[midnightsun]

When I turn the fan on, there is noise that sounds like something is caught in the blower motor. It's been doing this for more than a year now. I asked the dealership what it might be, and they advised checking the cabin air filters first, since they knew I planned to do that myself. They said it was probably a leaf or similar item.

Well, I removed those filters, vacuumed out the empty compartment, and ran the engine and blower fan with no filters in there. The noise persisted. So whatever it is is not from dirty filters. Am I shortening the blower life by continuing to use it with the obstruction in the blower (I think)?

I'm about to take a long road trip to a very humid part of the U.S. and am a little worried if the blower motor croaks.

 

[something else]

If I am not mistaken (and ppl, please correct me if I am), the blower housing can be removed and you can check out the blower wheel to see if it's OK... something I have not personally done but have heard of.

 

[smizwhiz]

If you haven't aleady go download the 2005 Factory Service Manual from the DIY Forum stickies. From the FSM, it looks like a trivial exercise to remove the blower motor and see if there's something like a leaf in there that's making the noise.

1. Remove the lower glove box assembly
2. Disconnect the blower motor electrical connector
3. Remove 3 screws and remove the blower motor

Nice picture in the FSM too.

 

[Duke Of Taint]

I should do this. Mine has had a slight whine since new. I just turn the instant mechanic on (radio).lol.

 

[JGoodish]

When I turn the fan on, there is noise that sounds like something is caught in the blower motor. It's been doing this for more than a year now. I asked the dealership what it might be, and they advised checking the cabin air filters first, since they knew I planned to do that myself. They said it was probably a leaf or similar item.

Well, I removed those filters, vacuumed out the empty compartment, and ran the engine and blower fan with no filters in there. The noise persisted. So whatever it is is not from dirty filters. Am I shortening the blower life by continuing to use it with the obstruction in the blower (I think)?

I'm about to take a long road trip to a very humid part of the U.S. and am a little worried if the blower motor croaks.

The blower motor on my 2006 had what sounded like bearing noise--a noticeable ticking that would usually get softer as the motor (or ambient temperature) warmed up. The noise would also appear to go away at high blower speeds. When I was close to the end of my 3/36 warranty, the dealership replaced the blower motor, and I think the new one is actually worse. The replacement should be warranted for at least a short period of time, so I may ask them to look at it again. I believe that there are some reports here and elsewhere of the "ticking" sound being a fairly common problem with these blower motors.

I am not sure if there is another solution besides replacement, but I do know that the blower in my wife's Honda Accord used to have the same problem. We just let it be and it was still running strong at 8 years and around 120k miles when we traded the car.


JKG

 

[Higgs Boson]

Yep, I've got that noise in my 2009 and I have had a couple other gen2 frontiers and a couple gen2 xtr's and they all did it (had the other ones as demos when I was with NNA). Surprisingly, people don't raise any issues about it.

 

[codemaster01]

Dont look past the obvious though, I had a noise in my blower motor and pulled it out and found a small stone in the blower cage! how it got there still ponders me
Codemaster

 

[pidge]

not too bad to remove. Passanger foot well pretty much to the right hand side you''ll see the blower housing 3 bolts and unhook the patchcord for the wiring, just drops out then have a look inside for debris or shot bearing just be careful not to start the fan with your fingers in there or its gonna suck. Good luck

 

[Clint]

Removing the motor is relatively simple to do and most likely it is just something that needs to be cleaned out. Good luck.

Clint

 

[midnightsun]

OK, so from the posts here and my Haynes manual, it looks like I do these things:

1. Disactivate passenger air bag
2. Disconnect cable from battery's negative terminal.
3. Remove the lower glove compartment.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector to the blower.
5. Detach blower motor vent hose.
6. Remove blower motor mounting screws
7. Remove the blower motor.

If I skip #5 and #7, can I inspect the motor and fan in place by looking from underneath?

 

[pidge]

If you do what I say you can have it out in 32 seconds and have a look at it. Put the patch cord back together and see the fan spin, but beware of any loose rags, cloths, or your fingers. Good luck.

 

[Mountain Gold]

I've already done this last year...its easy. Don't even have to do 1,2,& 5.

