blower motor noise

[reinhard1]

i have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD. blower motor is getting a little noisy at times and the fan is working only on high. assuming i need a new blower motor, where is it located and is it easy to replace by yourself. same with the blower resistor. i seen in a previous thread that someone suggested that if the blower only works on high it may be the resistor. i looked the resistor up on line and it looks like something that you plug in. keep in mind as a mechanic from 0 to 10 i rate a 1. thanks good luck.

[Macgyver55]

The blower is located under the dash on the passenger side just behind where the glove box is. Usually 3 or so screws holding it in. Not too bad to get at (compared to some)if I remember correctly. If you have only high speed the resistor is likely bad too and is located right near the blower.

[reinhard1]

Thanks guy's. i looked at some vidio's, and you are right about the location on both parts. i'm going to do it myself. these auto threads have saved me a lot of money with the help of you guy's and the video sure helps also. good luck.

[Jeremy airjer W]

the resistor is also held in with 2 screw.

the blower motor receives power all the time. It is controlled by the ground side. The ground is either directed right to ground (high speed) or it is directed through a series of resistors to make it turn slower.

If the blower motor is working than the only reason you would need to replace it is because it is making noise and not because it only runs on high speed.

[Whoaru99]

FWIW, I replaced a noisy blower motor on my Chevy with an auto parts store unit, twice. Both were nearly as noisy as the one going bad, just a different sort of noise.

Ended up buying a "genuine" part (yeah, cost more) but it's not noisy. YMMV.

[TooTallTom]

If you know that the resistor is bad, you could replace that and see if it happens to fix the noisy motor problem. It's a long shot, but it might save you a few bucks. And if it doesn't fix the noisy motor, you're not out anything for trying. Unless the noisy motor is what made the resistor go bad, but I don't know if that's what would likely happen. Anyone?

[Jeremy airjer W]

In high speed the resistor is bypassed. If the blower is making noise it is not because of the resistor. All the resistor does is drop voltage. It is probably the bushings that are worn out.

Worn out bushings could cause higher amperage draw which could cause extra burden on the resistor. If the blower is making noise its probably best to replace it as long as your contorted into a pretzel while replacing the resistor.

[reinhard1]

i'm assuming i have to replace both the resistor and the blower or just the blower first? thanks. good luck.

[Macgyver55]

Replace both. If you dont do the resistor your new blower will still have only high speed.

[TooTallTom]

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

[reinhard1]

thanks. good luck.

[reinhard1]

thanks again for the information. ok, so i got the blower off. man, that third screw was something else. way back and i had to get a off set screw driver to get it off. well the blower does't come with the fan so they tell me. just unclip the clip and pull the fan off and put the new one on and that's it. well, the fan will not come off. looks like the metal stem that it's on is rusty and the fan will not pull off. i sprayed WD40 on it and will check it later. Is there some way to pull the fan off the stem without breaking it? the guy at O'Reily said they dont carry a fan for the dodge truck 2001 ram 1500 i have. good luck and thanks.

[SpecialK]

I ran into the same thing Reinhard. Your blower motor is not the same unit you were given to replace it with. your fan is press fit / glued onto that shaft. No clip holding it on.

You can do one of two things.

Take the blower motor back to the parts store you bought it at and go get one with the fan already on it from the dealer. Going to cost you more though.

If you can get something underneath the fan and support that with the motor hanging down and then tap with a punch on the motor shaft to drive it out. Caution with this method is that the fan is made out of plastic and is now brittle. You really need to make sure that it is supported well so it doesn't shatter on you.

Good luck either way.

Kyle

[reinhard1]

thanks, Kyle. with the help of some of the guys from HSO. i did manage to get it off. the old one came with a clip and i took that off but the fan itself was stubborn. i ran some hot water on the plastic right on the stem part. i worked it a little but only about a 1/8th of it. then i put the base of the motor in a vise. i put a flat file under one side and a long screw driver under the other side. didn't have any wd40, so i remembered i had this stuff called "reel magic" that i use to spray on my line and reel once in awhile. i sprayed some right where the shaft is and let it sit awhile and then gently used both tools above to lift the fan and it came off.

i found out the O'Reily auto parts does not carry any fans for that motor but you could get any you wanted online. so the new one is in and working fine. thanks for the reply. good luck.

[harvey lee]

Good to hear it all worked out.

Who knows what the next repair job is that you can take on with the help of the guys here.

[reinhard1]

Harvey, that would be everything mechanical . good luck.

[SpecialK]

Nice that yours was the clip style! Also very glad you got it working. No heat in this weather is not an option!

Kyle