effects of a bad cooling fan resister.

[Steve Tinker]

Usually, when the ballast resistor fails on the lower setting, the fan will not run at the slow speed - it does not revert automatically to the higher speed.
So your car will be left operating on one fan @ the slow speed, but if you think your temps are maybe too high, switch on the A/C which automatically reverts fans to high speed.

[mountainman]

Originally Posted by Steve Tinker

Usually, when the ballast resistor fails on the lower setting, the fan will not run at the slow speed - it does not revert automatically to the higher speed.
So your car will be left operating on one fan @ the slow speed, but if you think your temps are maybe too high, switch on the A/C which automatically reverts fans to high speed.

I didn't think it would automatically go to high speed because the low speed was inoperative, but assumed that if the temperature started toclimb because the low speed wasn't working that that would cause the high speed fan to come on and maintain the temp at normal. I have not noticed any increase in operating temp and I have no idea how long it has been inoperative. I will of course replace the resistor asap and as suggested can run the ac if need be.