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Re: Squirrel in Blower Motor??[200/89] posted by Don Foster on
Sunday, 30 August 1998, at 7:56 p.m.
Bad news, Murph. The blower motor is binding up.
However, if you can remove the motor, the bearings can probably be cleaned and lubricated, and there is a reasonable possibility the blower motor can be recovered. But it's a mixed bag -- getting to, and replacing the blower motor, is a buncha work. Do you want to do all that work (or pay someone to) only to reinstall a used motor?
On my '86, the motor sounded like a stuck pig. I removed it, cleaned and relubed the bearings, cleaned up the brushes and commutator (hardly worn) and reinstalled it. It has been perfect for almost 3 years. I expect another 10 years from it and the car.
Getting at the blower motor is possible two ways. The right way (disassembling everything) I'm told takes 6-10 hours, total. Maybe more the first time.
The quick way -- my way (only practiced by crude, unwashed, thoughtless barbarians out of sight from the civilized world) takes an hour or two, makes a mess, and the blower is about 20% less efficient afterwards. But it does work. All 4 of my 240s have had this surgery.
Sunday, 30 August 1998, at 9:31 p.m.
I just replaced the blower motor in my '87 240 this summer. Put a new motor from iPd in. Their instructions are pretty detailed. The job is not particularly hard, just time consuming. Took me 8 hours. Best done in a place with a lot of light (outside in sunshine, despite the heat in Nashville). The biggest pain was reaching around the fan housings to remove ALL the fastening clips, then reaching around the back side again to reinstall the clips when reassembling.
While I know several people who've had success cleaning/lubing the bearings on the original motor, I'd hesitate putting in a used motor of which I wasn't sure of the condition. As long as you're going through the work of getting in there, might as well put in a new motor ($89 from iPd). Another possibility is there's a motor rebuilder in Canada (someone on this site will know who I'm referring to, I can't remember the specific guy and his phone number) who puts in roller or ball bearings, replacing the original bronze oilite bearings, when rebuilding the motors. It's supposed to be "better than new". From what I've heard, I wouldn't hestitate to use one of his rebuilds for replacement. I believe he works with an exchange arrangement, sending you a newly rebuilt motor, crediting you when you send back the original from your car so he can rebuild that one. Good luck.
Norm Lizotte nlizotte@iconn.net
1993 240DL sedan
1992 940GL sedan
1987 240DL sedan