Blower Motors (Recommended Brands)

[RogueM3]

Looking to replace my Blower Motor assembly as its making a sort of ticking sound (already cleaned it out...changed the noise, but now its ticking) and am trying to decide between a handful of options:

1) Four Seasons Brand from PartsGeek or RockAuto = $40
2) GPD from PartsGeek = $40
3) Genuine Toyota = $125

The only review I've read on the Four Seasons is that its got a bit of a high pitch noise which doesn't sound great. Haven't seen any reviews on the GPD.

Anyone installed anything other than OEM and been happy with it?

 

[bulax99]

OEM. With few exceptions OEM is the way to go for a lot of replacement parts. Plus they are cheap enough to buy online and mean something when you go to resell: replaced with genuine Toyota parts. It means something to those who know and are in the market. Unless you are talking about brake rotors...

 

[CSMcruiser12]

Mine was making noise when I purchased my 100 last year. I replaced it with the four seasons one. Now it just makes a different noise. It could very well be a different component that is the issue, but I would say pony up and go OEM. You'll be listening to it all the time!

 

[nissanh]

Did you lube the bushings? There is a felt attached to two brass brushings and those may be dry.

 

[Spike555]

Did you lube the bushings? There is a felt attached to two brass brushings and those may be dry.

This.

I used to do this on my GM cars, drill a small hole in the motor housing where the bearings are, drip in some motor oil, good for a long time.

 

[RogueM3]

Thanks all. I did think about lubing, but honestly wasn't sure where to put it as it looked sort of like a "sealed unit". Do I need to pull the wheel off first? Or should I be spraying from the wheel side into that shaft with the wheel still on? Where would I drill holes exactly to avoid damaging something while still providing good access?

Apologies for what may be basic questions..

 

[Ayune]

Fan wheel is just about impossible to get off. If you want to explore the insides, remove the L-shaped plastic cover by prying off, then the two screws. Next pry the motor/fan out, it's just a friction fit inside the plastic housing. It's difficult. I disassembled & lubed mine twice, it didn't help the squeaking. Ended up replacing with OEM.

 

[nissanh]

Remove the clamp shown by the arrow.

The metal shaft "armature" (in the middle of the clamp) should come off from the blower plastic fan blades (first Pic). Sometimes it could be fused too tight. I was in a hurry (most of the time) so I hold the plastic fan blade unit and then asked a friend to hammer down the metal shaft. This caused the bottom of the shaft to come loose from the housing (Also broke the housing: Second picture).

So be gentle at removing the blower fan unit from the armature. Soaking with WD40 or PB blaster is a good at this state.

I found my own remedies to fix the problem I caused but I enjoy quite blower now.

 

[Spike555]

Thanks all. I did think about lubing, but honestly wasn't sure where to put it as it looked sort of like a "sealed unit". Do I need to pull the wheel off first? Or should I be spraying from the wheel side into that shaft with the wheel still on? Where would I drill holes exactly to avoid damaging something while still providing good access?

Apologies for what may be basic questions..

Don't lube from the squirrel cage side, lube from the other side, where the little nub sticks out on the motor housing, just a small drill bil in the center of that nub, go slow, you'll know when you're through the steel.
Then lube, turn the fan, lube some more, then place duct tape over the hole to keep the lube in.
Should only take you 5-10min from the time you start drilling to done.