It seems that the blower motor resistor is a common
problem for this model of vehicle. The resistor is located behind the
glove compartment and controls the blower speed. If the resistor is
burnt or damaged, it can cause the blower to malfunction or stop
working altogether.
However, in your case, it sounds like the resistor is not the only
issue. You mentioned that the heat sink sparked when it hit the
ground, and the fan started working normally again. This suggests that
there might be a bad ground connection somewhere in the circuit, or a
loose wire that is causing intermittent contact. A bad ground can also
cause excessive current draw and damage the resistor or the motor.
To troubleshoot this problem, you will need to check the wiring and
the connectors for the blower motor and the resistor. You can use a
voltmeter to measure the voltage and the resistance across the
terminals, and look for any signs of corrosion, wear, or damage. You
can also try to bypass the resistor and connect the blower motor
directly to a 12V power source, and see if it works without any
issues. If the motor works fine, then the problem is likely with the
resistor or the wiring. If the motor does not work, then the motor
itself might be faulty and need to be replaced.
This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=402219755#402219755