car troubles - Leecho or any other mechanics?

eric · eric #1 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 02:15 PM

so my wife's car (2001? honda odessey base model) has a weird electrical issue. the fan (for the hvac) only works in speeds 3 and 4, nothing happens, not even noise in speeds 1 or 2.

this seems to have happened suddenly, not slowing down over time.

i'm guessing not a fuse or the fan just wouldn't work.

and if there were a problem with the fan itself i would assume the 3 and 4 speeds would seem slower or strained or not work at all.

is this most likley a switch issue?

Village Idiot · Village Idiot #2 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 02:28 PM

It could be a fuse. Try that as it's an easy thing to check. We just fixed my friend's 300z last night. The headlights wouldn't work when he had something else on. It was just the fuse.

eric · eric #3 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 02:48 PM

yeah, seems weird though if it was the fuse that the problem wouldn't be the other way around... or just completely not work.

now i've got to find the fusebox on the thing...

Derek McNelly · Derek McNelly #4 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 04:53 PM

I had a similar problem with my truck, only, if you ran it lower than 3 or 4, it would start blowing out black smoke.

Ended up being a bad blower motor.

Probably not your issue, but just putting that out there. (Real cheap repair though, like, $30-40, and you can do it in an afternoon.)

eric · eric #5 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 05:23 PM

well, i'd rather it be a fan than the switch for sure. and it's a van so there's going to be plenty of room down there...

i just can't imagine that that's it. of course if there's some sort of friction problem, maybe 1 and 2 just don't have the juice to spin the impeller and 3 and 4 have enough. so, who knows...

EORI · EORI #6 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 06:33 PM

We have the same year model Odyssey, but have not run into this problem, but it does sound like a switch issue.

I would suggest going to OdyClub forums to see what others' experience/solutions have been.

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/

bryphotoguy · bryphotoguy #7 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 06:58 PM

That is/was a common problem with Malibu's.
It was a swtich issue on those cars. The switch would get too hot, fry itself and stop working correctly. It would only work on 4 and 5.

eric · eric #8 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 07:08 PM

[homer voice]mmm, impedance[/homer voice]

that kind of makes sense, the lower settings are throttling the current more, maybe the wiring couldn't hack it.

iRye · iRye #9 (**permalink**)

03-15-2008, 08:52 PM

It's a Honda, so you won't need to make any more repairs!

LOL

jah · jah #10 (**permalink**)

03-16-2008, 02:02 AM

you need to get the service manual as a pdf, with a wiring diagram.

worth the time to go through the system with the wiring diagram to determine its not a blown fuse and or bad switch. look for any other dependencies too. honda should have a trouble shooting method to follow.

my experience has been a bad blower motor and they were difficult to get access to, have fun.

Chimpur · Chimpur #11 (**permalink**)

03-17-2008, 12:49 PM

Yeah a wiring diagram would help for sure! If i remember right, Honda probably has the 1/2 and 3/4 from one switch and 1/2 and 3/4 are treated as low-hi. They might be on 2 relays. A relay might have blown. Is there a buzzing noise? Try using the fan in key on engine off and you can probably hear any noises.

cwa107 · cwa107 #12 (**permalink**)

03-17-2008, 01:58 PM

This was a problem several people had with their Pilots, which I assume have HVAC systems that are very similar (if not identical) to the Ody's, since they are platform-mates. As I recall, there was some sort of relay that failed. If you don't find anything out on odyclub.com, I would suggest digging around on honda-pilot.org.

Stretch · Stretch #13 (**permalink**)

03-17-2008, 01:59 PM

This was a common problem in Cavaliers, caused by a bad relay for the blower motor. I know in the cavalier, the relay was attached to the blower motor, so it possible could be the same with your car.

leecho7 · leecho7 #14 (**permalink**)

03-19-2008, 04:14 PM

Hmmm... guess its too late to say something here heheh. My fault. Been pretty busy past couple of weeks.
Have you gotten it checked out yet Eric?

eric · eric #15 (**permalink**)

03-19-2008, 11:29 PM

sort of, my wife wanted to bring the car to "precision tune" instead of the really very good mechanic we have historically brought our cars to since she found a coupon for a cheapie oil change. they found the issue with the fan - they called it something else, but i believe they were referring to the relay.
they also told my wife they needed to "clean" the brakes. [uh, yeah...]

oh, and i did try to check http://www.odyclub.com/ but i can't reach the site. i'm just trying to get the name of the exact part to see how much it will cost and how easy or hard it would be to put in myself.
maybe i should just pick up the chilton's guide.

