C5 vent fan
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
C5 vent fan
I have a 1998 coupe and when I turn on the air the fan under the passenger side dash will make a loud squeal for several minutes. If I turn the fan off and back on it will usually stop until next time I start the car if it has been off for a while. It has nothing to do with the compressor, it does not matter if it is on or off, just the fan. Is this the fan motor bearings or is there some kind of belt drive? What is malking this noise?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Yes, the fan motor bearings dried out. Now you can easily just replace the fan or you can try something I did that is still working to this day and I read it here in the forum long ago. I pulled mine out, drilled a very tiny hole in the bottom bearing area...being very, very careful to not touch the bearing itself. I forced in some sewing machine oil, manually turning the fan blade to insure it was lubed good. Cleaned things up, then use a spot of silicone sealant to seal it up and put it back together. Still works several years later.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Thanks guys for the info, I haven't had a chance yet to look into this, maybe this weekend but I am wondering how hard it is to remove that fan. I will check it out, I wonder if I have to remove the seat to gain access. Thanks again for the tip.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Update on this problem. I never did pull the motor out but I did get a good look at it and I tried something, I took my WD40 can and put the straw up against the pin at the bearing and gave it a squirt to see if that would work and now after 3 or 4 weeks not once has it squealled, it use to squeal every day. That may be all it needed and even if this is a temporary fix I am happy with the results, and if I have to do as you guys suggested later on I now know how to do it. Thanks again guys, this has been the cheapest fix so far on my car.
