Heating/AC fan is squeaky

[foxcorner]

My son told me there was a cricket trapped in the car.

It's not a cricket.

It's the heating fan.

(a) is it easy to get to (e.g. by taking the dash-top off)?

(b) is it fixable by lubrication? or do I need a new fan?

Thanks!
Dan

[valbowski1980]

Are you sure that it's not the sensor right under the heated seat switches? It was quite annoying but after I blew some dust off of it with a can of compressed air it shut up.

[foxcorner]

I'm sure it's the fan. It changes speed exactly as the fan does, and when I stop the fan, it stops.

By the way, I've wondered what that sensor's for... is it internal temperature?

[Basre]

Not good news I'm afraid,
The Blower motor on all 9000's die, sooner or later.. they run all the time so can one really expect less?,
Replacements run $60 to $100 for parts (eeuroparts.com) The motor lives approx under the base of the windshield, accessible (eventually) but removing the 'false' firewall and removing the AC bits to get at the thing. Replacing the motor is listed at
3 ! hours labour in each direction this is no small undertaking as result one invariably replaces the Heater core in the same operation.. to save $. Another $100 in parts.
DIY is possible and has been done often, but accumulate all the bits and good instruction beforehand then start first thing on a Saturday AM.

[foxcorner]

Originally Posted by Basre

Not good news I'm afraid...<snip>...
DIY is possible and has been done often, but accumulate all the bits and good instruction beforehand then start first thing on a Saturday AM.

Ouch!

Actually, there's extra work too: the ACC doesn't redirect the air to anywhere other than the windshield. This is OK for winter; but I may just take it in to the local SAAB specialist and get him to fix all the heating doings in one go.

From what you're saying, it's going to be beyond my skill level.
Well, more specifically, beyond my ability to fit it in one weekend with 3 kids, church, etc, etc.

[Superaero]

That usually means the stepper motors (servo motors) are broken also. Well, usually the one stepper motor goes before the other one but as the labour to get at them isn't trivial in airbag equipped cars it is best to replace both servos at once. You might save the servo that still works for later when the car is older and only one servo breaks.


The servos require another set of labour from the heater fan and heater core ( I second the idea that you replace both together). I also recommedn you have the mechanic check the recirc door motor for proepr operation also. It is another set of labour to replace but it is much easier to do if the heater core or fan is being replaced.

As for the other little fan that can also squeak like a cricket (much higher pitch than the heater fan) that is an expensive but easily replaced component under the heated seats switches and as you correctly divine, signals the ACC as to the existing cabin temperature so the ACC can adjust the heat or cooling to move that temperature to match the selected tempeature on the ACC display.

[D. Thomas]

There is a "quick-fix" to the squeaky blower. Cut a small square opening on top of the blower plastic housing. Take compressed air and blow out all of the depris that you can. Take some spray silicone and shoot into the blower unit. This will temporararily stop the squeeking.

When you cut the opening, be sure to keep the cut out piece and use some duct tape to close the opening back up.

Had to do this to my 9000 and it last several months and then you just clean it out again and silicone spray it.

Wolfeman

[foxcorner]

Thanks for the details.

Originally Posted by Superaero

As for the other little fan that can also squeak like a cricket (much higher pitch than the heater fan) that is an expensive but easily replaced component under the heated seats switches and as you correctly divine, signals the ACC as to the existing cabin temperature so the ACC can adjust the heat or cooling to move that temperature to match the selected tempeature on the ACC display.

It's the first time I've ever seen a thermometer that needs a motor...

It's also odd that it runs for about a minute after the car's completely switched off.

And in my case, it's definitely the fan that's squeaky, not the sensor.

[foxcorner]

Originally Posted by D. Thomas

There is a "quick-fix" to the squeaky blower. Cut a small square opening on top of the blower plastic housing. Take compressed air and blow out all of the depris that you can. Take some spray silicone and shoot into the blower unit. This will temporararily stop the squeeking.

When you cut the opening, be sure to keep the cut out piece and use some duct tape to close the opening back up.

Had to do this to my 9000 and it last several months and then you just clean it out again and silicone spray it.

Wolfeman

I *like* this idea. I'll bear it in mind. Is the fan easy enough to find (and cut into) when the dash-top is removed?

