Civic. (I'm the original owner.) About a month ago it started making a rapid clicking/tapping sound when running, so I thought there might be leaves in the fan blades. I replaced the filters and removed the fan, but there was no debris in the fan or the enclosure. I ran the fan sitting on the floor of my car and it made the same noise, but it worked at full strength so I put it back in. (The noise didn't bother me enough to look further.)
A couple of weeks ago the fan started working intermittently. About the same time, the check engine light came on, which may or may not be related, I haven't had time to get the code checked.
I don't mind the fan noise, but winter is coming so I need to fix the intermittent operation, and it seems to be getting worse.
I'm hoping for advice on the most likely problem. Could the resistor cause the fan to come and go? Thanks for any advice.
A couple of weeks ago the fan started working intermittently. About the same time, the check engine light came on, which may or may not be related, I haven't had time to get the code checked.
I don't mind the fan noise, but winter is coming so I need to fix the intermittent operation, and it seems to be getting worse.
I'm hoping for advice on the most likely problem. Could the resistor cause the fan to come and go? Thanks for any advice.
Last edited by MichaelEB; Oct 27, 2017 at 06:21 PM. Reason: to explain why I put the fan back
Registered!!
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 51
Likes: 3
From: vancouver
Rep Power: 0 Re: Intermittent Blower Fan
Had the resistor fail on a 89 Civic Si (son's Car) years ago. Simple part swap.
Only killed lower speeds though as resistor was out of circuit on Max.
Possibly you have a Foreign object in the fan housing OR the squirrel cage has come off or loosened.
Ooops you had it out and inspected it ?? Then refitted it!
Why? It was clearly Broken.
Could be a failing motor brush OR the Speed controller 'could' be a solid state device (rather than a resistor pack as in the past)
Possible that the speed controller is going intermittent?
Easy but pricey way is to buy and fit a fresh speed controller.. Then Hope that was the reason.
The old proven throw parts/$ at it and pray approach
Only killed lower speeds though as resistor was out of circuit on Max.
Possibly you have a Foreign object in the fan housing OR the squirrel cage has come off or loosened.
Ooops you had it out and inspected it ?? Then refitted it!
Why? It was clearly Broken.
Could be a failing motor brush OR the Speed controller 'could' be a solid state device (rather than a resistor pack as in the past)
Possible that the speed controller is going intermittent?
Easy but pricey way is to buy and fit a fresh speed controller.. Then Hope that was the reason.
The old proven throw parts/$ at it and pray approach
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518 
Re: Intermittent Blower Fan
Wait til fan motor quits.
Leave fan switch on high speed.
Reach over and tap on the bottom of the fan motor under the dash (or kick it gently with a foot). If it starts running, the fan motor is bad.
CEL is not related.
Leave fan switch on high speed.
Reach over and tap on the bottom of the fan motor under the dash (or kick it gently with a foot). If it starts running, the fan motor is bad.
CEL is not related.
Registered!!
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 15
Rep Power: 119 Re: Intermittent Blower Fan
2nd time my fan started making noises, I noticed it slowed down when I turned left.
I let it go for awhile and then my car started smelling musty.. Found the carpet was wet on passenger side and found water was comming out of fan area.
Cleared my ac drain, (front middle of tunnel under the car) with a sand blaster attachment on my air compressor using the suction side.
Just something else to possibly check..
I let it go for awhile and then my car started smelling musty.. Found the carpet was wet on passenger side and found water was comming out of fan area.
Cleared my ac drain, (front middle of tunnel under the car) with a sand blaster attachment on my air compressor using the suction side.
Just something else to possibly check..
