What happens when a blower motor relay goes bad?

Author: Marianne Hintz  |  Last update: Monday, June 1, 2026

On some platforms, a faulty blower motor relay will cause the blower not to work at all, which means there will be no airflow from the A/C. On others, the blower won't work on “high blow” but all the other speeds will work. The blower motor relay fails because it regularly deals with high current loads.

What does blower motor relay control?

Blower motor control: The main role of the blower motor relay is to control the operation of the blower motor. It receives signals from the thermostat or HVAC control system to start or stop the blower motor as needed. Speed control: Blower motor relay also controls the speed of blower motor.

What happens when a relay blows?

First off, a relay is basically an electrically operated switch. They're used in everything from your car's horn to complex computer systems. When a relay goes kaput, whatever it was supposed to control won't work.

How do I know if my AC fan relay is bad?

One surefire sign that the relay switch is faulty is that the compressor does not turn on. Typically, you will hear the compressor turn on when the air conditioner turns on. This is typically a series of clicks as the clutch turns on and engages, followed by the low hum of the blower motor.

Why does my blower motor relay keep going out?

Likely they are burned or corroded, which would cause a poor connection, overheating and burning the relay contacts. Also, check any grounds for the harness. If they are corroded, repair them. Also, blower resistor pack could be defective to the point it is overheating the relay.

Quick Way To Check For a Bad Blower Motor

What are the symptoms of a blower motor relay failure?

On some platforms, a faulty blower motor relay will cause the blower not to work at all, which means there will be no airflow from the A/C. On others, the blower won't work on “high blow” but all the other speeds will work. The blower motor relay fails because it regularly deals with high current loads.

What are the symptoms of a blown relay?

The engine will stop running, and your vehicle won't move or start. Main relay problems could also lead to your engine running for a while or a very short time. Your vehicle might start normally sometimes but not start at all at other times.

What are the symptoms of a bad AC relay?

Unusual Noises: Hearing clicking from the condenser unit when trying to turn your air conditioning on or off could indicate a relay struggling to do its job. AC Fails To Start: An air conditioner that doesn't start at all is a clear sign of a relay issue.

What happens when a fan relay is bad?

The fans don't start.

If the fan doesn't work, it won't cool the radiator. After a while, the coolant will start to heat up and won't be able to take heat from the engine. In this case, it is most likely the problem will be in the relay as it supplies power to the fan, and without power, it won't be able to work.

What is the most common problem found with a relay failure?

The two most common failure mechanisms of relays are contamination and mechanical wear of the internal switching elements discussed as follows: a. Contamination is a major cause of early life failures.

Will a bad relay still click?

Yes. the contacts inside a relay wear out over time to the point they don't touch or oxidation builds up to the point where the contact resistance goes so high. also a relay will click whether a load is a attached to it or not as long as the coil is fine and the mechanism inside is still functioning.

What burns out a relay?

Explanation. When the relay coil is energized, the coil wire generates heat by Joule heat and the temperature rises. Applying an overvoltage generates excessive heat, causing the coating (typically polyurethane) to melt and short-circuit between the core wires, resulting in a decrease in coil resistance.

Is a blower motor relay and a blower motor resistor the same thing?

These are different components. The blower motor high relay will affect high speed blower operation. The blower motor resistor will vary the lower speeds.

What does a fan relay do in HVAC?

Define HVAC Relay

When your thermostat senses a temperature change, it sends a signal. This signal activates the relay. The relay then opens or closes to start or stop components like fans and compressors. Relays use low power signals to manage higher power circuits.

How much does it cost to replace a fan relay?

The average cost for a Radiator Fan Relay Replacement is between $85 and $92. Labor costs are estimated between $27 and $35 while parts are typically priced around $57. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.

Do relays ever go bad?

Relays fail for a variety of reasons (see article: What Causes a Relay to Fail). Some are accidents, some are caused by manufacturing defects, and some are simply end-of-life failures. Different relays fail in different ways.

Can a bad AC relay drain a car battery?

Something Is Causing a "Parasitic Draw."

These things shouldn't have a major impact on your battery. However, interior lights, door lights, or even bad relays can drain a car battery when it's off.

Can a relay get hot and stop working?

The minimum magnetic field required to operate a relay remains constant (being a design feature), as the temperature rises and the available current to generate the magnetic field falls due to the increase in the coil resistance then, eventually, the relay will fail to operate when required.

What causes relays to go out?

In general, relay burnout is caused by abnormal heat generation around the contact and tends to occur under the following conditions: Contact vibration (ultra-frequent switching) causes continuous arcing and melting of the resin at and around the contacts.

Will a bad relay throw a code?

On some vehicles, the engine computer, which is often referred to as the powertrain control module (PCM) monitors the fuel pump relay and its circuit. If the PCM detects a problem, it turns on the check engine light and stores a corresponding diagnostic trouble code (DTC) in its memory.

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