A/C Blower Motor - Mating call of the whales???

[mthomas58]

A/C blower motor was replaced 2 years ago by PO. After upgrading/replacing my A/C system I now notice an intermittent high pitched squeal that sounds like National Geographic whale mating calls occuring only during high ambient temps and only at idle rpms. What gives?

A/C system is fully functional otherwise and issue is intermittent at high ambient/low idle rpm only. At ambients < 80-85 degrees no issues/no squeal at all.

As soon as I increase throttle rpm's the squeal goes away. Any ideas?

[scottb]

Sounds like a "hurricane" is in your future!

[crustychief]

maybe the bearing at low rpm's has all the weight of the squirrel cage fan on it and the increase of rpm's on the engine increases an increase of rpm's on the fan ( voltage increase ) and the fan develops lift? heat would be a factor because of expansion of the parts? Just trying to figure it out.

[mthomas58]

I do recall that shortly after the A/C blower motor replacement there was an intermittent high pitched screech comming from the blower cage (totally different sound) that the PO's tech repaired. I noticed when I had the system apart that the PO's tech put a dab of JB Weld on the blower cage where it attaches to the motor spindle.

[mthomas58]

Originally Posted by scottb

Sounds like a "hurricane" is in your future!

Charlie, if you're out there, does your new blower motor work on an 87 evap box?

[4flyboy]

I had this sound when my 3.2 was new to me. I'd turned the blower nob by accident whilst cleaning. Every time I'd start the car the "whaleing" would start. Geez I thought I needed a complete engine overhaul. Freaked me out for two days.

Scott

[JeremyD]

Pull off the screw on the top of the blower motor at the smugglers's box and add a few drops of high quality lubricant.

[Barrpete]

The change in noise with engine RPM could be voltage related. Might be an early symptom of a failing voltage regulator. At least its easy to check.

I wouldn't think ambient temp would affect the VR though.

[mthomas58]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Pull off the screw on the top of the blower motor at the smugglers's box and add a few drops of high quality lubricant.

Good suggestion. Will give it a try.

[kuehl]

Originally Posted by mthomas58

Charlie, if you're out there, does your new blower motor work on an 87 evap box?

The Kuehl Wirbelsturm (Hurricane), at this time, will only fit OEM (Behr) evap boxes up through 1985; up through this time period the top of the boxes are rather flat without the high hump; up through 85' have the motor shaft pointed upward with a metal blower and from 86' onward the motor shaft is pointed downward and uses a plastic blower. You could find an inexpensive used through 85' top with its motor platform (plastic base motor sits in) and metal blower and then use the Wirbelsturm.

However, before you invest further lets find out what is making the noise. If your voltage is rising and falling, say between 12 and 14 v nominal you may get a variation in fan speed. You can verify this with a volt meter at various points.

A "squealer" could be: motor shaft bearing or maybe the plastic wheel is is touching the plate underneath; the 86-89 box tops are not as rigid as the earlier versions (different plastics). Since the motor is rather new I would lean toward something "moving"; maybe smuggler's cover is pressing down on the top of evap box, you could verify that by simply lifting up the smugglers cover and see if the squealer leaves the nest. You could verify if the motor is seated all the way in top of the evap box top by removing the screw on the top and seeing if you can see if the top of the motor bracket appears to be pulled upward all the way; and naturally you could take the puppy apart and inspect the blower wheel and its clearance in relation to underside of the evap box top and the lower plastic plate.

Frankly, since I'm not there I don't have my eyes fully on the problem. However it sounds (!!!) like a "fixable" task.

You'll have to excuse me for the moment, I'm deep in thought pondering how I'm going to remove those funky "lock" lugs that need the funky socket since "someone" misplaced it down on LBI while fixing a loose wheel bearing this past weekend. The question is do we : (a) use hole saw, (b) determine if the special missing socket is common, (c) plasma the bugger.

[GH85Carrera]

This is off topic from the blower motor but.....

I helped a friend remove some wheel locks that the special lock socket was missing. We just bought a cheap 16mm Chinese socket and hammered it on. It work 4 times before it split. We were done so the socket went in the trash as to not pollute the tool box.

[mthomas58]

Originally Posted by kuehl

The Kuehl Wirbelsturm (Hurricane), at this time, will only fit OEM (Behr) evap boxes up through 1985; up through this time period the top of the boxes are rather flat without the high hump; up through 85' have the motor shaft pointed upward with a metal blower and from 86' onward the motor shaft is pointed downward and uses a plastic blower. You could find an inexpensive used through 85' top with its motor platform (plastic base motor sits in) and metal blower and then use the Wirbelsturm.

However, before you invest further lets find out what is making the noise. If your voltage is rising and falling, say between 12 and 14 v nominal you may get a variation in fan speed. You can verify this with a volt meter at various points.

A "squealer" could be: motor shaft bearing or maybe the plastic wheel is is touching the plate underneath; the 86-89 box tops are not as rigid as the earlier versions (different plastics). Since the motor is rather new I would lean toward something "moving"; maybe smuggler's cover is pressing down on the top of evap box, you could verify that by simply lifting up the smugglers cover and see if the squealer leaves the nest. You could verify if the motor is seated all the way in top of the evap box top by removing the screw on the top and seeing if you can see if the top of the motor bracket appears to be pulled upward all the way; and naturally you could take the puppy apart and inspect the blower wheel and its clearance in relation to underside of the evap box top and the lower plastic plate.

Frankly, since I'm not there I don't have my eyes fully on the problem. However it sounds (!!!) like a "fixable" task.

You'll have to excuse me for the moment, I'm deep in thought pondering how I'm going to remove those funky "lock" lugs that need the funky socket since "someone" misplaced it down on LBI while fixing a loose wheel bearing this past weekend. The question is do we : (a) use hole saw, (b) determine if the special missing socket is common, (c) plasma the bugger.

Pressure from the smugglers box lid on the cover on the plastic evap box makes sense to me. Particularly as I ONLY get the squeal at high ambients when the plastic is hot and most pliable. I almost always notice the squeal on the way back to the office after lunch when the car is heat soaked. I'll try unlatching the smugglers box lid and see what happens. I did build up the outside of the box with 1/4" of foam insulation which may be putting too much pressure on the box lid....it was a very tight fit getting the evap box back in its home.

Thanks Charlie! It's sure been a Kuehl summer in Atlanta this year! (had to replace the upstairs A/C in the house too)

[3.2 CAB]

Did you ever find out the purpose of the JB-Weld on the fan shaft?? I wonder if there was a problem with the cage spinning around on the shaft, and the JB was an attempt to secure it, so it would not let the shaft spin inside the fan cage? Maybe the JB has let go, and the cage is now able to have the shaft rotate inside of the cage, making the noises, till it happens to find a spot where it will turn evenly with the fan shaft???? Just some thoughts, because things like JB on certain things, make me suspect of the actual function and what else could happen, due to a broken cage shaft collar, or a spun shaft surface, where the lock down set screw is located?

[Alan L]

I have had same. My whales fortunately are far enough away from yours. I put mine down to dry bearing. Not easy to get to.
Mine fixed temporarily after pulling it apart and lubing.
I suspect oil dries out. Perhaps graphite?
Alan