JamesTheScot
New member
Hey guys,
So it's sweltering hot last week and I get into my 94 Jeep Cherokee Country (automatic, 4.0L) and crank on the AC. The blower starts momentarily and then cuts off. Soon thereafter I smell that unique electrical fire smell and smoke starts pouring from under the dash primarily around the steering column. I think at first there was also smoke from under the dash on the passenger side as well. I parked it and cut it off and the smoke stopped. I could find no fire, so I suspect it was hot wiring and melting plastic. Upon starting it up about an hour later, it started fine, but the blower would not come on, but there was no smoke either. I could feel cold air being pushed through the vents as I drove, leading me to believe that the AC compressor is working fine, but the blower is not pulling air through the vents (obviously).
I had recently had the AC recharged with refrigerant but I don't think that's related.
The blower has intermittently stopped a handful of times over the years, but normally just for a moment. If I turned on the AC and the blower didn't come on, cutting the AC off and returning the blower speed switch to low and then turning the AC back on would always fix it, and it would work through all speeds. This was something that would happen once every few months or a couple of times a year...and again, just for a moment. It always came back on with no other symptoms. I assumed it was probably just an old switch and aging electrical contacts.
Also, the turn signals sporadically blink. They always come on. But they only blink some of the time. They have been this way since I bought the Jeep 9 years ago. Since the smoke seemed to be coming from the steering column, I don't know if there could be a common problem in the column, or if the two are completely unrelated.
I never noticed any unusual noise from the blower that would indicate bad bearings and thus more load, but as far as I know it's the original blower, so it could be failing.
So from what I have read, if the blower motor is dying, it will draw more current, which can burn out the resistor, which can then cause wiring and switches to melt. Do I have it right?
Any suggestions on where to start in terms of testing components to see what needs to be replaced and how to diagnose and fix the underlying cause(s)?
Thanks in advance.
So it's sweltering hot last week and I get into my 94 Jeep Cherokee Country (automatic, 4.0L) and crank on the AC. The blower starts momentarily and then cuts off. Soon thereafter I smell that unique electrical fire smell and smoke starts pouring from under the dash primarily around the steering column. I think at first there was also smoke from under the dash on the passenger side as well. I parked it and cut it off and the smoke stopped. I could find no fire, so I suspect it was hot wiring and melting plastic. Upon starting it up about an hour later, it started fine, but the blower would not come on, but there was no smoke either. I could feel cold air being pushed through the vents as I drove, leading me to believe that the AC compressor is working fine, but the blower is not pulling air through the vents (obviously).
I had recently had the AC recharged with refrigerant but I don't think that's related.
The blower has intermittently stopped a handful of times over the years, but normally just for a moment. If I turned on the AC and the blower didn't come on, cutting the AC off and returning the blower speed switch to low and then turning the AC back on would always fix it, and it would work through all speeds. This was something that would happen once every few months or a couple of times a year...and again, just for a moment. It always came back on with no other symptoms. I assumed it was probably just an old switch and aging electrical contacts.
Also, the turn signals sporadically blink. They always come on. But they only blink some of the time. They have been this way since I bought the Jeep 9 years ago. Since the smoke seemed to be coming from the steering column, I don't know if there could be a common problem in the column, or if the two are completely unrelated.
I never noticed any unusual noise from the blower that would indicate bad bearings and thus more load, but as far as I know it's the original blower, so it could be failing.
So from what I have read, if the blower motor is dying, it will draw more current, which can burn out the resistor, which can then cause wiring and switches to melt. Do I have it right?
Any suggestions on where to start in terms of testing components to see what needs to be replaced and how to diagnose and fix the underlying cause(s)?
Thanks in advance.
