Blower Motor Fix

[J_Ferguson]

(1) REMOVE PASSENGER SIDE KICK PANNEL YOU CAN SEE THE BLOWER MOTOR NOW.

(2) DISCONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE BACK SIDE OF THE BLOWER FAN.(THIS IS THE HARDEST PART, BUT ALSO THE MOST IMORTANT THE BLOWER FAN IS CONTROLLED BY THE GROUND SIDE SO IF IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE BLOWER MOTOR YOU GROUND THE HOUSING OUT ON ANY METAL YOU JUST TURNED IT ON THUS THE IMPORTANCE)

(3) REMOVE THE 3 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BLOWER FAN IN ( IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THEY ARE 5.5mm)

(4) REMOVE BLOWER FAN

(5) PART OF THE DRAIN TUBE SHOULD HAVE COME WITH THE MOTOR. POP THIS RUBBER PIECE OUT OF THE BLOWER MOTOR HOUSING.


QUICK (LESS THOROUGH) METHOD

(6) USE AN ORDINARY STRAW TAKE THE STRAW STICK IT IN A QUART OF MOTOR OIL (I USED STAIGHT 30 WT FROM MY LAWNMOWER) PUT FINGER OVER END TO HOLD THE OIL IN THE STRAW (I FILLED THE STRAW ABOUT AN INCH TO INCH AND A HALF) STICK STRAW DOWN HOLE WHERE YOU REMOVED THE DRAIN TUBE. (WIPE OFF OUTSIDE OF STRAW TO KEEP OIL OFF OF ELECTRICAL WINDINGS) YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT VERY CLOSE TO THE BUSHING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING.

(6a) A Q-TIP AND SOME GREASE CAN ALSO BE USED IF OIL DOESN'T DO THE JOB. SPIN MOTOR BY HAND. (info submitted by: SPCLK1981)(I AM GUESSING A LITHIUM GREASE WOULD BE BEST DUE TO ITS ABILITY TO HANDLE EXTREME PRESSURES AND HEAT JUST A GUESS THOUGH)
(6b) if you do the grease thing with the motor in make sure you keep the blower on low, 'cause it can shred the Q-tip pretty easily. I am sure little pieces of cotton rubbing in there isn't too good.(p.s. NEITHER I NORE SPCLK1981 ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST DAMAGED OR MISSING FINGERS )

(7) LET THE OIL RUN IN THE BUSHING AS YOU TURN THE FAN BY HAND (TO WORK THE OIL INTO THE ENTRE BUSHING AREA)


VERY THOROUGH METHOD(contributed by VEGASBOOST 13 AUG 03)

8) with the motor/fan assembly out, place it fan side down. On the bottom part of the assembly you will see the circular upper portion connected to the lower by some bent-over metal tabs. Use some vice-grips to straighten all the tabs. Seperate the two halfs - some extra force will need to be applied due to the powerful magnets holding them together.

The inside of the motor will be ugly: use sandpaper,ect. to remove the corrosion. WD-40 works good to clean, but use cautiosly around the connections. (additionally BRAKE-KLEEN can be used to clean electrical connections JMW)

use a dabs of oil on a small screwdriver to lubricate the top bushing ( by the brushes) and let it soak in well. On the bottom part of the shaft I used grease for durability. Spin the shaft several times and repeat if neccesary.

assembly is reverse of removal. Be sure to tap the metal tabs ALL the way down.

NOTE: NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO CLEAN OUT BOTH PARTS OF THE DRAIN TO PREVENT THE WATER ON FLOOR PROBLEM YOU HAVE READ ABOUT.

(7.5) THIS IS ALSO A GOOD TIME TO CLEAN OUT ANY DIBRIS, LEAVES ETC FROM THE BLOWER HOUSING AND WIPE IT DOWN WITH A DAMP...READ DAMP NOT WET CLOTH. THERE ARE SOME ELECTRICAL ITEMS THAT CAN BE GOTTEN TO IN THERE.

(8) REVERSE ABOVE STEPS FOR REMOVAL TO REINSTALL BLOWER FAN.


I BOUGHT MY CAR IN FEBUARY THIS YEAR(2002). IT STARTED DOING THIS IN MARCH. BY THE END OF MARCH I COULD NOT STAND IT. IT DID IT WHEN I RAN THE HEAT AND WHEN I RAN THE A/C. I DID THE ABOVE PROCEDURE AND IT HAS NEVER SQUEELED AGAIN AND THIS IS AUGUST (2004)NOW. (used the QUICK METHOD)

I ALSO INSTALLED A CABIN FILTER, (ORDER THE ONE FOR THE 2000 BUICK REGAL IT WILL FIT RIGHT IN Part numbers available in clubgp parts list) IT GOES UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE COWL JUST BELOW THE WINDSHIELD ON THE OUTSIDE. DOING THIS WILL KEEP ANY DIRT OR LEAVES ETC. FROM GETTING BACK IN AND CAUSING TICKING SOUNDS, PLUGGED DRAIN HOLES OR DRYING OUT OF THE BUSHING AGAIN.

HOPE THIS HELPS

I USED CAPS IN CASE ANYONE PRINTS THIS OUT IT MAKES IT EASIER TO READ WHILE PERFORMING THE PROCEDURE.

I WAS A MECHANIC BEFORE I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER.

THANKS TO SPCLK1981 AND VEGASBOOST FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS THREAD---(JMW)

UPDATE...it is MAY 06 and my blower motor just started squealing again...I could have re-done the above but figured I got 4 good years out of it and it was time to let it pass on. I got a new one from Autozone for $98 its a Siemens VDO model #PM2714 Their website shows the Siemens one costing $140 (IIRC) and it has a 1yr waranty but when I went into purchase the Factory Replacement one listed on their website (has lifetime waranty) the seimens one is the one they gave me...I asked if it was the correct one...they assured me it was and that it had the lifetime waranty...so don't waste your money on buying the Siemens one when the factory replacement is the same one.

BY JEFFSGTP
Club GP