eric #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2006 Location: twin cities, mn, usa Posts: 8,800	03-15-2008, 02:15 PM so my wife's car (2001? honda odessey base model) has a weird electrical issue. the fan (for the hvac) only works in speeds 3 and 4, nothing happens, not even noise in speeds 1 or 2. this seems to have happened suddenly, not slowing down over time. i'm guessing not a fuse or the fan just wouldn't work. and if there were a problem with the fan itself i would assume the 3 and 4 speeds would seem slower or strained or not work at all. is this most likley a switch issue? Please participate in our Member of the Month polls. Every vote counts! And remember to use the user reputation system! ["Dear Homer, I. O. U. one emergency donut. Signed, Homer." - Note by Homer Simpson]
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Village Idiot #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 04, 2007 Location: Durtburg, WV Posts: 2,641 Mac Specs: Sooper Fast!	03-15-2008, 02:28 PM It could be a fuse. Try that as it's an easy thing to check. We just fixed my friend's 300z last night. The headlights wouldn't work when he had something else on. It was just the fuse. Chaotic Evil, Level 1 IT-Tech Slough Roast Blog Capitol Sound Blog
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Derek McNelly #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 04, 2008 Location: Center Line, Michigan Posts: 1,574 Mac Specs: MacBook 2.0 GHz C2D - iPod Classic 80GB - iPhone 3GS 8GB	03-15-2008, 04:53 PM I had a similar problem with my truck, only, if you ran it lower than 3 or 4, it would start blowing out black smoke. Ended up being a bad blower motor. Probably not your issue, but just putting that out there. (Real cheap repair though, like, $30-40, and you can do it in an afternoon.) MacBook 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo - 4 GB RAM - 320 GB HDD - OS X 10.6 80 GB iPod Classic - "fredPod II" 8 GB iPhone 3GS - "fredPhone" MoTM February 2009
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eric #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2006 Location: twin cities, mn, usa Posts: 8,800	03-15-2008, 05:23 PM well, i'd rather it be a fan than the switch for sure. and it's a van so there's going to be plenty of room down there... i just can't imagine that that's it. of course if there's some sort of friction problem, maybe 1 and 2 just don't have the juice to spin the impeller and 3 and 4 have enough. so, who knows... Please participate in our Member of the Month polls. Every vote counts! And remember to use the user reputation system! ["Dear Homer, I. O. U. one emergency donut. Signed, Homer." - Note by Homer Simpson]
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EORI #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 08, 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 303 Mac Specs: 24" iMac 2.4Ghz, 4GB RAM/320GB HD; BlackBook 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM/250GB HD	03-15-2008, 06:33 PM We have the same year model Odyssey, but have not run into this problem, but it does sound like a switch issue. I would suggest going to OdyClub forums to see what others' experience/solutions have been. http://www.odyclub.com/forums/ Happy to be back to a Mac
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bryphotoguy #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,978 Mac Specs: Quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro, Edge iPhone	03-15-2008, 06:58 PM That is/was a common problem with Malibu's. It was a swtich issue on those cars. The switch would get too hot, fry itself and stop working correctly. It would only work on 4 and 5. January 2008 Member of the Month
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eric #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2006 Location: twin cities, mn, usa Posts: 8,800	03-15-2008, 07:08 PM [homer voice]mmm, impedance[/homer voice] that kind of makes sense, the lower settings are throttling the current more, maybe the wiring couldn't hack it. Please participate in our Member of the Month polls. Every vote counts! And remember to use the user reputation system! ["Dear Homer, I. O. U. one emergency donut. Signed, Homer." - Note by Homer Simpson]
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iRye #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 01, 2007 Location: Cow Town, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,991 Mac Specs: PowerBook G4 15 inch 1.5 GHz, iMac	03-15-2008, 08:52 PM It's a Honda, so you won't need to make any more repairs! LOL
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jah #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 15, 2007 Posts: 342	03-16-2008, 02:02 AM you need to get the service manual as a pdf, with a wiring diagram. worth the time to go through the system with the wiring diagram to determine its not a blown fuse and or bad switch. look for any other dependencies too. honda should have a trouble shooting method to follow. my experience has been a bad blower motor and they were difficult to get access to, have fun.
	QUOTE Thanks

Chimpur #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 18, 2007 Location: Burlington Posts: 413 Mac Specs: See Signature	03-17-2008, 12:49 PM Yeah a wiring diagram would help for sure! If i remember right, Honda probably has the 1/2 and 3/4 from one switch and 1/2 and 3/4 are treated as low-hi. They might be on 2 relays. A relay might have blown. Is there a buzzing noise? Try using the fan in key on engine off and you can probably hear any noises.
	QUOTE Thanks

cwa107 #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,917 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	03-17-2008, 01:58 PM This was a problem several people had with their Pilots, which I assume have HVAC systems that are very similar (if not identical) to the Ody's, since they are platform-mates. As I recall, there was some sort of relay that failed. If you don't find anything out on odyclub.com, I would suggest digging around on honda-pilot.org. Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
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Stretch #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 13, 2007 Location: Central New York Posts: 4,614 Mac Specs: 15in i7 MacBook Pro, 8GB RAM, 60GB SSD, 500GB HD	03-17-2008, 01:59 PM This was a common problem in Cavaliers, caused by a bad relay for the blower motor. I know in the cavalier, the relay was attached to the blower motor, so it possible could be the same with your car. Blog and Photo Gallery: http://philolin.me/ Currently running OS X 10.8.2
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leecho7 #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 586 Mac Specs: Mac Pro 8 Core 2.8, 6gb Ram, 2TB HD space, Geforce 8800GT//Macbook Pro 2.16, 2gb Ram	03-19-2008, 04:14 PM Hmmm... guess its too late to say something here heheh. My fault. Been pretty busy past couple of weeks. Have you gotten it checked out yet Eric? Bismillah ihr Rhman ihr Raheem The only way to truly learn and gain experience is from making mistakes. Thats why I'm a friggin genius.
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eric #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 04, 2006 Location: twin cities, mn, usa Posts: 8,800	03-19-2008, 11:29 PM sort of, my wife wanted to bring the car to "precision tune" instead of the really very good mechanic we have historically brought our cars to since she found a coupon for a cheapie oil change. they found the issue with the fan - they called it something else, but i believe they were referring to the relay. they also told my wife they needed to "clean" the brakes. [uh, yeah...] oh, and i did try to check http://www.odyclub.com/ but i can't reach the site. i'm just trying to get the name of the exact part to see how much it will cost and how easy or hard it would be to put in myself. maybe i should just pick up the chilton's guide. Please participate in our Member of the Month polls. Every vote counts! And remember to use the user reputation system! ["Dear Homer, I. O. U. one emergency donut. Signed, Homer." - Note by Homer Simpson]
	QUOTE Thanks

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