Sorry guys- but I have another dumb question. I would like to replace the transistor for the blower motor. How do I remove or swing the hinged panel? I don't want to break or bend anything. With a light I can see an "s" shaped pin near the top on each side. Do I need a special tool? Brian or Steve- maybe you can help me. Thanks Tony
Wish I could, but, by the time that my TR came to me, someone else had already needed to make a "repair" to that hinged panel (necessitating a rerepair ) -- so I'm not familiar with the true stock design set-up (if that's what you've got). Although mounting the power transistor in the blower airstream is best for the power transistor health, if you only operate at low fan speeds (i.e., not much motor current passing thru the power transistor) or full fan speed (a high motor current that passes thru a relay rather than the power transistor), you might get away with a more convenient, alternate mounting arrangement. Certainly for a test, just going in thru the LH central tunnel side panel and unplugging the "old" and replugging in the "new" would be fine (with the "new" just dangling free in the footwell). Good luck with the project -- do you have the "full fan speed works, but no slower fan speeds" symptom?
Hinged panel? I have replaced a bunch of those transistors and have never run into a hinged panel. The transistor is really easy to get to and to put back as original. Explain where you are stuck.
Brian: I thought the transistor is inside the main vents and the way to get to it was through the hinged panel (the leather panel just under the vents). Maybe I am looking in the wrong place. If you can tell me how to best get to the transistor, it might be easier than I am thinking. (the blower only works on high, and I did replace the tiny fuse on the fan speed rheostat which was bad) BTW- I followed your pics on rewiring the fuel pump and A/C connectors from the relay and things are working great in that area.
Brian- I am stuck. I would appreciate it if you can tell how to access the transistor. Is it from the side panels of the console? Thanks! Tony
The central air vent just snaps into the dash. It is easier to make some hooks from coat hangers to reach inside and hook the rear edge to pull it out. The narrow leather panel below the air vent sometimes slightly overlaps the air vent. That can usually just be shifted down enough to allow removal of the vent. Once out if you reach inside you can feel the transistor and mount. If you pull the right side leather covered panel from the forward section of the console it gives access to the rivets that hold the mounting bracket, the wires are also accessable from there. Once out take the transistor to an electronics supply. I recently got a replacement for 2 or 3 dollars. You may find that once a new transistor in installed you need to replace that fuse again.
Just as a warning it seems that failures of the components cause failures of the others. The fuses are always blown if the transistor is bad IME. I have also had some more recent experiences where the fuse was blown, the transistor was done and the speed controlled was bad as well. My knowledge of electronics is not strong enough to tie them together but experience suggests it is no coincidence.
I replaced mine about a year ago. The new unit worked great for about a week and then it went out again. Now, I am back to high speed only again. I guess that's just how it's going to be from now on. Let us know if you come up with a permanent solution that works. I think they heat up and burn them selves out on hot days.
Never encountered that. Mine is 17 years old and counting. If it just burned out again the cause was not addressed. For a couple of dollars per unit you can afford to experiment a little.
