Heater A/C blower motor

[Arriva]

Blower motor is starting to squeal upon starting the car (96 Bonneville SE) first thing in the morning.

Is the blower motor accessed from inside the car or from the cowl?? Thanks in advance for any info on this.

[JMH1950]

I would assume it's the same as on my '94. Accessed from the engine compartment. Relatively easy to change out in less than an hour.

[Arriva]

I would assume it's the same as on my '94. Accessed from the engine compartment. Relatively easy to change out in less than an hour.

Thanks for the info - this takes a load of my mind as my old bones are talking to me these days, especially when I get scrunched up under the dash I figure an A/C Heater blower motor run around $50 - $60 bucks, good project for coming weekend.

[bill buttermore]

It will help to remove the strut bar and maybe the bracket that holds the fuel lines and serves as the rear support for the engine cover. No need to remove the fuel lines from the bracket.

[JMH1950]

It will help to remove the strut bar and maybe the bracket that holds the fuel lines and serves as the rear support for the engine cover. No need to remove the fuel lines from the bracket.

Yes, definitely. I found that out last week when my blower motor quit. The old one came out with a bit of difficulty, but the bar and the bracket had to come off to get the new one in.

[Arriva]

Strut bar & bracket came off quickly, power unplugged, 5 screws and bam the blower motor is out. However the plastic composite housing/cover came apart (3 to 4 pieces). Could not find one at a local auto recycling yard so tomorrow (Monday) to the dealer I go.

I now think the motor started squealing due to the plastic housing breaking apart . . . . I noticed when I started removing the screws that the bottom part of the housing had a piece missing - being close to the exhaust must have dried out the bearing.

[bill buttermore]

Strut bar & bracket came off quickly, power unplugged, 5 screws and bam the blower motor is out. However the plastic composite housing/cover came apart (3 to 4 pieces). Could not find one at a local auto recycling yard so tomorrow (Monday) to the dealer I go.

I now think the motor started squealing due to the plastic housing breaking apart . . . . I noticed when I started removing the screws that the bottom part of the housing had a piece missing - being close to the exhaust must have dried out the bearing.

Most also had a heat shield between the composite cover and the exhaust. If yours is missing, you can make one up from a piece of aluminum flashing. Even heavy duty foil will reflect a lot of the heat to keep the bearing happier. Make sure the rubber cooling hose is in place, too. It sucks in air from inside the duct to directly cool the motor.

[Arriva]

There is an original foil / matting heat shield but it only goes up to the bottom of the composite plastic cover (we bought the car new so to my knowledge there never was a shield between the cover and the exhaust.

I did order a cover and cooling hose from the Pontiac dealer ($65.00 ) then I made an additional shield out of heavy duty foil (like Bill Buttermore) suggested, triple folded heavy duty foil duct tapped in place. Good to go again.

[bill buttermore]

...I did order a cover and cooling hose from the Pontiac dealer ($65.00 )...

I paid about $10 for a cover from my local dealer 3 yrs ago... Wow!

[tripscarcare95]

Would you happen to have a part number for this cover, Mine broke last winter while preforming the same repair. Dealer in Canada said it was discontinued?
thanks

[Arriva]

Would you happen to have a part number for this cover, Mine broke last winter while preforming the same repair. Dealer in Canada said it was discontinued?
thanks

Sorry, hadn't been on for a while and just saw the question - here are the Pontiac Part Numbers:

Cover 52468407
Tube (hose) 3035192

I got the cover and hose from the Rinke Pontiac Dealer in Centerline, MI. Centerline is within the City of Warren. Hope this info helps even if it is late.