Dead mouse

 

It would have to be an electronic mouse that only stinks for the first 3 minutes the fan is on.

So, no. That's not it.

 

I would ask the neighbor if she smells the smell in the beginning, not if she doesn't smell it after you don't. Get another opinion on the smell. Should be easy to do if the smell happens every time you turn on the blower motor. Another clue, at least.

 

Thanks, but no need. I am not the only one who has smelled it.

 

I have more ideas but this teeth-pulling is tiresome. Good luck.

 

Well gee. Talk about teeth pulling! Thanks for sharing.

Do you think I am enjoying this? I have already wasted a bunch of time and money - all to no avail. I sure wouldn't be here if it was something simple.

 

Sorry. It just feels like a guessing game. Nope, wrong, guess again...

Since it happens every time, you're in a great spot to just expose the wiring and the device or devices that get powered when you turn the switch on, and see if any get hot. Touch, turn on blower motor, feel. Smell. You seem positive that it's a burning smell and the only thing that causes heat is current flow through the wires.

I asked about other people's opinions just to be sure it was a burning smell. It could be that you have had COVID and just don't know it. Or you just smell things differently. Or you live by one of those fires and you're smelling ashes that fell in to the fresh air inlet. If you can get one or two or three people to say "yep, it smells like burning wires" then it seems likely it's overheated wires and your story is more believable. If other people say "nope, I don't smell anything" or "I smell flowers", then you might be on a wild goose chase.

Anyway, offer a little bit more than "WRONG!" when people reply and maybe you'll get a solution. Good luck.

 

It is, more or less, a guessing game. But for me, it sure is not a game.

I understand why you asked about other peoples opinions. And I answered by saying others have smelled it too. Sorry that was not in my opening post, or in a manner acceptable to you.

I also explained that I am a retired electronics technician. The smell is not from ashes that fell into the fresh air inlet, or a dead mouse.

As for looking for and feeling for burnt and hot wires, I have done that, as much as I can while on my back reaching up under the dash and through the glove box cavity, without totally disassembling the dash - something I am trying to avoid.

As for COVID, I am immunocompromised. I am fully vaccinated, boosted and tested - to include looking for antibodies. So I don't have it, and never have and hope to keep it that way.

Something I never did. But since you seem to take offense to how people speak, I am moving on. Have a good day.

 

The two things above are not the same profession.

I would separate the problem into pieces. Electrical versus air. Disconnect the blower power and put a load across the appropriate pins in the plug. A headlight bulb, for example. Turn the blower switch on and see if there's a smell. If there is you have an electrical problem. Something in the circuit is heating up. If the bulb lights up and there's no smell then you have either high load from the blower ("new" does not always mean good) or you have an air supply problem. If you get no smell from the circuit alone, and you're certain it's not air supply, apply external power to the blower motor. If it smells then you have a blower motor problem. Maybe the blower motor binds up before it gets spinning. That draws extra current (you knew that). One of those details.

That's how I approach problems. Break them down in to pieces. Good luck.

 

Wow. Nit pick much? Or are you just here as a wannabe mod to troll people seeking help? Either way, not helpful or welcoming.

Of course they are the same profession. An ATC radio communications technician "IS" an electronics technician with special advanced qualifications and certifications to maintain critical air traffic control radio systems used in ATC control towers and ground control approach facilities.

I used to maintain high-end audio reproduction electronics (audio amps, tuners, preamplifiers and control consoles). Is that not an electronics technician? Of course it is. So is a RADAR tech and a Doppler tech. And these days, I mostly maintain and repair computer and networking electronics and TVs. So does that mean I am a computer and TV tech but not electronics tech? No.

By that logic an orthopedist is no longer a doctor because he or she now specializes in bones! Does that make sense? Of course not.

Now an electrician is different. But I didn't claim to be an electrician.

Can we move on now or are you still going to continue to criticize me for something I said you don't feel is acceptable to your righteous, beyond reproach level of standards?

***

It is true, new, does not always mean good. But two resistors and two motors demonstrating the exact same symptoms does suggest the originals are good - especially since both motors spin and the speed control works perfectly (low, medium, high and off) with both resistors. That said, I did apply 12VDC to the first motor when the 2nd one did not fix the problem. And it spun up just fine on my workbench - with no smell. So I apologize to the almighty and others reading for not mentioning that earlier too. Clearly, my bad.

I suspect the blower motor is sucking in the smell from somewhere else - because I cannot think of what else might be in the ductwork. My problem is, the smell occurs at no other times. If the truck sits in 100°F sun, or in a cool garage all night, there is no smell when I first get into the truck - until I turn the fan on. Then the smell is the same. I smell it at no other times. And since the smell only lasts for 3 - 5 minutes, my window of possible discovery quickly fades away before I (with my limited physical capabilities) am able to discover (feel or see) the source. Note I can drive around for hours after that with no smells that I can detect, or that passengers can detect either.

This is why it does seem so odd (to me anyway) and "is" a guessing game at this point. Unless, that is, someone else has experienced this too and knows exactly what it is.

Also of possible note, in the 12 years since I've owned the truck, it sat outside overnight maybe 4 or 5 days (but not in the last couple years). All other times it is garaged. There are NO signs of any rodents in the garage and never have been in the 35 years since I bought the house. No forest fires for falling ashes, and the leaves have yet to start falling - but again, it is parked in a garage.

So if anyone else has any ideas, I am open to suggestions.