Heater resistor fire?
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 536
Likes: 2
From: Jacksonville, NC
I've had this happen to me before.. Twice. Once on my way to school, smoke started pouring out of the heater vents. I immediately turned it off and opened the windows. After replacing my heater core, it happened again while my buddy and I were driving to his house, through the ice and snow. We pulled over, shut the truck off and let it air out. Drove home with the heat off, rags in hand, wiping the windshield clear every time it fogged up. Never happened again after that though. Never figured out what it was.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
The drawing shows the location, but not the resistor itself per se...I mentioned it was not labeled, but it is actually shown where the fiber plate it mounts to is mounted. It is located right down stream of the blower fan to keep it cool by using the air across it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
Carters86,
The resistors are located in the "air stream" of the ductwork to prevent them from overheating. It is when the shredded leaves, critter nests, etc. come into contact that a problem arises. Good preventive maintenance is to clean out the ductwork regularly!
The resistors are located in the "air stream" of the ductwork to prevent them from overheating. It is when the shredded leaves, critter nests, etc. come into contact that a problem arises. Good preventive maintenance is to clean out the ductwork regularly!
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Doesn't the 'polka dot' cowl retrofit to the earlier 'slotted' '80's trucks?
Edit: Doh! I should have read the whole thread, and not just the post above.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 3
From: Suffolk, VA USA
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I posted some pics of my '86 w/AC in this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...g-trouble.html The resistor pack is red and it can be seen clearly in one pic where I hold it to show the leaves packed in the coils, crazy stuff!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 1
From: East Coast
How does the cowl come off? I'd like to grab one at the you pull it if it's not too hard. I had it happen twice in my truck, removing the blower motor I was able to clean it out in there though.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
think I'm gonna put some screen up under my cowl as suggested in another thread.. I'm too lazy to clean that thing out every year or so lol..
also gonna get some batteries for my camera incase I find something worth taking a picture of when I get around to cleaning it out/inspecting the damage this time =)
also gonna get some batteries for my camera incase I find something worth taking a picture of when I get around to cleaning it out/inspecting the damage this time =)
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg, PA.
My resisitor pack went bad on me and left me with only a high speed blower. I'm a retired Electronics Tech so I did some checking and found the thermal fuse (the little part shaped like a miniature submarine) opened up. I did some research and found it was a 121C temperature thermal fuse. It is available from D. Goodman's Electronic Parts for about $1.50.
There weren't any of the resisitor packs in the local JY's and the cheapest new part was $35. I went to Auto Zone , Pep Boys, NAPA and Advance. I thought there must be a mistake on the price but there wasn't so I fixed it on the cheap for about $2.
If you replace this thermal fuse, make sure you have a good tight mechanical connection (crimp). Soldering it alone won't do the job.
There weren't any of the resisitor packs in the local JY's and the cheapest new part was $35. I went to Auto Zone , Pep Boys, NAPA and Advance. I thought there must be a mistake on the price but there wasn't so I fixed it on the cheap for about $2.
If you replace this thermal fuse, make sure you have a good tight mechanical connection (crimp). Soldering it alone won't do the job.
