Mystery fan rattle advice needed

[Snafu13F]

So for the past month or so I have a mystery rattle coming from somewhere in the center console next to the drivers seat. It sounds like a fan to me. My first guess was ac related, but with both the cool box and ac fan turned off, it is still present. I have eliminated vibration as a cause too. I realized today that it’s still present if I hit the start button but leave the engine off. Does anyone have a guess on what exactly is causing this? With the engine off I can hear it faintly in the engine bay, but it sounds like it’s inside the cabin. What exactly runs in accessory only mode? I’m trying to figure out how to start disassembling the center console to search for it, so I welcome any suggestions. Here is a sample of the rattle, it sounds like a fan to me.

 

[bloc]

Seat ventilation fan? Possibly one of the fans in the Nav system though that should be higher up?

 

[Sandroad]

It does sound like a fan with something stuck in the fins. I assume you've looked and listened under the seats? There is a thread somewhere on console removal but there are no fans in there running with the HVAC off?

 

[NoClue]

Take the seat track covers off, unbolt the four 14mm bolts, and lift the seat up to take a look at the fan for the seat bottom

 

[KLF]

Take the seat track covers off, unbolt the four 14mm bolts, and lift the seat up to take a look at the fan for the seat bottom

This. You can unbolt the seat and roll it backwards without unhooking any of the various cable harnesses. Then turn the key on and see if you wan still hear it.

 

[Snafu13F]

Take the seat track covers off, unbolt the four 14mm bolts, and lift the seat up to take a look at the fan for the seat bottom

I followed your suggestion and unbolted the seat. The covers are a pain to get off, but the bolts all came out pretty easily. The seat fan intake had at least an 1/8” thick layer of fuzz obscuring it. Unfortunately, I discovered that wasn’t the source of my problem. Instead, it’s the fans on the mark levinson amp under the carpet. I was able to verify this by turn on accessory mode and unplugging the power to the amp. The sound immediately disappeared. I’m debating removing the amp and hoping it’s just debris, or ordering replacement fans from China, which will take a while to get here.

I found this thread
Mark Levinson Amp - Fan Replacement (2011 LX570) by @Ontherocks345 who has already done the legwork for me on figuring out the fan part numbers. It’s interesting to me that he also has a 2011 lx 570 with the same issue. Might be a bad batch of fans. Nonetheless, as he noted there’s a pretty big hole in the carpet right by the fan that collects and basically funnels it into the fan. I’m going to put some sort of mesh insert over the hole when I do the repair to alleviate future issues. On the plus side, I made 51 cents.

 

[Snafu13F]

So question. These are the specs on the oem fan, which would take a month to get,

but I’ve also found this fan:

which has the same size, voltage and amperage. It is a higher rpm, but lower dba level. It would also arrive way faster. What do you guys think?

 

[Snafu13F]

I’ve ordered the second fan listed. Fingers crossed it works fine.

 

[Sandroad]

I'll bet the one you ordered will work well. However, if you have not yet pulled the amplifier to see if there is anything stuck in the OEM fan, you may find you don't need a new one.

 

[Snafu13F]

Thought I would update this. Replacements fans showed up this week. While they match size wise, they do not fit. The oem fan has a cutout reducing the length of the screw posts. Additionally, the replacement fans have standard moles connectors, while the oem fans use a different style. I decided against trying to retrofit the connectors, as it would require soldering. It would have also required cutting the fan housings in 4 places to fit. Correct oem fans cost me $30 for the pair, but won’t be here until sometime in January.

I did confirm that the bearings are bad on at least one of my fans, so replacement is in fact necessary. I had to cut the carpet a bit to access the bolts, still a one job

 

[txclimber]

@Snafu13F I went through this same ordeal a couple of months ago. I ordered 3 sets of fans making sure to carefully check the photos for the proper housing. Each time they arrived they had the wrong housing and some had the wrong plug. In the end I did what you're proposing. I cut the 4 corners of the new fan's housing to make them properly fit. It works perfectly, but took a bit of time to get them right. How are your certain you have OEM fans on the way? I thought for sure I did each time and kept striking out.

Also, if you remove the door tread plate trim piece the carpet will come up on the outer edge allowing you to access that stubborn bolt, eliminating the need to cut the carpet.

 

[Snafu13F]

@Snafu13F I went through this same ordeal a couple of months ago. I ordered 3 sets of fans making sure to carefully check the photos for the proper housing. Each time they arrived they had the wrong housing and some had the wrong plug. In the end I did what you're proposing. I cut the 4 corners of the new fan's housing to make them properly fit. It works perfectly, but took a bit of time to get them right. How are your certain you have OEM fans on the way? I thought for sure I did each time and kept striking out.

Also, if you remove the door tread plate trim piece the carpet will come up on the outer edge allowing you to access that stubborn bolt, eliminating the need to cut the carpet.

I guess we will see. I ordered the same model number that was on my fans. If they arrive incorrect, I will just hack them up and proceed. I may give the fans I have another go while I wait.

 

[txclimber]

I guess we will see. I ordered the same model number that was on my fans. If they arrive incorrect, I will just hack them up and proceed. I may give the fans I have another go while I wait.

I hope the send the right ones to you. Report back with what you get. Good luck.

