chirping from the heater/ac fan
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 671
Likes: 18
From: Tucson, Az
10 GLK350/ 15 Accord/ 94 Supra Turbo
I do not have any picture, I great the top and bottom with automotive grease I used for bearings. All is well and no chirps at all after a few thousand miles.
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 84
Likes: 28
2014 E63 AMG S, 4Runner
Electric HVAC fan squeaking and chirping lube: Blue 3-in-ONE
A few notes on W211 HVAC fan chirping (or any other electrical fan chirping and squeaking):
I did this fix since the summer, and the low speed HVAC fan chirp squeak has been gone and the fan is still working like a champ. Will update as necessary, but this should be permanent fix.
- Use a non-detergent lube to lubricate the bearings. About the only available non-detergent electric motor lube is the BLUE “3-in-1” MOTOR OIL SAE 20 oil. It’s a straight oil with no detergents. Basically all electric fans have been using this type of oil since electric fans have been around and have been using straight oil as a lubricant. All other available lubes (WD40, PB, bike chain lube, and all liquid penetrants) have some sort of detergent in them, and once the oil evaporates off, you’ll be stuck with a seized motor. I got the BLUE “3-in-ONE” from Lowes for around $3. Do NOT substitute with the RED/BLACK “3-in-ONE” lube (or any other penetrating lube) as it has detergent in it and will eventually evaporate off and lead to a seized motor.
- The 2 lube points are at the bottom motor bearing and the top motor bearing. At the bottom bearing, I placed about 4 drops of oil and spun the fan around for about a minute to work in the lube. I wiped off the minimal excess oil (even as thick as it was) as I didn’t want that dripping down later. For the top bearing, I used a drill bit to enlarge the top fan connection vane to get better access. I was able to drop about 5 drops into the bearing and spun it around for a minute. I used a Q-tip to try to work in some oil there as well.
I did this fix since the summer, and the low speed HVAC fan chirp squeak has been gone and the fan is still working like a champ. Will update as necessary, but this should be permanent fix.
Last edited by amg_w211; Dec 1, 2013 at 11:17 PM.
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Spokane WA
E 500 4matic, MINI John Cooper Works
Thank you guys for this great information - Mine is doing it = I'll have the independent lube it and forget it for now rather than replacing it = I am as always indebted to this forum
Steve
Steve
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 31
From: Concord, CA
'13 E350 . M276
A few notes on W211 HVAC fan chirping (or any other electrical fan chirping and squeaking):
I did this fix since the summer, and the low speed HVAC fan chirp squeak has been gone and the fan is still working like a champ. Will update as necessary, but this should be permanent fix.
- Use a non-detergent lube to lubricate the bearings. About the only available non-detergent electric motor lube is the BLUE “3-in-1” MOTOR OIL SAE 20 oil. It’s a straight oil with no detergents. Basically all electric fans have been using this type of oil since electric fans have been around and have been using straight oil as a lubricant. All other available lubes (WD40, PB, bike chain lube, and all liquid penetrants) have some sort of detergent in them, and once the oil evaporates off, you’ll be stuck with a seized motor. I got the BLUE “3-in-ONE” from Lowes for around $3. Do NOT substitute with the RED/BLACK “3-in-ONE” lube (or any other penetrating lube) as it has detergent in it and will eventually evaporate off and lead to a seized motor.
- The 2 lube points are at the bottom motor bearing and the top motor bearing. At the bottom bearing, I placed about 4 drops of oil and spun the fan around for about a minute to work in the lube. I wiped off the minimal excess oil (even as thick as it was) as I didn’t want that dripping down later. For the top bearing, I used a drill bit to enlarge the top fan connection vane to get better access. I was able to drop about 5 drops into the bearing and spun it around for a minute. I used a Q-tip to try to work in some oil there as well.
I did this fix since the summer, and the low speed HVAC fan chirp squeak has been gone and the fan is still working like a champ. Will update as necessary, but this should be permanent fix.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
'03 SL55 AMG | 2021 AMG GLE 63s Coupe
.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Sounds like lubing a good original motor is probably as good as buying cheap aftermarket fan assembly.
For those that had some rust, is it just surface rust on the shaft, or any rust on the bearing?
For those that had some rust, is it just surface rust on the shaft, or any rust on the bearing?
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 31
From: Concord, CA
'13 E350 . M276
No, rust was only on pin head as seen in this pic I just found, NOT on bearing. I would bet all those units have that type of surface rust due to moisture accumulation on top of blower pin head, obviously after unit is turned off.
Last edited by Stuttgarten; Sep 19, 2014 at 03:58 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Now the crazy question. . . . . .
Can you get to the top bearing from the engine side where the filter is mounted?
If so, I may try a drop on the top bearing even before turning myself upside down to drop the fan assembly.
Can you get to the top bearing from the engine side where the filter is mounted?
If so, I may try a drop on the top bearing even before turning myself upside down to drop the fan assembly.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 31
From: Concord, CA
'13 E350 . M276
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 84
Likes: 28
2014 E63 AMG S, 4Runner
Just do a full removal as I did and lube both the top and bottom bearing. Use the recommended lube as others will cause your motor to seize. There is no other shortcut. You only need a few drops on each bearing.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Just not crazy about fussing with hard to reach and hard to replace screws while hanging upside-down under the dash.
15 years ago, I could spend a day with my *** backwards in the drivers seat and my head under the dash wiring stuff.
Now, 10 minutes and I feel like sh-t and my glasses keep slipping so I can't even see what I am doing.
Betting most of the load is on the top bearing, as it most of the contamination/drying from circulating air.
If a few min on top save me from having to remove the fan, I am all for it.
As for the oil, even a few drips of 20 or 30 weight motor oil will work fine.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 31
From: Concord, CA
'13 E350 . M276
I'm having a new development with my A/C and I'm not sure if it's related to blower motor. When I turn A/C on, it takes like 2 minutes to get going, and if it set to a very low speed, it could take maybe 3 minutes to start. Today, it took about a minute to start, 20 seconds later it stopped, so I had to increase fan speed, and it finally came back on and stayed on. The A/C red light stays on, even when fan is not blowing.
Any idea if this is related to blower fan, or could it be something else....
Any idea if this is related to blower fan, or could it be something else....
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 31
From: Concord, CA
'13 E350 . M276
Now it's the Heater!
I'm having a new development with my A/C and I'm not sure if it's related to blower motor. When I turn A/C on, it takes like 2 minutes to get going, and if it set to a very low speed, it could take maybe 3 minutes to start. Today, it took about a minute to start, 20 seconds later it stopped, so I had to increase fan speed, and it finally came back on and stayed on. The A/C red light stays on, even when fan is not blowing.
Any idea if this is related to blower fan, or could it be something else....
Any idea if this is related to blower fan, or could it be something else....
