1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Location of Blower Motor Resistor

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by bls72bmw, Aug 2, 2017.

  1. bls72bmw

    bls72bmw New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2017
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    I
    I am 'pretty' sure that I need a new Blower Motor Resistor- nice to find them used on ebay around $30 ish.
    But problem I have is I can't quite seem to figure out exactly WHERE The part lives. If it is an easy change, I'll dig in and do it. IF it is a chore that involves dismantling the entire dash, I'll live with it as is until I have more time.

    Right now the Fan/AC work, but the fan is on HIGH 100% of the time. Turning the knob does nothing.

    Thanks

    Oh, this is a 2003 4 door, Gen1, 80k miles.
     
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,073
    14,982
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    No blower motor resistor in a Prius. Gen 1 has a "blower motor linear controller", where the speed can be precisely controlled by a pulse train coming from the AC amplifier. Probably this is the part you are seeing on eBay, people are just calling it a "resistor" because they are used to that from older cars.

    You can access the blower motor without much disassembly in a Gen 1, just by standing on your head in the passenger seat and removing the little fiber panel above the footwell. The linear controller will be near the blower, mounted through a little hole into the case, so the blower cools it as air passes over it.

    -Chap
     
  3. bls72bmw

    bls72bmw New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2017
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    I
    Awesome! Thanks for the info.
    Follow up question:
    I just took the new Linear Controller (or to phrase as resistor...) and UnPlugged the old one WITHOUT taking it out, and plugged in the new one and left the new one just in the floor board area. It did not fix the fan problem, is it possible the issue is with the knob?
    My symptom is that the blower motor is on HI all the time....moving the Hi/Lo/Off/Auto knob does nothing...
     
  4. 4priusowner

    4priusowner Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    69
    21
    0
    Location:
    00725
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    So whereis the resistor or controller on the gen 2 2004 tp 2009. I am at ajunk yard trying to get one now but can't see it.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,073
    14,982
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    To find the Gen 2 controller, see here.

    -Chap