Squeek coming from center vent! PLEASE HELP

stu_yoder · 09-01-2005, 01:46 PM

I have a terrible squeel coming from my center vent. It sounds like a bad bearing in the fan or something. After messing with it for quite some time I have come to the conclusion that it has to do with the main speed of the fan. Sometimes is doesn't squeel at all but after driving the car for a while it begins to squeel. It also becomes louder depending on if I have the fan speed set slow or fast. Anyone know what this might be??? It's driving me crazy!!! It sounds like i have a dash full of crickets.

Oh yeah, I have also discovered that there is no squeel when the vent fan is turned completely off, and also no squeel when I push the front windshield defrost button(which turns the fan on full speed). Any help is greatly appreciated. I really don't want to dig into my dash and come up with nothing so I thought asking here first may be a good idea! Thanks a lot!!!!

blkongry · 09-01-2005, 11:15 PM

Yep, sounds exactly like a dry bearing. I've got the same thing starting on my 4Runner... a little squeak at low rpms, then louder as you turn it up, then it goes away when on full blast. All it needs is a little lubrication, but how to get down in there to that bearing without tearing it all apart!?!?

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Yup, I had the same thing in my car - believe it or not, only when braking. I guess that the forward motion of the car against the brakes caused the bearing to squeek when there was a load on it. It sortof went away on its own. I thought about spraying lubricant down there, but then I figured it would be coming back out at me for the next six months...

Probably best to replace the fan...

-Wayne

stu_yoder · 09-02-2005, 08:53 PM

Is the fan connected to the bearing? What's the best place to find out exactly what parts I may need before taking my dash apart???

By the way, thanks for the info, I've been trying to figure out this annoying problem for quite some time!!!

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

The fan is the bearing, or the bearing is part of the fan motor - it's one assembly.

You might want to try spraying some WD-40 down there first, but it's a bit risky, as it may come back to haunt you later on...

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Actually, taking apart the heater area is such a huge pain, that I would be tempted to try just about everything else prior to embarking down that path...

-Wayne

stu_yoder · 09-05-2005, 05:00 PM

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking, if the WD40 doesn't cut it then it will probably end up drying up and evaporating anyway, it's worth a shot!! Do you think I need to pull the vent out and spray straight down or where exactly is the fan located???
again, thanks for all the info!

wavewuver · 09-07-2005, 07:49 AM

The fan is accessed from the engine compartment. There is an intake vent in the center at the firewall........go in from there to get to the fan. You have to take off the plastic engine covers to gain more working space. It's a PITA job. Lucky my crickets aren't bad enough to encourage me do do something.

I've read someplace you can get some lube in there via a long straw....good luck.