2012 Mazda3 Blower motor issues

[tpayne105]

Hello all...long time reader, first time poster

I have a 2012 Mazda 3 with 222300 miles. It is the best car I have had, easily.. BUT ...if there is one consistent issue it is with the blower motor. I have had it replaced 5 times over the course of owning the car.

01-2012 Purchased car new
10-16-2013 Replaced blower motor
11-14-2016 Replaced blower motor 2nd time
05-27-2020 Replaced blower motor 3rd time
07-26-2021 Replaced blower motor 4th time
09-27-2023 Replaced blower motor 5th time

The symptoms start with it not coming on, then hitting dashboard and it will come on and work fine for a week or so. After a bit of time, the hitting dashboard will not make it turn on at all. And it is out for good.

I was talking to a mechanic and they asked if I had ever had an after market radio installed. And yes on 12-07-12 the dealer installed a Sirius Satellite Radio and connected it to my car radio (has satellite input) and on 09-14-2013 the same dealer installed a new satellite radio antenna. ONE MONTH after the antenna installation was when the blower motor went out the first time. The Satellite radio is still installed in car.

The mechanic agrees the satellite radio or the antenna install is causing the blower motor to faulter over time.

Is this a possibility? I am planning on having the satellite disconnected and removed BUT the blower motor has started once again acting up. It is hot here in Texas!

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to see what yall think about this.....

I appreciate it!!!!

Todd

 

[negusm]

Realistically, I would not expect the radio unless the installer spliced into the wiring harness somewhere and nicked one of the blower motor wires.

Did you take any of the old motors out and test them? I guarantee you that not a single one was bad. (maybe just the first one)

The only way to know for sure is to get into the wiring and track down the issue.

If we are playing the guessing game...my guess would be a shorted wire that gets un-shorted when the harness is moved for a new motor install and eventually moves back into position where it is rubbing on a metal edge somewhere.

I'll make another guess. The reason the metal edge was able to short the wire is because the idiot radio (or fan) installer removed a bunch of insulation or rerouted something and never re-wrapped the wires properly to prevent abrasions.

Now, if you say the motors were tested and were bad...then I don't see how they could burn out like that. Unless you smoke like a chimney? or drive in a really dusty environment? where debris\tar\dust is causing the motor to burn out? The fan controller usually burns out before the motor.