[9000freak]

Originally Posted by Basre

The Blower motor on all 9000's die, sooner or later..

from what ive heard from my buddies that have had the blower motor die on their 9k, it should be covered by Saab, for some reason. at least thats what theyve told me. bring it in to your local dealership and ask them

[2garfields]

It works. A master Saab mechanic did it on my 95 Saab 9000 CSE, and it only him around 15 mins. If you click on this link,http://www.eeuroparts.com/searchresu...=1152&cat=1000 it will show a photo from Eeuroparts.com for the whole AC system. If you cut a hole next to the AC speed controler(Item #6), and put WD-40 in here, and make sure you use some tape to cover it once you are done. The mechanic also mentioned the blower fan blades will not stay on very well, once you get way of the fan blower, you should buy the whole Ac blower with fan bladers.

[AUSSIE JIM]

Foxcorner, You'll Be Hunting For A Long Time To Find It If You Take The Dash Cover Off. It's Not There. You Have To Go In From The Engine Bay Side.

[D. Thomas]

Originally Posted by AUSSIE JIM

Foxcorner, You'll Be Hunting For A Long Time To Find It If You Take The Dash Cover Off. It's Not There. You Have To Go In From The Engine Bay Side.

Muy Correcto Aussie Jim, it is located under the cowl near the firewall on the drivers side. The hole has to be cut on the left side(narrow side) of the blower cover to reach the gear. Can use a sharp box cutter or blade to cut the opening(can cheat and use a drill and cut a hole as well being careful not to hit the gear).

[foxcorner]

Thanks guys - that's a big pile of combined wisdom there!
Next time I get a chance (at least a week from now), I'll
have a look at the blower and see what I can do.

[Superaero]

The cabin air temp sensor needs a fan to ensure even temperature air flowing over the sensor for accurate temperature read. It stays on for four minutes after shutdown so American automotive "journalists" don't get their knickers in a knot because the ACC resets itself to zero every time they switch cars. For real people driving real cars in real situations the ACC resetting itself to baseline everytime you switch off is a great idea. The four minute fan allows the ACC to remember the settings at shutdown for four minutes in case you just needed a pee break or something.


I'm enjoying watching the older Top Gear shows we are currently getting on BBC Canada, from the UK.... they are very unkind but entirely accurate when assessing both North American built cars and their drivers and testers. The latest show I saw involved a test of the Cadillac CTS in Holland: it actually goes round corners was a significant advance apparently.... (ugly though, and slow in our market where fuel costs less than CDN$1 per liter for 91 pump octane which is around 95 RON. That would be around 46P per liter for you UK residents!). I drove 300 km today in around 2.5 hours averaging around 34 mpg (8.2 l/100 km) at around 130 km/hr in my 97 Aero and actually had to consciously steer around several sweeping corners on our highway, at least four or five I remember!

[foxcorner]

I think it's actually only one minute it runs for in my 9000. Not that it matters much, especially as I've got thing to fix with the heating anyway.

I've driven a number of US-built cars here as rental cars, and most of them are so-so, and with a bunch of annoying design faults. For example, the radio on current Pontiacs and (I think) Chevrolets has a volume ring around the on-off button. Normal enough, and sensible... except that the edge of the ring is *sharp*! So, if you switch the radio on or off with your finger not in the dead center of the button, it hurts!

My wife drives a Chevrolet minivan. It beats me how the 3.1 litre V6 can generate a whopping 120hp *and* give poor gas milage! That takes real engineering to do that, it does!

[foxcorner]

I think it's actually only one minute it runs for in my 9000. Not that it matters much, especially as I've got thing to fix with the heating anyway.

I've driven a number of US-built cars here as rental cars, and most of them are so-so, and with a bunch of annoying design faults. For example, the radio on current Pontiacs and (I think) Chevrolets has a volume ring around the on-off button. Normal enough, and sensible... except that the edge of the ring is *sharp*! So, if you switch the radio on or off with your finger not in the dead center of the button, it hurts!

My wife drives a Chevrolet minivan. It beats me how the 3.1 litre V6 can generate a whopping 120hp *and* give poor gas milage! Takes real engineering to do that, it does!