SAAB 9000 CDE blower resistor

He - tell me about it. Quite simple to fix, you need to replace the resistor pack in the blower housing. The pack is accessible from the housing wall if you take off the plastic across the bulk head. Unfortunately, the resistor pack cost about GBP 60 at dealer, but it might be possible to repair the RP by replacing the power diode. I also have a duff RP which I intend to repair, some day... Any advice here on this?

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There is a over temperature protection in the resistor pack - a temperature fuse. Once it blows the fan works only on high speed ("4") that supplies power to the blower motor directly by-passing any resistors.

It's the diode looking thingee in the pack (the rest are coil resistors) easy to see.

Replace the temperature fuse with similar fuse rated to something like 100-110 degrees celsius (Original is 109 deg Celsius, but more troublesome to find). Replacement part of

100-110 degrees can be found virtually almost in any electronics shop - cost,,, maybe 0.5-1 Euro...

One you get new fuse use innovative way to CRIMP it to the wires,,, do not weld! Welding don't probably stand vibration, heat and coldness for long...

Resistor pack can be accessed without removal of the motor. Follow the leads and find a small "oval" shaped cover that is held in position by clips in the end of the blower housing.

Hope this helps you 60 sterling pain ;-)

SuoTimo

BTW,,, this might increase you pain,,, if the bearings of the motor are getting bad the motor drags in start and causes overheating in the speed controller thus blowing the thermal fuse... But try first to replace the thermal fuse,,, they also tend to get bad by time.

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Thanks, SuoTimo. I'll be hunting down that thermal fuse thingy. BTW this is a generic problem with many car makes. Possibly such things like blower housing comes from component manufacturers.

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degrees celsius

of 100-110 degrees

and find a small

SuoTimo, thanks again. I found a thermal fuse, Maplin order No RA64U. Just one question: Is this device directional? It looks like a pointed device. But I've removed the old fuse some time ago and forgot the direction it was mounted.

100-110 degrees celsius

part of 100-110 degrees

and find a small

blower housing.

You can connect it either way i.e. it's like a resistor not like a diode...

SuoTimo

Thanks Johannes,

Please can you be more specific about how to get to the blower housing? Which bit of platic across the bulk head.

Thanks again,

Mike

The black plastic shield that goes across the entire width of the engine bay close to the windscreen. It can be quite fiddly to remove and to refit, and don't loose those small things that take the screws.