Author Topic: Rebuild a Heater Motor? (Read 5242 times)

Jettage1 · « **on:** January 31, 2009, 12:40:25 pm »

Okay, call me cheap, but I'm trying to moderate (or at least infinitesimally slow) my investment in the car... :shock:

My A2's heater motor has begun to squeal and rattle. New ones aren't cheap, at least not that I've found. Anyone had success in rebuilding theirs? I haven't removed it yet - just doing some advance research here. Or sources for reasonably priced new ones would be good too.

Thanks in advance!

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2009, 09:39:53 pm »

cheaper than this? :wink:

depending on whats wrong with yours (probably a bushing) it might be worth it for you to fix it. if you have time, then thats all it will cost (and a new bushing) :lol:

Rabbit TD · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2009, 10:12:33 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

cheaper than this? :wink:

depending on whats wrong with yours (probably a bushing) it might be worth it for you to fix it. if you have time, then thats all it will cost (and a new bushing) :lol:

Or you could just get one from a junk yard but for thirty four dollars I wouldn't be afraid to try that one but none of their pumps ect.

Jettage1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2009, 05:19:25 am »

Quote from: "libbybapa"

Pull the glove box and lube the outer bushing.

Andrew

Looks like Andrew wins, with jtanguay a close 2nd! :lol:

I'll give it a try. Thanks for the help!

the caveman · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2009, 07:08:42 am »

It's so easy to remove you can try all kind of things without taking too much time to see what works.

Jettage1 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2009, 10:10:10 am »

Quote from: "the caveman"

It's so easy to remove you can try all kind of things without taking too much time to see what works.

Even on an A/C car?

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2009, 11:00:03 am »

A couple of drops of a light high-quality oil (I'm a big fan of Tri-flow tefloned oil for electric motor bearings as an example) will go a long long way to solve squeaky fan motors... and the price can't be beat, even by cheap aftermarket replacement motors.

Jettage1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:14:07 pm »

I oiled it and voila! no squeak. But it still has that low "lump-lump-lump" sound, so I know it's not healthy.

Does anyone know whether you can remove the motor ass'y on an A/C car without drastic measures (i.e. some sort of dashboard removal)? It looks like the part of the dash that curves down comes REALLY close... I know all of the screws are accessible, but I'm not sure there's room to wiggle the unit out.

Thoughts?

the caveman · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:42:34 pm »

You didn't mention it was AC. To take it out if you do, it can be manhandled out if you remove the glove box completely .

Jettage1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2009, 09:04:45 am »

Quote from: "the caveman"

You didn't mention it was AC.

Sorry, you're right. My goof. Thanks for the info, though!

Jettage1 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2009, 06:46:29 am »

So I tried lubrication, but that only lasted a week or so.

I decided to replace the motor & bought a (non-dealer) replacement. Been working at removal. I removed the glove box and the "knee bar", and the screws holding the motor in.

I cannot see how to get it out, short of (a) taking a sawzall to the dash, or (b) removing the entire assembly from under the dash. There's too much clearance needed to just "flex" the dash.

Anybody know of any "how-to's" for this project? Bentley is sorely lacking. Phooey.

jtanguay · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2009, 09:35:42 am »

you can remove the bolt holding the whole assembly out if you need clearance (at the top), but i had no trouble accessing mine with the glovebox and trays gone.

katakura silk · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2009, 09:48:18 am »

Not to hi-jack your thread, but im in the same boat with a A1. If im right, I just remove my rain tray and pull the motor out from there, correct?

Somethings jammed in it to make it turn with to much resistance. (it blows the fuse every time.) I got it cleared for two days, then something jammed it again... :cry:

Jettage1 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2009, 12:20:49 pm »

Update:

After abusing my dash & threatening all manner of holy he!!, I discovered that the stock motor has two screws that hold the outer cover onto the main motor. With those out, the cover could be taken out separately. I was then able to flex the dash enough to get the motor core & squirrel cage out.

Installation of the cheap replacement was the reverse of removal, except that the replacement used three rubber prongs instead of the screws. I used some soap to lube the prongs so that I could slip it back together in the limited under-dash space.

Lots of cussing & wasted time, but 'tis done. So, for any poor slob coming along after me, it CAN be done on an A/C car, but it's not easy. As is often the case, you learn the hard way and then never get to use your knowledge again!

I'm keeping my factory motor - if the cheapy craps out, I'll put new bushings in the original.

smutts · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2009, 12:54:38 pm »

Er, why exactly is the glovebox bigger than the hole it is supposed to fit through? :?