Re: Circulation Fan Woes . . .

[allanm@PrimeNet.Com]

//--- forwarded letter 
-------------------------------------------------------
> From: "Davis Walp" <73641.1733@compuserve.com>
> To: "Audi Server" <Quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
> Subject: Circulation Fan Woes . . .
> 
> Help!
> 
> My 1988 Audi 90 quattro has a circulation fan that is in the throes of death.
> It must be a bearing, as occasionally it howls at me from behind the glove box
> proportionally to the speed of the fan.  
> 
> My local mechanic informs me that it most likely will need replacing, and that
> (gulp) the whole dash needs to be removed to access the fan.  I am hoping that
> one of you have had experience with this and can share your experiences with me.
> Are there any cures, temporary or permanent short of replacing the entire unit?
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance for your help
> DRW in Rochester, New York
> 

Ahh, the noisey fan.  No, the dash does *not* have to be removed, but the glove box 
does.  My fan is original (7 years, 145,000 miles), and first started squeling about 2 
years ago.  Mine has started squeling again, so oil is probably only a short term 
solution.  Here is the drill to oil the bearings (or replace the fan):

Remove glove box and panel beneath dash.  Remove the fan cover -  this may be 4 
screws, I cant remember.  You now have a plastic housing holding the metal fan motor 
that you can not remove because of the AC duct.  Remove two (?) more screws that 
hold the fan housing to the fan motor.  These should be close to the motor shaft.  
Remove the plastic housing from the motor.  Someplace along here you need to remove 
the two wires connecting the motor.  Now just remove the motor and fan.

I have oiled mine twice, I suspect the thicker the oil the better, but don't know.  
Seems like I used something like STP.  There are sleeve bearings on both sides of the 
motor, so the fan has to be popped off the shaft.  To re-install it, use a small socket 
and the spring retainer-washer will snap back on.



--------------------------
Allan Morris
Phoenix, Arizona
allanm@primenet.com
-------1988--90Q----------