Expert: Rob Painter - 7/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: 1986 Cad Deville 4100 front wheel I bought a new 12484912 blower motor resister because the blower would-not shut off with the key off.  I could unplug the blower resister and the blower shut off?
The new part stopped the problem for a few weeks and now the blower stays on again with key off?  What is causing this expensive problem?

ANSWER: Hi,

I hate to tell you this, but your new part  has failed. I hope it is covered under warranty,

this was a horrible design and yet from 1981 to the 2000s Cadillac commonly had this problem.

In the 80's and 90s this was so common that walking through a Cadillac service department at any given time up to 5 cars had the hood up and the resistor module was being changed.

With this in mind it justifies the fact your new part took a poop.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: How come after 24 years this happened and then two in a row?  Strange or is there another cause?

Answer
Hello,

As I said, Cadillac knew they had this problem since 1981 and never fixed it. The cause--I don't know and nether will anyone else. It is a non-serviceble molded unit.

Not strange--just Cadillac junk!

I love Caddys. I have owned over 25, but there are actually three very, very common problems that pop up. I forgot to mention their fine (being smart) so-called anti-theft system from 1990 and up that failed all the time leaving the owner stranded, the over heating and the blower motor.

I remember the module as being very pricey at around $200. Yes, they were junk in some cases right out of the box. As you said, some would last 24 years and some would last weeks. Please don't try to apply logic to the failure of the module. It is an electronic component which usually have a 90 day warranty.

The next one you put in could last another 24 years or 24 days.

I see all these ridiculous lawsuits and yet someone should sue GM for these known problems they never fixed for over 20 years.