Blower and AC button not working on 03 Rio.

khptown · 11-20-2009, 12:23 AM

It started in summer. Sometimes my blower would only blow at it's Highest speed, even if I had the control on "0", or off. Other times I couldn't get the blower to work at all. The A/C button comes on and off by itself, also. Sometimes when the A/C button is lit though, it seems that I have a better chance of the blower coming on (blowing on the highest speed of course, no matter what I have it set on).

Since it's almost December, and it's getting pretty chilly in my car, with out heat, I am needing it fixed. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what the problem could be. I had the Chevy dealership, where I bought it from look at it, and they said it was a "head control problem", which doesn't say much.

A few days ago I slammed the glove box and the blower started working, but the following morning it was not working so I tried to slam the glove box to get it going again, but the A/C light went off and nothing is working at all now. Most likely it won't until I get it fixed at this point.

Does it sound like a wiring issue within the controls?

jcwit · 11-20-2009, 02:40 AM

Sounds like you have a loose connection/loose wire behind the dash, or a bad conection at he blower knob. Once this is fixed you do know that the A/C will run if the defrost setting is set, or you can set it so that the A/C does not come on.

Bythe way before we go any further,please fill out your profile as to the auto you drive and location where you live, it does help us help you.

khptown · 11-20-2009, 08:22 AM

Thanks for the advise about the profile.

Yes, I do know that the A/C comes on when the defrost is set.

kiario04 · 11-21-2009, 09:55 PM

have u tired pushing the knob in? mine did this a long time ago. i took my radio out, arranged some zip ties to it to push it up closer to the knob and all the speeds worked fine. i put it all back 2gether n it still worked so i just left it alone. its been almost a year now n i still works but when i get the money ima replace it just so ik is all clean of zips ties frayed wires........

khptown · 11-22-2009, 09:11 AM

The knob actually feels really loose. I wouldn't doubt it one bit, if the problem could be related to the knob itself.

khptown · 11-22-2009, 05:14 PM

I had the knob checked out today and a part that was inside of the knob itself had burnt off, and after disconecting it from the wire harness, we discovered that the harness had actually melted a bit.

So, it looks like I have to order a heater/A/C dash control unit for 153.30. Hopefully, the cost of labor to put it in will be relatively cheap.

khptown · 11-23-2009, 12:36 PM

Well, it turned out that the part that burnt off was actually the blower switch, so I got a new one today, and I am having the Kia dealership replace it. I hope that'll get the heat going again. New total: $74.00

kiario04 · 11-24-2009, 01:41 AM

wow thats crazy. now did it burn off or melt off? mine meltef a lil bit and when it did, the tabs could no longer hold it in place causing the unit to not function

khptown · 11-24-2009, 08:45 PM

I'm assuming it actually burned and melted enough to become disconnected, and we only found half of it still attached to the connector. Where the other parts would have gone, I have no idea. The service guys were actually pretty hesitant to connect the new switch because the connector itself was melted a little too. With my approval they finally connected it, so I am hoping that the old switch was the problem and that I do not have a wiring issue.

kiario04 · 11-24-2009, 11:06 PM

well best of luck to you on it.