89 Jimmy not blowing air suddenly

I was driving one night and noticed the heater wasnt blowing any air at all. I live where it frequently hits sub zero temps. When i turn on the heater i hear a rubbing sound and a squeak. What could that be? How do i fix this issue?

My car has 165000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The noise is most likely the blower motor is turning real slow due to motor burned out. The connector will get hot and may even burn out the blower resistor and switch. Replace blower motor and check connector.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Blower motors are designed to circulate air, so they won`t work if there`s no air to move. You should always check the filters and vents surrounding the blower to make sure that the blower isn`t having a hard time working. Look into your air filter`s housing and check the markings on your filter.
The main symptoms of a bad blower motor resistor include:

Only One Speed From Blower Motor. Various Airflow Settings Not Working. No Air Coming From Vents.

Cooling fans can stop working properly for a number of different reasons; they might have blown fuses, an electrical short, or could have been cracked by debris from the road. Fortunately, this is fairly simple to fix; your mechanic should be able to replace it quickly and get you back on the road.
The most common problems that cause a lack of airflow include frozen coils, broken fan and restricted airflow due to dirty air filters or vent obstruction. However, there are many other issues that can lead to minimal airflow, so it may be necessary to ask the professionals.
The location of the reset button will depend on the model of your furnace, but it can typically be found on the side of the blower motor inside the blower compartment. Once you locate the reset button, press and hold it for 30 seconds. Then, release the button and wait for 30 seconds.
Many vehicles have two fuses for the blower motor, one in the interior fuse block and the other under the hood. The blower motor is usually under the dashboard on the passenger side.
The heating and air-conditioning system uses several resistors to supply the desired airflow by sending power to the blower motor.
Your car`s blower motor is not only necessary for the operation of your air conditioner. Without a functioning blower motor your engine runs the risk of overheating.
The blower motor switch is the actual switch or button on the dash that you use to increase or decrease the fan speed. The blower motor IS the fan. The blower motor resistor is what allows the fan to work at different speeds as opposed to just off and on.
It is usually located inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor. Be cautious as the housing may be hot. If the button is popped up, press it down.
Car AC Fan Making Noise

This is one of the most common bad blower motor symptoms. The blower produces a rattling, screeching, or squeaking noise. A blower motor making noise can mean several things. It could be a worn motor, especially at the bearing or other moving parts.

The average cost to replace the blower motor resistor at a repair shop is between $44 and $55 in parts and $70 in labor costs, for a total cost of around $114 to $125. On the other hand, you can easily fix the blower motor resistor at home in about an hour (even if you`re a beginner) and for around $70.
Under the dashboard is usually where you`ll find the heater blower motor resistor. It can be found in the compartment housing the heater and air conditioning. It can change the blower motor fan`s speed because it is connected to the air conditioning system. Some automobiles also have it concealed under the glove box.
In a blower motor, the relay supplies the power that allows the fans to circulate warmed air. Essentially an on/off switch, the blower motor relay`s reactions start and end the heating process in HVAC systems by controlling the flow of current between the power source and the motor.
If the relay fails, it will be unable to supply power to the fans, and as a result they will not operate. This can lead to overheating, especially when the vehicle is at a stop, where there is no forward motion by the vehicle to pass air over the radiator.
The blower motor resistor is responsible for controlling the blower motor speed. In the past, this was done by varying the voltage supplied to the blower motor. In newer applications, the blower motor resistor is actually a solid state module that sends a varied signal to the blower motor.
What Does The Blower Motor Do? The blower motor controls the airflow for the heating and cooling system; it is one of the main components for the HVAC system to operate properly. The blower motor turns on the fan in your HVAC system, allowing the air to circulate out of the system and into the rooms of your home.
The blower is supposed to last the entire lifetime of your car. However, situations vary and some climates require the fan to be used too often. Many car owners find themselves having to replace the blower after five years. The quality of the motor used to power the blower matters.
Blower motors are designed to last just as long as your furnace itself, anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Just as with any HVAC system, the better maintained and serviced your equipment is by experienced HVAC technicians the longer it will last and the fewer repairs you`ll face.
We do suggest that you replace the resistor at the same time. It may not be critical, but this will keep the system more uniform. The issue may even be related to the resistor. If you know that it is not related to the issue, then you do not have to replace it.
There are basically two kinds of blower motors: single-speed blower motors and variable-speed blower motors. A single-speed motor can only operate at one speed. While a variable-speed or high velocity motor can adjust its speed to produce different levels of airflow.
The primary cause of airflow is the existence of air. Air behaves in a fluid manner, meaning particles naturally flow from areas of higher pressure to those where the pressure is lower. Atmospheric air pressure is directly related to altitude, temperature, and composition.
One primary problem for many HVAC systems is that they are not properly cleaned, which can lead to clogged air ducts. Built-up dirt and debris are commonly the culprits of a faulty HVAC system.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

