So my Kia seems to have an A/C speed setting switch (4 speeds) that is going bad.It works intermittently. Not the "function" switch,the speed (1 thru 4) switch.I assume it's just a potentiometer. The OEM replacement for those are very expensive. My question is could I somehow "jumper" across 2 of the wires and permanently set it on high(4) ? I would be fine with that as it gets quite hot here in Texas! It has 6 wires going to the pot...blk,org,blu,wht,red and brn. I am good at working on car engines but struggle with ANYTHING electrical. Thanks for any help at all.

 

It’s probably not a pot, but rather a ‘digital’ switch. It could be truly digital, like a dip switch, but it might be 4 voltages established in the switch with a couple resistors.

Either way, the good news is that it should be easy from an electrical point of view to make a fix or a bypass. The hard part is usually getting at the innards so you can determine what you need.

Have you searched for the shop manual for your car? They can be hard to find but would give the information you need to make a fix.

 

Pretty sure its a pot. The reason I say that is I had it apart all the way down to the innards and there is a narrow copper/brass "track" that a foot(for lack of a better word) contacts and moves around the track as you turn the knob. Track is about the diameter of a golf ball. The foot or track are probably worn after 11 years of use. In your best guess which of the 6 wires would be the ones to "jumper" to have it permanently set on high? The black and red ones are heavier gauge so I assume they are the hot and ground. I have a voltmeter but have not probed any wires yet. Thanks.

 

Can you post some pictures?

 

Will try to post pics tomorrow when its better lighting. Jumping the hot wire to the ground wire would be a no-no I assume? One wire must be coming from the "function" switch to energize the setting/speed switch but I dont know what the other wires are for. I suppose the worst that would happen is a blown fuse if I randomly start connecting 2 wires together. Hopefully its not a full 12 volts at the switch!

 

I would be careful with jumping power or even grounds on those leads. Are you sure that the pot is isolated? Is it connected to other circuits or sensors? If your trying to keep cost down......it's best to study your circuit.

Can you find a internet forum that's for your car.......search electrical problems there.......if no one's had same problem.......maybe at least you can get schematic.

 

The switch I'm dealing with is on the far left screen...blower control switch. It appears the large white wire leaves the pot/resistor and goes to the blower motor,probably carrying a full 12 volts as car blower motors are quite strong.(depending on pot position?) Black seems to be ground. Voltage seems to enter the pot via the brown wire from center switch?

https://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/tracker40/2012-01-07_154034_1.gif

 

Top right I see what looks to be a resistor board with three fixed resistors. You have 4 speeds with Hi bypassing the resistors and each speed lower than Hi places more resistance in the circuit. Normally you can remove these resistor cards and see where they have failed or burned open. While I never got one for a Kia I have replaced a few for friends and they were not that expensive buying a generic replacement from an auto parts store. Anyway I see a switch for selecting speed on a resistor card which should have three fixed resistors.

A Kia Sportage replacement card runs about 12 to 15 USD, not at all expensive. They can be had at any auto parts store. THe Sedona models cost slightly more.

Ron