[PS85]

Was driving the car one snowy night and suddenly I see smoke coming from under the dash and smell something burning. I still drove. Put my car in the driveway and the next morning the battery was drained.

Thought something might be in the fan basket so I took out the blower. Nothing, and the hole in the dash was clear. Fan won't start when I reconnected. Was told by auto parts guy check the blower resistor and the relay. Got battery recharged. Car now drives with the blower disconnected from the electrical system.

Where are the blower resistor and the relay on this 2009 subaru forester? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ServiceCall]

In general terms, a relay uses a low power control to operate a larger power draw apparatus.

A blower resistor allows for the different speeds a blower switch offers.

 

[surferdude2]

Those resistors don't usually fail in that manner, not with a lot of smoke and fire... no fan fare if you will. (pun there)

What generally happens to cause them to crash and burn so dramatically is the fan motor has failed and has a grounded winding that represents a dead short on the circuit. If it happened to be on low speed at that time, it'll likely take out the resistor rather than blow the circuit fuse.

About $300+- later, you will be back in shape. Half of that is labor so if you DIY it, you may get by for 1/2 price.

edit. I looked up the parts.... $185 motor and $52 resistor. Time to visit the pick-a-part scrap yard. You can test the motor by applying power directly to it once you get the resistor assembly removed. If it runs OK, you may be lucky and not need the motor. Good luck. Those were AoutoZone prices so no doubt they can be had cheaper elsewhere.

Also read the following link all the way through to see what may be at work there.

https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2003-blower-motor-melts-wires-off.95818/#post-1043553

 

[surferdude2]

Under the dash

That link applies if you have the manually controlled temperature system.

Be sure to check the motor by connecting direstly to battery power for ability to run without magic smoke issuing... you don't want to smoke the new resistor too.

 

[ChuckF.]

Blower motors between $38 and $90 at Rockauto. There aren't that many different blower motors out there so generics are generally available.

 

[Brainbucket]

Blower motor resister is located lower right side of dash. Remove right lower instrument panel. Manual has resister. Auto A/C has a power transistor.:vs_cool:

 

[PS85]

Thanks to all who replied, your replies are very helpful. I checked the blower motor on the battery, the blower motor works fine. The link for the location of the resistor is down for maintenance, I will check back in a couple of hours. It is a manual system.