Ac/heat high speed fan not working

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

JZCracker

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2018
Posts
11
Reaction score
1
Location
Idaho
First Name
John
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
K20 FLEETSIDE
Engine Size
350
Help.. I am in no way a Gearhead and I'm learning as I go. All of a sudden my high speed AC fan is not working. It works fine on low and medium but when I switch it to high I get no air at all. I did some internet research and replaced the high speed fan relay under the hood and verified that my AC heater control switch is also working fine. Any ideas?
 

chengny

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2012
Posts
4,086
Reaction score
1,008
Location
NH
First Name
Jerry
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K3500
Engine Size
350/5.7
Help.. I am in no way a Gearhead and I'm learning as I go. All of a sudden my high speed AC fan is not working. It works fine on low and medium but when I switch it to high I get no air at all. I did some internet research and replaced the high speed fan relay under the hood and verified that my AC heater control switch is also working fine. Any ideas?


When operating the blower on the LO/MED1/MED2 settings, power to it is supplied from the fuse labeled HTR AC which is located in the normal fuse block under the dash. It gets to the blower via the resistor stack

However, when the HI setting is selected, the power to the blower motor windings is direct from the battery. Moving the fan speed controller to HI only actuates the relay's coil. Then when relay pulls in, the blower gets full battery voltage.

In order for that HI SPD circuit to work, you need a power supply from the firewall junction block to the fan relay (it gets there on a fat red wire)also the relay's coil must be operating and properly grounded. Since you installed a new relay, you can probably eliminate the coil.

That leaves the main power feed on the red wire and the ground lead for the coil. When in any other speed than HI the coil is de-energized and in the default position. All speed regulation occurs in the dash switch and resistor stack.

There is 30 amp inline fuse spliced into the main supply - probably right near the junction block. The wiring dwgs show it located where the red lead changes to an orange lead - that orange one is what ultimately connects to the relay.

Fuse okay and power getting to the relay - check the ground lead.
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,037
Reaction score
1,831
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
My '75 had the 30 amp inline fuse connecting the junction block to the fan, and the fuse kept overheating and frying the fuse holder. I finally bought a 30 amp blade fuse holder and spliced it in to replace the old holder - no more problems.

Bruce
 

Kdsooner

Junior Member
Joined
May 8, 2019
Posts
10
Reaction score
1
Location
Norman OK
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
GMC C1500 Sierra Classic
Engine Size
6.0
Do y'all think this is the case for an 81 with factory air? I've replaced both relays on the heater box to no avail.
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,037
Reaction score
1,831
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
Does your truck have a separate 30 amp fuse for the high speed on the blower? On the older trucks it’s very easy to see because the power wire, with fuse holder, runs along the top of the firewall in the engine compartment. It runs from the power junction next to the brake booster, over to the high speed blower relay.
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,183
Reaction score
5,079
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
Do y'all think this is the case for an 81 with factory air? I've replaced both relays on the heater box to no avail.
Troubleshoot the issue, don't just throw parts at it. Do you have voltage at the power feed to the relays? Go to the reference library and download the manual PDF's for your year truck and then check the wires to see where you have a disconnect or fault.
 

Kdsooner

Junior Member
Joined
May 8, 2019
Posts
10
Reaction score
1
Location
Norman OK
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
GMC C1500 Sierra Classic
Engine Size
6.0
Troubleshoot the issue, don't just throw parts at it. Do you have voltage at the power feed to the relays? Go to the reference library and download the manual PDF's for your year truck and then check the wires to see where you have a disconnect or fault.
Sorry haven't spent much time on the site. Where would I find the reference library and manual pdfs?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,077
Posts
908,546
Members
33,551
Latest member
Robo
Top