Glad I found this forum! Lots of good stuff here...

I have a 2001 Ranger 2.5L with 185k. Last week the fan speeds went out.

The fan switch has four positions; the first three now blow the same "Low" volume of air; the fourth position works properly, and blows a "Hi" volume of air, as it should.

The fan isn't making any noises. If the fan caused the resister to blow, would it give me any indication that it's putting stress on the resister (thus causing the resister to blow)?

I'm assuming that the resister is the problem, because the fan motor will still blow a low volume of air, when the HVAC switch is set to fan speed 1, 2, or 3.

Don't want to waste money on a new resister, if it won't last.

Thanks in advance

 

Check the plug contacts. I had a suspected blower motor resistor recently in my 99 F-150. I had replaced it once before and knew what to expect. Removed the suspected defective one and all the resistors were intact. Plugged it back in and wiggled the plug to have the blower motor work on all speeds. Looked at the spade terminals and the socket terminals and saw several that had carbon on them from overheating. Used some electrical contact cleaner and a toothbrush to clean them up. No problems since.

 

Thanks for the helpful tip...will give it a shot!

If, for some reason, cleaning the contacts doesn't help, what would you look at next? Resister or blower?