3 bolts and it comes right out...just vacuum out the housing. 20 mins tops

 

[Clint]

Always make sure your face is nowhere near where the bag would deploy. I doubt it would ever go off doing the task at hand, but watch where you have your head. It would ring your chime like a prize fighter.

Clint

 

[virii01]

Mine makes noise too, audible on any speed <75%. Higher than that and the airflow noise drowns it out. It's an 09 with less than 5000 miles. :censor:

 

[midnightsun]

Yesterday I removed the blower motor. Nothing fell out when I did that, and there was nothing left in the housing that I could feel. I spun the fan around by hand (no electricity) and it seemed OK. But after reassembling everything, the noise persists.

Anything else it could be? The sound still seems to come from the blower compartment.

BTW, removing the lower glove box is a bit tricky. Four screws (two top, two bottom) are obvious, but there is a fifth one hidden behind part of the side trim. To peel that trim up and get at the screw, you have to pull away the top part of the step trim first. And to get at one of the blower housing screws, I had to remove what I call the kick panel (not sure if that's the real name for it).

 

[JagNorb]

Yesterday I removed the blower motor. Nothing fell out when I did that, and there was nothing left in the housing that I could feel. I spun the fan around by hand (no electricity) and it seemed OK. But after reassembling everything, the noise persists.

Anything else it could be? The sound still seems to come from the blower compartment.

BTW, removing the lower glove box is a bit tricky. Four screws (two top, two bottom) are obvious, but there is a fifth one hidden behind part of the side trim. To peel that trim up and get at the screw, you have to pull away the top part of the step trim first. And to get at one of the blower housing screws, I had to remove what I call the kick panel (not sure if that's the real name for it).

Did you NOT think to put some type of lube on the squirrel cage while you had it out?? :crikey:

 

[something else]

Did you NOT think to put some type of lube on the squirrel cage while you had it out?? :crikey:

these little direct drive blowers are what's called permanently lubricated. The motor shaft bearings are sealed and don't require any lubrication.

What makes you think lubricating the squirrel cage (blower wheel) would do anything but make dust stick lol?


midnightsun should **CAREFULLY** run the blower while it is removed and feel the housing for any vibrations, then check the wheel for lodged debris. The wheel could be out of balance, and the housing could be vibrating cause of a loose mount point. he should also feel inside where the blower sits when installed for any debris that did not come out with the blower.

 

[midnightsun]

these little direct drive blowers are what's called permanently lubricated. The motor shaft bearings are sealed and don't require any lubrication.

What makes you think lubricating the squirrel cage (blower wheel) would do anything but make dust stick lol?


midnightsun should **CAREFULLY** run the blower while it is removed and feel the housing for any vibrations, then check the wheel for lodged debris. The wheel could be out of balance, and the housing could be vibrating cause of a loose mount point. he should also feel inside where the blower sits when installed for any debris that did not come out with the blower.

I did all those except run the blower under power while it was out. When I turned the fan manually, there was no noise, and nothing felt like it was binding. There was also no play.

But if the wheel is out of balance, turning it manually probably wouldn't reveal that--rpms too low.

I needed to drive the truck yesterday so I reassembled everything. I'll check for other screws or bolts in the area that might be loose and might cause something else to touch something while the blower is running.

There was no place to lube the motor.

 

[00 FRONTIER]

I have an 09' and the blower sounds pretty loud. At first I was kinda shocked and thought something was wrong, but it does it anytime the fan is at lower settings. Seems that as you increase fan speed the noise gets quieter.

 

[RockHopper]

Blower Motor is making a 'ticking' noise

My 09 has been making a 'ticking' noise from day one. I've had the dealer look at it twice. The first time they though it was a leaf in the blower motor....no leaf found. The second time, they cleaned the housing...no help! While it was in being looked at I asked to look at three other Frontiers on the lot. I turned the fan on for each truck and the 'ticking' noise was heard from each. Of course the dealer says he can't hear the noise. I'm continuing my complaints until something is done. Unless the fan is turned up on high or the radio is up high you can hear the 'ticking' noise. If I have any luck with a fix, I'll post it here.