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I'm looking for someone to validate or disprove my opinion. Here is a video of the issue. https://www.dropbox.com/s/fjs8xtu0v9ikuov/IMG_3947.MOV?dl=0

The prior owner was a smoker and used in-vent air freshers. The blower motor was not making this sound until after I had the car for some time. I think I went over a bump one day and it started making noise. https://cdna.4imprint.com/prod/extras/100300/330264/700/1.jpg

My thought is one of these had fallen into the vent and the bump jostled it into the blower motor. Does this sound probable?

emican
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1 Answers1

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The squirrel cage has broken fin(s), or the motor bearing has gone (most likely on a '99), or the case has distorted -- all of which allow the unit to vibrate or slightly rub on a part of the case.

If you remove the glovebox and plastic the kick panel underneath it, you can press various places on the housing and case to see if the noise changes... if it does, it's a good indication you need a new blower motor.

It's not an expensive or technically hard job, but hopefully you're young and agile, or have had some contortionist training. I haven't, and I'm old...

The only other possibility is something loose, or the Cabin Air Filter is shot and loose (you may not have that option), but I strongly suspect you need a new blower. They come with the motor and squirrel cage fan as an assembly.

I doubt it's a broken air-freshener bit, because that noise wouldn't persist long... although it could break the plastic fan. Whatever the case, the repair is identical, and you'll know if you need a new blower assembly when you take it apart. I can't validate or disprove your opinion.

SteveRacer
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