Blower removal - take the hood off first or not?

[Pauwl]

I'm getting ready to replace the ventilation blower.

I've been reading up in the workshop manual (87-16), but that says I should take the hood off first.
I'd prefer not to if not really required.
I can remember seeing a write-up somewhere about it, but can't find it again.

Any experiences on replacing without removing the hood?

thanks,

Pauwl

[SeanR]

I've taken several of them out w/o hood removal.

2 bolts and one screw and it's out.

When you get it out, take a small drill bit and drill the top of it in the dimple, over the motor bearing. Put a few drops of oil in the hole and use some RTV and the hole up and you will have much longer life in the blower.

[1984928]

Mine wouldn't come out with the hood on, but if you marks the hinges the hood is off in 10 minutes and you have a ton of room to work.

Steve

[Pauwl]

Thanks for the fast response!

I'm missing the 2nd page from the manual (or my kids have sshuffled them).

I see on bolt from underneath, one screw from the top. Where is the 3rd bolt?

[928sg]

I removed mind a number of years ago with the hood on and scratched the underside of the hood up pretty badly. If you leave the hood on I would put on a few strips of duct tape to protect the hood....

I would also recommend covering the fuse panel by taping up a trash bag or plastic as there is usually a ton of leaves and grit that will fall down onto the panel, creating more work in the form of clean up...

[1984928]

The 3rd screw is inside the rubber sleeve between the fan housing and the duct under the plastic shield in fron of the cowl under the hood. Pull it towards the duct (away from the fan and look in the crack. It's in there

Steve

[ROG100]

Pauwl,
Sean already drilled out the top of the blower and added the oil.
Roger

[911blex]

Don't forget to clean the side of your a/c evaporator that will be exposed while you have your blower motor out. It is not uncommon to find that the front of it is caked with dark mixture of grease/junk/crud. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and some no-corrosive cleaner to gently clean the crud away. You may find that your a/c evaporate changes from a dark brown color to the aluminum color it is supposed to be.

[Pauwl]

Thanks all. I have now completed the work.
Things I learnt:

1) I did take the hood off after all. This was mainly because I couldn't find the 3rd screw. It's a hex-head on my car, and it's exactly where Steve mentions it in post #6. If I had smaller hands I couldn't felt it in there and probably would not have to have taken the hood off.

2) My workshop manual threw me off. It showed the 'underside screw' as being here:

In reality, I didn't have to stick anything into the grill, the screw was roughly positioned where I have draw the red circle. I might just have the wrong workshop manual come to think of it.

Thanks all for the help. In total 45 minute job, needed my wife to help hold the hood to take it off. As Roger pointed out in post #7 the part he shipped me already had the hole drilled & oil added.

[1984928]

Glad it all worked out well.

Steve