Bypassing Squeaky Fan

[CrazySwede]

Hi,

My "new" 964 has a terrible noisy fan (surprise!) and I was thinking of doing an easy temporary fix, just so I can enjoy driving the car until it is time for winter storage. I am planing to replace the fan later this year.

I am considering to disconnect the wires to the noisy fan. Anyone has any thoughts about this? Where should I do the actual disconnecting?

Very grateful for your advice!

[porterdog]

Rear fan? Pull the fuse.

[CrazySwede]

It is one of the two fans in the front (blower fan?). If I understand correctly, these two fans share the same fuse?

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by CrazySwede

It is one of the two fans in the front (blower fan?). If I understand correctly, these two fans share the same fuse?

My front driver side blower motor is also starting to squeak. I bought an oiler with a very long telescopic tube from an hvac supply house that I was planning to use to lube the bearings or bushings. I will try it this weekend and let you know how it turned out.

[RS America]

I had this problem 5-6 years ago and wrote this up for the 964.uk site that I belong too. It's a PDF with pictures.

Yahoo! Groups

I have not had to go back and do it again. Fans are still quiet even at low speed.

Important, use only the Caterpillar Oil with Moly, the oil will evaporate but leave the Moly which is a natural lubricant.

I just checked the link, it worked.

I'm at the Nurburgring with my RS America this week, ran 4 laps in the rain Thursday, ever run on a 14 mile skid pad, fun. I've run over 170 laps so far. Going back to run some more laps later today.

Good Luck, Don

[CrazySwede]

This is interesting! So there is a way of lubricating the fans without removing them?

Bazar01 please keep me posted about your efforts! Would be great if you could describe/show how you are doing it (would be appreciated by many 964 owners!)

RS America I can, by some unknown reason, not see the PDF you are referring to. Is it possible for you to mail it to me?

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by CrazySwede

This is interesting! So there is a way of lubricating the fans without removing them?

Bazar01 please keep me posted about your efforts! Would be great if you could describe/show how you are doing it (would be appreciated by many 964 owners!)

I looked at the evaporator fan assembly yesterday and it is nearly impossible to lubricate the front motor bushing without removing the front blower case which are secured with metal clips.
The only way I can see it getting lubricated is by drilling a small 3/16" diameter hole on top of the blower case behind the impeller and inserting a telescopic spout attached to a plastic squeeze bottle filled with lube oil. The hole can then be easily plugged.

Picture of the blower with the front cover removed and you can see where the motor shaft attaches to the impeller from behind. I will drill a small hole in the spot where the arrow points to.


If this don't work, I will just go ahead and pull the gas tank, fuel pump and ac hoses and metal wall behind it to access the blower assembly. I can also clean the evaporator coil while it is open.

[crg53]

You don't have to take the gas tank, fuel pump and ac hoses out to service the fans, you do however have to take them out to do a proper job. Spraying oil on the bearings is only a temporary fix.
To do a proper job, you need to take them out, stand them on end, fans up and then apply some 30w engine oil to the area where the shaft enters the bearing, let them stand for as long as it takes for the oil to soak into the brg. then repeat until the brg. is saturated. Then turn them over and do the back side, first remove the metal clip, washer and felt. The whole process will take a couple of days at least, but when you are done you are good to go for many more years.
PS If you go over on the Rennlist site, you can find lots of information on this subject.

[CrazySwede]

crg53: I will absolutely try your method of oiling the bearings. Unfortunately, I have discovered that the noise has become worse. Now it sounds like the fan blade are hitting something... I guess this is because the wear of the bearings have become to extensive.

It seems like the only option is to change the fan. But I will try to only replace the fan motor. I will try to remove the fan blades and refit them on a new motor. It might be that I will try to find a cheaper replacement than the motor with the Porsche name on it...

[bazar01]

I went ahead and did the driver side. I drove it this morning with just the fan on and so far it has been quiet. We'll see how long it stays quiet.

[crg53]

Please read through THIS thread, there is a lot of good information.

[bazar01]

That is good information. Thank you. My evaporator fan is not too bad yet. I will wait a few more months and probably work on it during the winter months. For now I am good.

[RS America]

Try this link.

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/17767823/1515381269/name/Temporary_Fix_for_a_Squeaking_Forward_Air_Conditio ning_Fan_Motor.pdf

Just checked my history file, I did this in June 07, fans have not squealed again yet and I've been running them a lot over here in Europe. IIRC I shot in about 1 cc of oil into the bearing a little bit at a time, I also did the passenger side fan while I was in there, it's easier than the drivers side.

Hope this works. Don

[CrazySwede]

I have done some thinking... I think I will try to temporarily silence the fan by disconnect the cables (to the faulty fan) at the blower final stage. It should work?