Remove the A/C blower without evacuating the system?

Duc Hunter · Duc Hunter's Garage

So in my 89 Anniversary Carrera the a/c blower sounds like it came loose and fell, and there by getting jammed and stopping. For a little while it was making a funny noise like rubbing, then would stop. I knew it was not an easy project so I was avoiding it. Cannot avoid it any more. These top mount blowers re a real PITA, third time this has happened in 5 years.

I am hoping I can pull the blower off the top of the evaporator without having to evacuate the system, repair or replace the blower, and re-install. This is Retro-Air blower (like a Griffiths). Is this possible? I know there are clips that hold it down. I think they are meaningless as the smugglers box lid touched the top of the blower and would keep it from going anywhere. Esp with a small piece of foam on top of the blower housing.

Synchro Joe · Synchro Joe's Garage

Believe you're asking about the A/C evaporator blower. You can remove the top half of the evaporator housing while it's still installed in the smuggler's box, but it's a pain. Basically it's unplug it, remove the 4 clips, and it comes off the lower half. The clips are an issue to deal with, but they can be removed. Hint is to use fishing line or string on them to keep them from falling into the bottom of the evaporator housing when removing and reinstalling. The clips can be replaced with screws for easier access, but something is needed for sealing the two halfs of the evaporator box together. Recommend Kuehl's higher output fan assembly! While you're in there, you can clean up the evap area a bit, and check the other items in the box. Lots of info here on A/C projects with photos, such as:

Griffith's AC upgrade for '84 911 install thread

My AC burns me up --- Summary of fix

Duc Hunter · Duc Hunter's Garage

Thanks Joe. I was talking about the evaporator blower. I already have the retro-air improved blower, and the system went in 3-4 years ago. So everything is pretty clean....just this dam blower issue. Turns out someone taped the blower housing to the blower housing to prevent any air from escaping. Great idea......unless you need to get back in there.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

I have done it that way, and it is a pain, but doable. In the end, the bent nose needle nose vice grips and a fishing line are your friend for getting the clips back on. Take pictures of the parts as you remove parts.

Be very careful pulling the funny looking wire out of the evaporator. It is not a wire, but a gas filled tube that senses the temperature of the evaporator. Do NOT bend it in a sharp way, or the gas tube will leak, and the gas escape, and you have to replace the switch. Be gentle, and bend it as little as possible. Be sure when you put it back in, to get it positioned all the way to the bottom of the little brass tube stuck in the evaporator.

In the end, look at the evaporator from the passenger footwell. If it looks dirty, or rusty, go ahead and replace it, and that means a full evacuation and recharge.

If the evaporator is clean, just replace the fan motor and reassemble.

blucille · 08-10-2019, 10:01 AM

been there, done that, so it can't be too hard. have lots of patience, find a comfortable working position....

I'll agree with all the other comments, I'm a fan (ha) of replacing everything nearby....my '83 has all new griffith's stuff....my 72 got his evaporator and fan while the system was being pieced back together after a long slumber.