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Automotive/1994 GMC Sierra NO HEAT

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Expert: - 1/21/2008


Question
A couple of days ago I noticed my heater fan not running. I hit the dash and it came back on. I figured loose wire. Today I went to start the truck and had no heat at all. Hitting the dash didn't work this time. Did I mention it is -25 degrees here today. I took the dash apart as best I can. All the connections I can get to appear to be tight and in good shape. IE no corrosion or anything. When I change between the various electronic settings on the HVAC panel I can hear the relays clicking and I can hear the damper doors moving. I think the problem is somewhere between the relays and the fan. I would like to put a volt meter on the fan to see if it has power but I don't know how on a vehicle. I have a purple and a white wire going to the fan but that is all I can see. I also don't know if there should be anything else I should be looking for or checking. I did check the fuse... Any help greatly appreciated.

Answer
That a one-time "fix" to making the fan run was to be had by hitting the dash does suggest that, perhaps, the fan switch itself is intermittent, if not the specific harness connector to that switch.  In any case, that may luckily be the only problem, given that functions other than the call for the fan appear to work.

Beyond this, I would suggest getting the vehicle wiring diagrams is always very productive for anyone undertaking this type of troubleshooting work.  I do not have any material on your Sierra (not having one), but make it a point to get all the information I can get on the vehicles in my fleet.  I log repair work and document any changes and revisions I make too - highly recommended.

I am sure that you will have your fan running again shortly.

Regards ... EGK

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Ernest (Ernie) Kenward

Expertise

The challenges I most enjoy are thoughtful technical questions of a trouble-shooting nature in both electrical, power electronic and mechanical systems, mainly automotive but also machine control and small-machine PLC applications. Please note, however, that I am NOT a walking shop manual! I DO, however, make it a point to have those manuals and other service literature for those vehicles I DO own, and highly recommend that anyone serious about maintenance or modification of their vehicles do the same; MOST of your answers WILL be found there. For that matter, I do NOT go out of my way to acquire shop manuals for any vehicle I do NOT own! That being the case, any general query to me along the lines of "What is the meaning of this code read from the ECU of my 2015 XYZ?" or "Where is the fuse for the windshield washer pump found?" (try your car's electrical distribution panel for a start!) will not go far. What I do offer is a pretty good collection of literature, insights and hands-on experience with 1950s to 1980's Ford products (plus a developing database of information and practice with the Mercedes diesel cars), along with an engineering perspective and the ability to design and implement custom control, electrical and mechanical subsystems for vehicles. For that reason, I am happy to make my thoughts and efforts available to those who are of like mind and/or are seriously making a point of learning about their vehicles. Use the Opportunity to Learn!

Experience

A key skill in my work and hobby pursuits both is STRATEGIC TROUBLESHOOTING. I am a senior instructor in Electrical Engineering Technology at a leading Canadian polytechnic, my areas being Electrical Power and Industrial Control, electrical and electronics design and manufacturing, and AutoCAD and related CAD/CAE software - plus equipment problem-solving and new equipment design and prototyping. Hobby-wise, I have 30-plus years of experience in auto restoration, mostly in electrical and mechanical systems. Ongoing projects include a 1959 Edsel Corsair, my 1978 Ford E250 class-B motorhome conversion, and the care and upkeep of my Mercedes 300CD. My vehicles become engineering test beds for electrical and mechanical upgrades as ideas present themselves. This includes the design and production of circuit boards to restore or enhance features for which no OEM replacement parts are obtainable, or where better specifications or reliability can be had via newer concepts. Regarding the E250 RV conversion, I designed and continue to revise a custom power distribution system, managed by a Programmable Controller (PLC); this has made most revisions as easy as uploading new firmware as I develop it. The "mini" PLC is a powerful device for custom automotive control systems. One good example (there are many) would be the Moeller "Easy Relay"; these offer a wealth of control, monitoring and variable-and-status display options for such projects. A good example project which has worked well is that one for my RV noted above, which has been on the job - revised in firmware only - for a decade now. It is a load management and charging control system to avoid the sulfation-induced early failure that often befalls deep-cycle batteries used in RV power applications. The battery installed in 2003 lasted long enough to more tnan pay for the PLC that contributed to its longer life ... and the PLC will be there for the next battery as well!

Organizations
IEEE - senior member ... past WCC Student Activities; SME - senior member ... past chair, greater Vancouver chapter chair 318; Edsel Owners' Club - have served in various capacities on chapter executive during seventies; have been Power and Driveline resource on the Edsel Owners' Club "E-team" for more than a decade.

Education/Credentials
Graduate of UBC

Awards and Honors
Certificates of appreciation from IEEE and SME for work in student and chapter activities

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