Date:         Wed, 10 Jan 2001 15:50:09 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: servicing front heater fan
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 02:42 PM 1/10/2001, Matthew Utterback wrote:
>Is there a way to reach the front
>heater fan to oil it or service it?

Yup.

>When my fan gets hot from running it
>starts to slow down and seize up.
>I can shutt it off to cool and it runs
>OK for awhile.
>Any help on reaching the fan for oil?

1) Remove dash
2) Split heater box -- you didn't say what year you have (tsk tsk) -- from
'86 on the box is sealed by 18 sonic welds that you have to break, then
reassemble using 11 clips p/n 321 819 059 or current equivalent.
3) Remove blower assembly
4) Split blower case
5) Free clips (plastic or metal) holding motor into blower case half, and
use a pin-punch to *carefully* drive the motor out of the housing (and the
shaft out of the impeller).  Note -- if the motor is rusted into the blower
case this action will destroy the motor.  Note 2 -- don't let the motor
drop on the ground, it's heavy and somewhat fragile.
6) Free up and oil the motor bearings, and soak the felt pads that feed
them with oil.  Don't get any oil on the electrical parts.
7) Put it all back.  Support the shaft-end when driving the impeller back
on so you're driving against the shaft and not the bearings.  The impeller
should be flush with the end of the shaft.

Alternative:  from step 3, replace blower assembly (Bus Depot has it for
~$100).

david


David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"