 

[Snafu13F]

My fans arrived a week or two ago, I finally got around to doing the job this week. Unfortunately, I realized half way through that they mistakenly sent me 50mm fans instead of the correct 45mm. They are sending the right fans, but I went ahead and installed the wrong size anyway. More on that below.

Start by popping the bolt covers off each seat bracket. They were easiest to remove when attacked from the side, which is where the holders are. I just popped one side loose then pulled them out.

then it was a simple matter of removing the 4 14mm bolts, sliding the seat forward and backward as necessary.

Then I moved the seat back to fully upright and moved the seat forward about 3/4 of the way. Then simply tilt the whole seat back out of the way. No need to unplug anything from the seat.

Next I lifted up the carpet flap and unplugged the connectors from the amp. Press the button in the middle of each one and wiggle them out. Every plug is a little different, there is no way to plug them back in wrong.

continued in next post. Stupid 5 image limit...

 

[Snafu13F]

There are three 10mm bolts holding the amp in. Two easily accessible by the center console, and one real pain to get to by the door. I elected to cut the carpet a little for easy access. I’ve heard you can avoid this by removing the sill plate trim, but I had already cut this previously. The third bolt is difficult to reach either way, there is a plastic molding under the carpet that makes it difficult. I used my smallest ratchet with a deep 10mm to get to it.

You can now pull out the amplifier.

Next I unbolted the installation bracket (2x 10mm), and unscrewed the fan housing (4x t10).

you can reach in with a small pair of pliers and pull the two fan connectors straight up to remove them. No further disassembly is needed. The screws holding the fans to the housing are also t10.

At this point, I realized that while I had verified the correct model number when I received the fans, I had not actually verified the size. A brief moment of swearing ensued.

Continued next post

 

[Snafu13F]

This was my second time doing this procedure, and my fan rattle was pretty severe, so I elected to make it work. I am a professional woodworker, so I chose to make a new fan holder. I used a piece of maple, due to its hardness. I needed a wood that would hold thread for the mounting bracket. The holes for the housing the amp were simply pass throughs, the thread are in the amp itself. First test fit after roughing out the piece. The fans are held into the bracket via friction fit. This has worked well.

Once I was certain of the functionality, I went back and refined the shape to its final form.

I did pretty much all of it with hand tools, it took me about and hour to make up the part. I then reinstalled the mounting bracket and placed it back in the truck.

Oneof the common issues I’ve noticed from other people’s posts is how much junk falls through the holes in the carpet, interfering with the amp fan. Unwilling to let that continue, I picked up a $2 piece of gutter guard at Home Depot.

Overall, this was a pretty simple job. I do have to correct fans coming, but I’m unsure whether I will go to the trouble of doing this job a third time. The correct fans will require modification of the mounting post length to fit the oem brackets. I will probably hold onto them in the event the new fans go bad.

Thanks for reading, I hope this helps someone else!

 

[Sandroad]

Nice block plane/walnut cradle! And that amp ought to run nice and cool now too.

 

[barukinzs]

Thank you for the steps/instruction Snafu! I like the wood retrofitting. Where did you source your fans? Any chance you will sell me the correct replacement fans?

 

[Snafu13F]

Nice block plane/walnut cradle! And that amp ought to run nice and cool now too.

Thanks. It’s a chamfer jig that allows me to effortlessly put a 45 degree chamfer up to 1/8” on any edge. It’s been very useful.

Thank you for the steps/instruction Snafu! I like the wood retrofitting. Where did you source your fans? Any chance you will sell me the correct replacement fans?

Thanks! The original seller I got the fans from on eBay no longer has them. We’re I ordering today I would buy these: 2 Y.S. TECH YW04510012LM 45mm X 10mm 12 Volt Fan NEW - https://www.netbigj.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=65600
This is the correct model fan in 45mm, with the correct 2 pin plug. You will still need to modify the fans slightly, since the oem fans had a modified case that can’t be sourced.
I have been packing for a move, and honestly have no idea where my extra fans are now. It should be relatively simple to modify the fans if you decide to order them.

 

[barukinzs]

Thanks. It’s a chamfer jig that allows me to effortlessly put a 45 degree chamfer up to 1/8” on any edge. It’s been very useful.



Thanks! The original seller I got the fans from on eBay no longer has them. We’re I ordering today I would buy these: 2 Y.S. TECH YW04510012LM 45mm X 10mm 12 Volt Fan NEW - https://www.netbigj.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=65600
This is the correct model fan in 45mm, with the correct 2 pin plug. You will still need to modify the fans slightly, since the oem fans had a modified case that can’t be sourced.
I have been packing for a move, and honestly have no idea where my extra fans are now. It should be relatively simple to modify the fans if you decide to order them.

Thanks. It’s a chamfer jig that allows me to effortlessly put a 45 degree chamfer up to 1/8” on any edge. It’s been very useful.



Thanks! The original seller I got the fans from on eBay no longer has them. We’re I ordering today I would buy these: 2 Y.S. TECH YW04510012LM 45mm X 10mm 12 Volt Fan NEW - https://www.netbigj.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=65600
This is the correct model fan in 45mm, with the correct 2 pin plug. You will still need to modify the fans slightly, since the oem fans had a modified case that can’t be sourced.
I have been packing for a move, and honestly have no idea where my extra fans are now. It should be relatively simple to modify the fans if you decide to order them.

Thanks Snafu! I saw this listing too and wondered about the fitment. I will order this now