How To: NBS Blower Motor Resistor Replacement

[Maine Silverado]

This is my first shot at a how to post so please bear with me. Fist off the problem as it presented itself. I have a 2001 GMC Sierra X-cab short bed 4x4 with 203,000 miles on it. The other day I noticed that only the fan settings 2-5 worked. On setting #1 I did not get any airflow and the blower was not running. Having just dealt with this problem in a Toyota Camry I knew it was the resistor. I ordered up a new resistor GM Part #89019089. As with anything the price varies depending on where you get it. In this case it was a birthday present from my Dad and I think it was around $30 bucks.

The number 1 setting will typically be the first to go when the resistor is getting bad because there is the most resistance at that setting and hand in hand with that is the most heat generated.

The Specs
The tools: 1/4 Ratchet
9/32 socket (shallow or deep)
7/32 socet (shallow or deep)

The Part: GM# 89019089

The Time:15-30 minutes depending on skill

The Location: Attached to the blower duct on the passengers side under the dash, covered by a plastic housing.


Step 1: Locate the Duct plastic cover and remove the two 9/32screws pictured here. This should allow you to pull down on this cover and move it out of the way enough to complete the job.




Step 2: Locate and identify the resistor attached to the blower duct. Notice that there are two sets of wires coming off of it. One a longer multi wired plug and another two wired plug (either black and purple or black and red) that heads over to the blower motor.



Step 3: Locate and remove one 7/32 screw holding on a plastic housing over the blower motor. You need to do this in order to access the release for the blower motor plug (black & red or black and purple). Note that you do not need to remove this cover, just gently pull it down enough to slip your hand or a tool in to release the plug. Release the blower motor plug.




Step 4: Remove the second set of wires from the resistor by realeasing the plastic clip.


Step 5: Remove the resistor by taking out two 9/32 screws holding it to the housing and the pull down. Mine came out with a bit of resistance due to some of the original glue type compound used to hold it in.



Reinstallation is just the opposite of the first five steps. There are really no surprises or tricks to the rest of it. Also please note that not all of my pictures are in a chronological order. Some were chooses because they best illustrate what I'm referencing.

Another note: I make reference to either red and black or purple and black blower motor wires, because the old resistor had purple and black and the new part has red and black. Also I'll post a few more photos below to show the failure of the old one as well as the differences between old and new.

Failure: Sorry for the blurry second pic, but the resistor was showing some burn and in addtion the circuit board top layer was breaking away.



Differences: The location of the plugs and the general plastic castings on the back have been switched 180 degrees, and the resistor is also quite different.



If there are any other questions or errors that I made please let me know.

As and edit here are a few of the two resistors side by side, but please note I have them backwards where they are lined up. One needs to be flipped over to be oriented the same way. I took these before I realized that the casting and placement of the plugs was different.

[Maine Silverado]

Should I have put this in a different forum?

[NEUMANNZZ]

Excellent article!!

[retired wrench]

Great thread, the pictures are great,if a person couldn't do the job from this he better stick to flipping burgers. RW

[Maine Silverado]

Thanks guys.

[JBlavl]

Nice post. One question for you. Does your truck have a center consol between the driver and passenger? I see two part numbers listed for this part one for a truck with a consol and one without. The one you list is for the truck with a consol. Thanks

Josh

[archerynut36]

does this way pertain to a 2005 truck as well.. mine only works on 4 settings and wont work on the highest # 5.....bill

[Maine Silverado]

Sorry for the delay in answering the the console question. Yes my truck does have the center console. I'm not entirely sure why there would be different part numbers just for having a console or not.

As far as a 2005, I don't think the interior has changed that much if at all when considering the heating system. If its not exactly the same its very similar. Same type of part and has the same function.

[cpt. canuck]

Would this be the same location of the resistor for a 98?

[STeWxQQ]

If you have the digital/lcd/auto climate controls the resistor is NOT the right part. You will need a BLOWER CONTROL MODULE.
AC Delco part 15-80567 and GM part 89018778. I have a 2003 Tahoe Z71.
Below are pics of the bad module. Must be internal damage, doesnt look bad to me. I replaced it and the air comes out strong again. $115 at the dealer but I needed it badly.

[demonstalker]

This article should apply for all NBS truck without auto climate control. The way the part is changed/located is the same for all nbs truck. The location may be a little different on an obs truck but the same general area I do believe.

Btw, a 7mm and a 5.5mm are technically the sizes of the bolts (but 9/32 & 7/32 work just as well).

[Black06]

what if the blower only works on settings 3-5? my buddy's truck will only cycle the fan on settings 3-5.....and another truck works only on 2-5. Would this resistor fix those trucks too?

thanks

[Jokeman]

Originally Posted by Black06

what if the blower only works on settings 3-5? my buddy's truck will only cycle the fan on settings 3-5.....and another truck works only on 2-5. Would this resistor fix those trucks too?

thanks

Yes.

[Black06]

seems like the 04-later trucks come with the revised resistor......I just checked my 06 and it has the red/black wired unit.


great writeup!

[red o4]

Great writeup, I'm about to change mine. I have no 1-3 fan.

[foreman00081]

thanks for the writeup, my fans been acting up lately, not working on setting 4 sometimes, then was clicking last night and only worked on setting 5 or 3, now this morning it doesnt work at all, and of course it had to be 17 f'in degrees at 530 am when i left for work so it was a chilly ride in, gonna call the dealer now and see about getting the resistor to change when i get home.

[foreman00081]

Originally Posted by JBlavl

Nice post. One question for you. Does your truck have a center consol between the driver and passenger? I see two part numbers listed for this part one for a truck with a consol and one without. The one you list is for the truck with a consol. Thanks

Josh

there is a difference as i just found out. the first part i got Part #89019089 is for the trucks WITH the center console. now my truck doesnt have a console so it didnt fit, it looks almost the same but the mouting holes are a little different. luckilly i was able to find one dealer with a parts dept open till 4 on saturdays and i got the right one, its part #89019088. slapped er in and good to go now, in fact the heat works 100x better than it ever has in the 2 years ive had the truck.

so in conclusion, ATTN NON-CENTER CONSOLE GUYS, THE PART # IS 89019088 FOR THE RESISTOR, 89019089 WILL NOT FIT IF YOU DONT HAVE THE CONSOLE!

heres a pic of the 2 different ones, the one on the right is for non-console trucks, notice the 2 extra mounting holes, why they are there im not sure cause theres still only 2 bolts holding it in, stupid if you ask me

[red o4]

They give me the one on the right and it fits. I had to turn it around and not use the plastic cover the old one had.

[foreman00081]

another helpful hint guys, when you go to replace the resistor, also check the pins in the harness to make sure they arent burnt. my blower stopped working again a couple days after replacing the resistor and i noticed that 2 of the pins in the harness were burnt so i had to get the pigtail to replace it. at first i went to the dealer but they wanted 95 f'in bucks for it so i got it online from this site for $35:
http://store.the-electric-connection...t=products.asp

[LiftedWhite94]

Just giving everyone a heads up you can get the pigtail and resistor shipped for 77$ from The Electric Connection. thats way cheaper than the dealership just for the resistor.

http://store.the-electric-connection...t=products.asp