It's important to know if your ceiling fan motor is bad before you make the decision to replace it. The first step is to determine whether or not your ceiling fan will work at all. However, if your ceiling fan's motor is no longer working properly, don't worry! There are steps you can take to determine whether or not your motor needs to be replaced. If your fan only turns on occasionally and does not spin in any direction, then it may be time for a new motor.