OK, so we've been looking for a Taurus/sable wagon to cut commute costs (vs the F-150). Thanks to all for previous advice on tranny and other issues.

I've found what I think is a good deal...a '93 Taurus wagon in excellent shape: 71k old lady miles with documented service, 3.8 liter motor (wanted the 3.0, but oh well...we'll save for the head gasket), recent trans rebuild by Ford, and new PS pump and lines. Price is $2,000 because of low miles, but the lady doesn't need to recoup trans rebuild costs as it was done under warranty.

One little issue is the heater/AC fan only works on two settings...off and high. I can live with it, but wife can't. Too noisy. My Haynes manual show the switch replacement and the blower fan replacement as doable...but I was wondering which is the problem, or could it be something else?

To be clear...of the 4 or 5 settings the fan switch offers only off or high works. Has anyone else had this problem, and/or how can I troubleshoot this?

Thanks guys,

Erik

 

Is there one of those stupid resistor setups on the heater box?

I have a '93 wagon in my yard, I'm trying to sell for $2K, only 78K miles and the 3.0! Too bad you're on the other side of the nation

I'll have to go out and look at it now...

 

I ahd the same issue with my 02 Sable, under warranty, I'll try and find the write up too see what they did, may thake a day or so.

 

I can look it up, but if you have the manual this is the way I'd go about it:

Connect a meter across the blower fan connections and try the switch at different settings. There should be a change in voltage shown.

OR - if it's the kind that has a bank of resistors on the blower housing, the voltage should appear at different contacts (one for each resistor) as the switch is moved to each setting.

If the voltage is where and what it's supposed to be, the switch is working. And so on...

The idea is to "PROVE" that one part or the other either IS or IS NOT doing what its supposed to do.

 

Thanks all. Greywolf, just before I logged on again I took a further look at the manual and found the paragraph on troubleshooting I must've previously overlooked (Doh!). At a glance it sounds similar to what you describe, and in detail. Thanks.

Krewat, yes it is one of those with a resistor, according to the manual. But the troubleshooting procedure in the manual allows for it. I'll know more tomorrow when I take possession of the car.

If for some reason I can't figure out the testing, there's gotta be a ton of switches, resistors and fan blowers in the wrecking yards.

Thanks guys.

 

Well, it was the resistor after all. The Ford mechanic told me that 90% of the time that's the issue when the fan speeds won't work.

Given that it's easily reached under the dash by the passengers feet, and that a nearby junkyard had one for $5, I decided to be lazy and just replaced it without fiddling with the dashboard and testing the switch and fan motor.

Works like a charm! It helps that Ford used the same resistor in all Taurus' at least up through '95.