Subject: 87 5K Ventilation Fan

[Christopher Ritchie]

Matt Ammann wrote:

My 87 5K ventilation fan has recently quit.  I don't
think that the problem is with the fan itself, as it
made no unusual noises.

Can anyone point me to likely culprits?  Where can I
find the appropriate relays, resistor packs,
controllers etc.


It probably is the fan motor.  The brushes wear out and stop making contact. 
  Check to see if you are getting power to the fan.  Put the climate control 
system on "DEFROST" with the key in the "ON" position.  It is not necessary 
that the car be running.  While in the "DEFROST" position, the fan should 
run immediately.  If it is getting power, your fan is bad.  If it is not 
getting power, something else upstream is bad.

If it is the fan, pull back the black plastic plenum cover at the base of 
the windshield.  You will see a big white plastic housing in the middle.  
That's where the ventilation fan motor lives.  Coming out of that white 
thing is a black rubber 90 degree hose on the driver's (US) side.  Pull that 
off, and you can see the brushes to the fan motor.  Spray some electrical 
contact cleaner in there and gently push the brushes down to make better 
contact with the motor commutator.

Check the archives on this.  Some people report that this fix only lasts a 
few months.  Others report it lasts longer.  Mine has lasted 1 year so so 
far.
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