…and the main reason not to is that the part you buy will likely have the same defect as the part you are replacing.

That's no problem if you don't mind the process of doing it again.

Mine failed on an extremely hot day with 200 miles to get home with no way to push AC into the car. I'll trade dollars for the odds of that never happening again.

Cheers.

 

From what I gather in this thread, the problem only seems to affect 2009 and some 2010 fits. Just find the parts from a newer fit...

 

I imagine this is correct:

Tech Tip: Honda Fit's HVAC Blower Motor Works Only On High Speed: Brake and Front End

 

Well I guess I was wrong, it would seem that it applies to 2011 fits as well. I haven't seen any incidences of it affecting anything newer than a 2010 fit on this forum though.

In anycase, you could still find 2012 fits in junkyards if you were willing to look hard enough. I think I'd be willing to look around given the massive cost reduction.

Of course if you're lucky enough to get parts replaced under warranty instead, that's always the best way to go.

I'm glad I have a 2012.

 

Thank you for sharing your results with the board.... this will definitely help a lot of people.

 

A copy of the SB is here: 2009 Honda Fit Blower Motor TSB 09-097

Note the instructions at the bottom for owners of out-of-warranty vehicles. I had no problem with this at all. Just had to ask, and then wait for a decision.

 

Prior to buying the new motor/blower, I looked into this. Two different Honda part managers looked at the blower part number and told me there were no updates. They both said that when a part is different (upgraded, better, revised, etc) there is an upgrade to the part number. This blower motor is the same garbage that failed in my car...the only difference is that its new. And that was the reason I didn't go the junkyard way...they wanted too much $ for a used part.

 

just so you know, this is still an ongoing issue. i have a 2011 fit sport with about 46,000 miles on it. yesterday when it's hot and steamy i have to drive 160 miles round trip with no A/C except on high because the blower motor stopped functioning in the first three settings. imagine your face being sandblasted for 3 hours.

i got online when i got home and checked out the forums (as i have done in the past for other issues with my fit), found this thread -- read it all, including the links and then called the dealer (60 miles away). there was a lot of back and forth but suffice to say that they are going to replace the motor and the resistors on wed. as a goodwill service.

so thank you to all who contributed to this thread ... if i hadn't had the information from this thread when i called, i imagine i would not be getting a goodwill fix for this..

 

that sucks that a 2011 is having this problem. i thought this was only on the earlier 2009 and some 2010 models.

GL with the repairs though.

 

Why? Just angle away vent direction, set air distribution to bi-level and adjust temperature setting. No reason to have too cold air blasting you in the face.

Glad to hear you got goodwill warranty consideration. If you are polite, reasonable and diplomatic in your dealings I believe they are supporting most that request it. My warranty was gone 3 years and 40,000 miles ago but if my fan goes out I'm betting I could get it fixed very reasonably if not for free.

_

 

As I mentioned, all these blower motors have the same part number. According to two different Honda Part Managers, if Honda modifies or changes a part, it gets a new part number. All these crap motor are the same...with the same solid bottom bearing that will eventually fail.

 

i didn't have cold air blasting me in the face. and, unfortunately, i had someone in the car who is autistic and has sensory issues, so having it on high would have been troublesome from both the noise factor and from the blasting of the air ... as a result, we drove without it ... i was just imagining what it would have been like to have it on high and blowing on me ... but thanks for the feedback ...


as for it just being 2009/2010 vehicles, the TSB states that some 2011s also had the issue and listed a range of VIN numbers. mine wasn't in that range, but as it was stated before, if honda hasn't changed the design of the motor, it's going to continue to happen ....

 

i would also be interested to know if anyone with a 2012 has had the same thing happen to them...

 

I've been checking prices for junkyard blower motors. They all want at least 50% of the cost... I found a minimum of $85 for the used blower motor. And these are from older cars with some mileage, and may be ready to fail. I would guess that the new motor is a better deal in the long run.

 

Haven't seem any problems with 2012s yet *knock on wood*

There were a couple 2012 units I saw around 85 bucks. It depends on the mileage the car had. If it had low mileage, chances are the blower wasn't used that much. I would personally opt for that over new because I don't think the amount it was used makes a huge difference, but to each their own.

 

I, personally, don't trust that the auto wreck company will be honest, as there is no way to tell what car this blower motor came from or what "real" mileage the car had. From what I've read, there is no way, by part number, to tell the difference between one from a 2009 and 2013. My blower started to fail at 25,000 miles, so any wrecked car will have mileage approaching that, or past that. I guess it's a gamble either way.

 

you an expert, congrats.

 

I checked my local dealer, LIA in Enfield CT. The price for the blower motor is a whopping $260 including tax. Mine is going soon.... I can tell by the noise in 1st and 2nd speed. Trying to prepare myself. Too bad, considering the thing is a piece of junk and badly made.

 

Bit less online...

 

Would you do the rest of us a favor and record the sound? If we can preemptively swap out a bad blower motor, maybe we can save the resistor before it also gets burnt out.

Thanks