everytime I turn my car on the ac starts to blow air even if I switch it off. it won’t blow cold air or heat.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your question and input, it looks like your AC control switches are damaged, causing the vents to activate even if the switch is not activated. This is sometimes an electrical problem, as it could be triggered by a damaged electrical relay. You might want to have a professional mechanic complete an AC is not working inspection, so they can determine what is causing this issue you’re experiencing and recommend the right repair.

air conditioner not blowing air from dash vents, but blowing air from side vents
ANSWER : A few different items can cause the air to not blow out of the dash vents. The most common are a blend door or a control switch. The best method for the AC diagnosis feature can be found in the vehicles owners manual. I recommend having your AC checked by a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to have the problem diagnosed and repaired correctly.

My heater is blowing air through the driver side air vents but is blowing cold air through the passenger side and rear console ven
ANSWER : Hi there:

Climate controlled vehicles have multiple electrical relays that open and close vents to maintain the desired temperature. In some instances, these relays can wear out overtime. However, it’s also common for debris to clog up vents (especially side vents) which may restrict the flow of cool air. The best way to determine why your AC is not working efficiently, it might be best to have a professional mechanic complete a AC inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend the right repairs.

Air conditioner blowing warm air. Heat blowing warm air. Neither hot or cold
ANSWER : If the A/C system is full and pressures are reading correctly, and the cooling system is in proper working order (thermostat opens, no overheating, etc.), then most likely the problem lies with the dash. The climate control head unit may be at fault. One or more blend doors behind the dash may be stuck or broken. If you’re unable to fix this issue yourself, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technician can come diagnose the issue with your A/C firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.

Air conditioner blowing hot air. Then fan was running low then sped up to high.
ANSWER : Hi there. It sounds like you have a low refrigerant charge; your AC system has a low charge. This is usually caused by a leak in the system. This low state of charge can cause insufficient cooling, thus the hot or cool air and not cold air is coming out of the vents. The fan running low then speeding up is normal as the AC system is being used; the high speed fan is what cools the refrigerant in the system. I believe you may have a leak in your AC system that needs to be checked. YourMechanic has several qualified technicians that can perform an AC system inspection to properly diagnose the concern at the comfort of your home or office.

Air conditioning blowing mildly cold air on the coldest setting, turned off/on again, now blowing cold air, should it be checked?
ANSWER : If you are getting ready for a long trip and suspect the cooling fan may be not coming on for the radiator and a/c then you should have the a/c and cooling system performanced checked before trip. Nothing worse than breaking down when out of town in a strange area.

When idling, car overheats and A/C blows hot air – 2001 Saturn L100
ANSWER : Hello. The most likely cause of the issue that your are having would be a faulty cooling fan. The cooling fans purpose is to keep the radiator and condenser for the air conditioning cool during the idling function of the vehicle.

If the cooling fan is not working, this will cause the radiator and condenser to get very hot. When the radiator and condenser get hot, this can cause the vehicle to overheat and the air conditioning not to work. When the vehicle is driving at higher speeds, the force of air that is created towards the vehicle will flow through the radiator and condenser and therefore keep them cool. I would recommend having the cooling fan checked to make sure that it is working properly. If not, I would recommend having the cooling fan replaced.

My car heater will blow hot air and drive fine for 30 minutes then my heater blows cold air and my car overheats
ANSWER : Hello. With the recent repairs that have been made to the vehicle, there is only one main heating component that you have not looked into. This would be your heater core. The heater core is responsible for pulling hot coolant from the engine. This hot coolant runs through the heater core as the ambient air is pushed through to warm before entering the cabin. If the coolant can’t flow through the heater core, then the air will blow cold. This can be caused by a clog, a faulty switch, or a process known as electrolysis (electrical current running through coolant). Unless there is a clog that can be dislodged, these issues will all result in a new heater core. To get a precise diagnosis of the problem, I recommend having an expert inspect the overheating problem so this can be resolved.