93' duct or blower fire

[69z28]

My wife's 1993 Explorer, V6, 4x4 is driving me crazy. Every month or so I have to remove the blower fan and clean out accumulated leaves ect. The screens at the base of the windshield are intact, is there another way for this stuff to get in. I am told that there is an exposed resistor somewhere in there that gets quite hot. We have almost had the vehicle fry itself many times, heavy smoke from the ducts!!!

I had a "smoke" incident today and pulled the fan, almost no junk present. Where can it be hiding?

I have not been able to locate duct drawings on line. Help!

 

[Jason94sport]

Nope that's it.
And your smoke problem is a bad blower motor resistor. Replacing it will stop the problem. I'd bet your fan speeds don't work right? If they do they won't for long. Replacment is simple & cheap. Search for it.

 

[l1k2gadd]

On the underside of your hood, with the hood open, at the closest corner to your windshield you will see the housing for your blower motor. The next housing closer to the engine is the condenser housing. About 5 inches or more down on the side facing you is a plug that looks like it is plugged into the side of the condenser housing. There is a green wire with a white stripe and two orange wires with a black stripes doubled up on the other position on it visible from the top. It's a pretty tight spot to get to there. If I am correct that is the blower motor resistor. I just went downstairs and looked at the 1993 Eddie Bauer parts truck I have sitting in my yard to locate it. They haven't changed shape or looks much since the 1960s. I'm not sure if leaves can get into this area or not so check after you unbolt the resistor from the housing before you install the new resistor.

 

[FIRE and ICE]

leaves are getting into resistor area from opening around the wiper arms. yes I know that it doesnt seem possible but it happened on mine years ago. After removing the resistor board, I stuck my finger in the resistor opening (Disconnect A L L Power before trying this) and found tons of debris packed up in there.
PS the resistors heat up like a toaster filament when used and caused the leaves to smoulder in my old x.

 

[69z28]

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Arthur]

Is this the blower motor resistor?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php?carcode=1119631&parttype=6557&a=FRc1119631k444382

 

[old mechanic]

Any time you see those spring looking things that will be the resistor. It is located to the right of the blower motor. Last one I bought was under $20.00.

 

[69z28]

New resistor installed

Thanks for the help, I finally installed the new resistor today and all is well with the world. The part was only $19.95 at the local Ford dealer and they had plenty on the shelf, odd thing that?!

It's a bit of a tight spot if you have big hands but not that bad. Be sure to vacuum out the inside while you have the resistor out. I took an amazing amount of junk, all flamable out of the housing.