Re: 80Q Moose in the Heater

["A. D. Morris" <allanm@primenet.com>]

>From: "Michael Benno" <mbenno@northstar-mn.com>
>Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 15:50:42 -0600
>Subject: Re: 80Q Moose in the Heater
>
>The bushing on the blower fan is dead, the noise is more audilbe when
>it is cold out. The fan will last about 80k -100k. It is a fairly
>common failure. The fan is $80 and to install is about $40. The
>bushing is not replacable. If you want to replace it yourself, it
>will take two people and a 2x4 for prying the dash to give just the
>correct abount of clearance to remove the blower.
>
>The proceedure is simple:
>1. Remove the glove box
>2. Unplug the blower connector
>3. Remove the three bolt which hold the blower in. (notice you can
>almost remove the blower but can quite clear the duct work. 4. Remove
>the dash fixing bolts on the passanger side (facing the door) 5.
>Using a 2x4 pry up the dash and maneuver the blower out and replace.
>6. Reassemble
>

This appears effective, but, uhhhh,  difficult...

Other posts mentioned plastic surgery.  The plastic surgery *may* be
applicable to the 4k/5k/100/200 series, but *not* to the 80/90 (US
models).

However, I have another method to replace the 2x4:

Taking a page from Audi Dudi's book - " if it won't come out, remove
something else".  The trick is to remove the fan from the housing
which holds it.  Two screws hold the fan to a plastic housing.  Remove
these, pull the plastic housing off, leaving the fan inside the
plenum.  With a minor amount of wiggling, the housing will now come
out.  Then you are left with the motor and blower.  They will also
come out.  This housing normally comes off with the fan, and taking it
off first give you just enough clearance.

Reverse the procedure to install your new fan.  

The sleeve bearings do have a finite life, mine lasted 130k (7 years)
until the first oiling.  I had to re-oil it one year later, and
replaced it last weekend.


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