Replacing a 3-way Ceiling Fan Pull Switch 1

[davedeanna]

PLEASE HELP ME !!!
I have a ceiling fan/light that is controlled by one wall switch. The fan and light are operated independently by using the pull chains (fan has 3 speeds). The light works fine but the fan will not turn on. The pull chain will no longer "ratchet", so I assumed it was the switch at fault. I took the switch apart, with the wires still in the switch and rotated the switch ratchet to an "on" position. The fan worked. I bought a new switch and wired it like I THOUGHT it was wired before, but it will not work. There were 3 wires going to the switch, going into positions 1, 2, and 3. The L position was not being used (I'm almost sure of that). There is a black, blue and red wire. I have black going to 1, blue going to 2, and red going to 3. What did I do wrong?. Also, I pulled the wires out of the new switch since it didn't work, and it was hard to get them out b/c of the way they are secured after pushing them in. Would that damage anything? Can I rewire the switch? My next step is to buy a new fan/light, but I hate to do that since I know everything works fine. There are only 3 wires going to the switch....The fan worked at 3 different speeds.....One terminal did not have a wire....What's the deal????.....I'm lost.
Thank you.

 

[jbartos]

Suggestions:
1. Post nameplate data or manufacturer name and model/type
2. Try similar product manufacturer over

http://www.thomasregister.com

 

[rlaft]

1. Remove the switch from the fan with the wires
2. By "feel" see if the wires are making cintact where they are going into the holes. If they are excessively loose and/or pull out, you probably should replace the switch.
3. Connect an ohmmeter probe to the black wire and the the other probe to the blue or red wire. Pull the switch chain a total of 4 times. The meter should show continuity in one or more positions. If not, try removing the black wire from its hole and shoving it into the hole marked L. Make sure the insulation has been stripped. If the wire won't pull out, you may be able to help it using a pin stuck in the hole along with the wire. If it won't come out, don't worry about it. Get a new black wire and shove it into the "L" hele. You can put a wire nut on the old wire if the switch turns out OK.
4. Repeat the ohmmeter test. If continuity in one or more positions, do it again with the meter connected between black and the other colored wire. Repeat the switch test looking for continuity in one or more positions.
5. If the switch did not test OK, buy a new one. If it did test OK, wire it back into the fan matching colors and the fa should work OK.