Heater fan howling

[Bluie]

The heater fan started to squark like a strangled duck on all speed settings.
I checked and there is no access from behind the glovebox and it also looks impossible from the underside of the N/S footwell.
Called a specialist and checked on line and found the best way is to remove the dash and split the heater box to get access. OMG!
So I thought I would try removing the inlet grill under the bonnet and spray llots of Electric contact cleaner spray direct into the vents with the fan on full belt. The long spray tube went in well.
The fan went quiet!
Keeping my fingers crossed that this lubricated the fan motor as intended and that it keeps quiet for a good while.

[Johnwindwood]

Contact cleaner won't lubricate it-Id be tempted to follow it up with some WD40
Yes, early cars have to have the dash and heater completely removed to change the fans-I know because I have to do this at some point-my drivers side fan overheats in use and blows fuses......

[Alan_M]

I wouldn't suggest standard WD40. This will leave an oily residue that will cause dust and dirt to accumulate on the fans, bearings etc. Use a dry lubricant such as this one - https://www.wd40specialist.com/products/dry-lube/

[CHRISYD]

also, using wd40 will make your windows greasy when it warms up the wd40 on the matrix. Also it will smell horrid for ages after!!!

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Contact cleaner won't lubricate it-Id be tempted to follow it up with some WD40
Yes, early cars have to have the dash and heater completely removed to change the fans-I know because I have to do this at some point-my drivers side fan overheats in use and blows fuses......

Contact cleaner does have lube qualities however. Well the one I use does (Servisol).

Maybe that's all it needed...along with cleaning out the plenum drain plus parking with nose downhill if you don't have a garage.

[Bluie]

Peter K

Contact cleaner does have lube qualities however. Well the one I use does (Servisol).



Well three days now and it's still quiet. The cleaner I used is Arexons Svitol, bought in Italy to sort out the "dash" lights on my washing machine, it worked for that and for the courtesy light switch and fog lamp switch on the Excel. It's my miracle cure:
this is what it says on the tin

"riattivante elettrico

ripristina contatti eletticici e parti meccaniche"

electric reactivation

restores electrical contacts and mechanical parts

Just checked it's available on Ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264063454742

Still got my fingers crossed though