For some reason lately when I have been turning on the blower in my car, even with heat or A\C my car makes a loud buzzing noise that comes from the passenger side of the car. I hear it no matter what settings I use, hot cold, A\C on, A\C off, or even with any of the vent options. I am also having a problem with my High Beams, When I switch them on my DRLs just turn on. My High Beam light does not even turn on. My DRL light does though. I have a 1999 Sunfire. Does anyone have an suggestions? Thanks in advance for any help. =D

1999 Sunfire 2.2L

There is probably a piece of paper or something stuck in the HVAC fan blower under the dashboard, passenger side. As for the lights I would check relays and fuses to start with.

Thank you! I will check those tomorrow and post an update. How do you suggest I check the fan? Just take the motor out and check the vents? I am new to this sort of stuff , so how do check the relays? I have a test lamp, is there a diagram somewhere to show where to check them?

1999 Sunfire 2.2L

UPDATE: Well I checked the vent and there was nothing stuck. I did some more research and I am starting to think that the motor is on its last legs. I checked the Relays for the High Beams and they are working. So I am stumped on that now.

1999 Sunfire 2.2L

is the blower sound more of a ticking sound??? because both my 01 gt and my sisters 02 ls sport have a ticking sound that comes from the blower... but it just goes away..... then comes back a few months later

I had to replace my Hi/Low Beam/Turn Signal switch on the steering column because my hi beams would flicker to low and sometimes just go to DRL.

I ordered the new steering column light switch from AA or Parts America and it was delivered to my door.

Play with this switch by flicking the Hi/Low switch a few times to see if the Hi beams come on. If they do, even if they just flicker, I bet it is the switch.

About the HVAC fan noise, to check if there is something stuck in there you have to remove the cover under the dashboard and see inside the plastic weel that is turned by the fan motor and also in between the weel and its housing, I did it long time ago and I believe it is under the glove box if I remember right...not sure though. Lets hope someone clears that. BTW I took the plastic weel or turbine out and washed it since dust sticks to it. You could run the A/C without the turbine to check if it is the fan motor and if so try some WD40 on its bearings.

Yup, the fan motor is located under the passenger side dash.

Well, it is not a ticking sound. It is a distinct buzzing. I didn't think that I would have to take the motor off to look for anything that might be stuck. I will do that today. About the switch, before I really learned to do anything on my own with cars I had it looked at, and I was told that the switches and relays were working fine. The mechanic told me that it would cost him $135 just to look to see if he could find the problem and that is to just see if he can fix it. $135 was a lot so I decided to wait. Now that I have found this website I thought I could see if there was anything I could do on my own. When I pull my switch to go to high beams it does not even flicker. It jumps striaght to DRLs. I thought DRLs are just High Beams at low power, so doesn't that the wiring to my bulbs is fine?

1999 Sunfire 2.2L

UPDATE: I replaced the blower motor. Now it works great! Its nice to have friends who know what they are doing. I will keep playing with the lights to see if I figure something out, but I think that it is probably over my head.

1999 Sunfire 2.2L

GM is noted for poor electrical systems. i rewired and replaced alot of it in my car and otheres/ too. i would save check the wires to the lights, maybe the switch too like said before, chech a local junk yard for it, they will be cheap then. look for burnt wires, also see about corroded ones too, maybe the high beams just are not getting enough power, thats why the drl comes on , or appears to.

Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

Ok I checked the relay and that is fine. I tested all the wires on the connector to the switch with a volt meter. I don't see a problem expect that the brights only show around 9.5v on the meter all the others are 12v. Is that correct or should it be 12v also?


1999 Sunfire 2.2L

I would lean towards the switch on the steering column. And a question for you Jay!! How hard was it to replace your blower motor, cause my car does the same damn thing!!! LOL

the blower motor is easy IF

1) You pull out the passenger seat
2) you have a 5.5 mm 1/4" drive socket.
3) you have a 1/4" drive swivel
4) you have a 1/4" drive nut driver
5) you have patience for the back two bolts.

Leave the front bolt in until you get the back two out.

I got a factory air blower motor from advance auto parts for about 45 bucks

Oh wow... you see, I thought Jay was an amateur DIY guy, so I figured it was easy cause it sounded like it was aneasy fix. So I'll just wait this one out until the weather is nice, which at that time I won't need the blower much anyway cause my A/C has a leak

well i did it in within an hour ... but im also a mechanic...

its not hard... its just tiedious... stick your head under the passenger section of the dash behind the glove box for a round object sticking down and take a look at the bolts... theres three of em... if you can break em lose and pull em out... you can do the swap.

I am an amateur. It really was an easy fix. Didn't take much time at all. You don't have to pull out the passenger seat. Just be a little uncomfortable for a bit. The hardest part was getting the bolts out. Once I did that i just pulled the connector out of the blower motor pulled the plastic covering off and got my new motor out. A tiny problem I ran into was my new motor did not have the GM connector so I had to cut and wire it together on my own. It was as simple as a strip and crimp but I accidentally wired it backwards the first time so I had to take it all back out and do it again. As long as you have access to that swivel ratchet it will be easy. Good luck and if you need any help I will see what I can do.

Now for an update on my brights. I checked the voltage again today and it was 6.5v and it slowly dropped until I took the volt meter off and put it back on and it started at 6.5v again and dropped. Just a few minutes ago I checked it and it was 7.3v and it dropped slowly. Is that bad, or normal? I have no reason to think the problem is anywhere else the but the switch. I checked out that big connector under the battery and it seemed fine all the wires were intact. Just looking for another opinion.


1999 Sunfire 2.2L

i'm 6'5" ... my passenger seat had to come out...

good work though

Lol you have no argument 6 foot 7 and i did it not that comfortable tho

@speedline haha thanks.
Well I 6'1" it wasn't too bad. I just just barely was able to let my butt rest on the door opening. I was proud of myself, thats only my second project for my car. I'm 16 and just getting into this stuff. I feel like everyone here is in at least their 20s.


1999 Sunfire 2.2L

UPDATE I ran some other tests I found In a different thread. I was able to get each of my lights to turn on by grounding one of them directly yo the battery from the connector to the bulb. I tested both sides and they both worked fine. I also tested the switch with a volt meter on the positive battery terminal and I checked the pink wire for ground when I pulled the headlight switch and I was getting 12v. When I turned my lows on I got 0v an the pink and 12v on the blue. So I am assuming that means the switch is working. Anyone got anymore ideas?


1999 Sunfire 2.2L

Well, judging by that, sounds like a ground problem dood. If you grounded them out, and they worked, then you solved your problem temporarily. See if you can find a wiring schematic to find out where the system is grounded

Well thats what I was thinking too. I just didn't want to start cutting wires and finding out that I am wrong. It is grounded through the switch. When I turn the switch on it grounds the lights and they are supposed to turn on. I tested already that at the point where the wire enters the switch it is grounded. I am pretty much waiting for conformation that my wires are causing the problem. Thats what it seems like so is my best option just to run a new wire?


1999 Sunfire 2.2L

i guess that is the best option... I can't say for sure cause I don't have a schematic in front of me. I'm thinking that that ground may be shared with other components... so i would get the schematic and see where the harness is grounded, and if it's easy, fix the problem at the source... if its difficult, then running your own wire would be a good fix, but may not be the most reliable.

Hmmm.. Ok thank you! =D Well I did some more testing today and determined that the problem is somewhere after the big connector under in battery. By after I mean between the connector and the lights. So I could open up the conduit tubing and look for signs of breakage. That is easier that starting from scratch with a new wire.


1999 Sunfire 2.2L