Squeaking fan motor

new member here.first of all over a year ago I bout a 98 sr5 that had been sitting in a mans yard for 4 years it took me about a year to talk him into selling it.it was his sons vechicle he bought new in 98 the truck had 153000 miles on it and no rust anywhere on the frame ,body is in great shape a few small dents lightly faded paint so finally got it to a friends shop where we started with the gas tank.dropped the tank cleaned it replaced the locked up fuel pump replaced fuel filter and a couple of hoses went to the front new timing belt water pump and after dealing with the dealership on 1 particular hose they just couldn't seem to get rightgot it back together drained all fluids and replaced them including trans fluid the bfg at tires were dry rotted had to replace them got the truck running and was surprised that the chech engine light didn't come on.altenator has been rebuilt .good truck runs and drives great lots of power. but when I turn the fan on I hear a noise that sounds like a damn cricket under the dash anybody ever had this problem and what did you do to fix it any help would be nice before I beat it to death with a bfh

 

Could be something (leaf, twig,etc) got into the cage in the blower motor. Also, while you have it out, use some jumper wire and power the motor and run it to see if the bearing is squeaking. You may be able to tell by feeling for play in the shaft.

This pic is from 1996 FSM, so should be, but may not be the same on 98.

 

ok,thanks I will try that hopefully its something simple like a leaf

 

Low Range Off Road sells a replacement blower assembly for $43. I went this route since it was so simple and not expensive. Blower works great, no more noise.

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toyo...coma-blower-motor-and-fan-tac-ib-bm-9504.html

 

ok, at first I thought you were talking the engine cooling fan lol but when I got to the cricket noise part and slapped myself. I have been dealing with this noise for decades it seems especially in cold weather for heat and usually the AC in summer. I just crank the tunes louder to drown it out. If I move the lever to HI the cricket goes away but the reg noise a bit loud. I have the slider on 2nd notch (my '97 climate control levers/sliders/knobs is different than '98 I think) and the cricket is there. I had asked the Toyota mechanic once I recall about what I can do about it and they just shrugged their shoulder like they could give a crap! Same with my seatbelt issue I am looking into.

How would a leaf get into this? Is this inside under the dash or inside the engine compartment? I sound like a novice do I not lol

 

My truck just started doing this. It’s a cricket line sound in fan positions 1,2&3 and not 4.
It sounds like a bad bearing or something needs lube.

 

Maybe not an entire leaf, but a small piece, especially pine needles can get in there. Blower pulls in air from outside through the cowl area.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/leaves-trash-in-blower-motor.299845/

 

so I am going to have to dig a bunch of stuff out to get to this if I want to attempt to quiet it down?

 

It's basically just behind the glove box. So you have to take that off, but it's not like you have to disassemble the whole dash to get to it.

Search around, there are some threads on how to do it. Pretty simple.

 

Mine was doing this a few years ago. I just took it out and cleaned up the motor, and lubed what I could of the bushings/bearings. Hasn't done it since.

If it starts up again, I'll just order a new unit from rockauto.

Now I just need to tear into the dash to stop that damn rattle up by the windshield...

 

That’s where I was thinking I’d start. Take it apart, clean, lube, etc.

I have a rattle between my windshield and dash that I fixed by jamming a piece of card board in there.

 

Yeah, I can rest my hand on top and it stops, so it's just a matter of getting in there to do it.

There's always "another project"

 

thanks for the info guys. I haven't started on the fan motor yet I can order the part for43.00 that's what I am probally do. this truck set for 4 yrs probally has leaves in it. if I take it out and its not pine needles or leaves at least I will have a new one to put back in it

 

Replacing these motors is easy and cheap. Be thankful it's not like my Volvo 240. Those fans are notorious for going out and nearly impossible to get to. I swear when they built those cars they hung a blower motor up and slowly built the car around it.

 

Maybe you saw this one, but if not, a couple of grommets are apparently a common fix:

 

@jbrandt

FYI:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mouse-noise-behind-my-dash.570472/#post-18859618

 

jesus h christ, if I have to tear the dash that far apart, I'm never gunna fix it, lol...

 

I think my rattle is coming from a little farther from the windshield than that. I can put my hand 4 or 5" away from the vent and it stops.

This is 100% worth a shot, though.

 

Ok.

Those plastic grommets I circled in that one pic are notorious for squeaking. Toyota implemented a fix in about 2004 or 2005 by adding felt to the clips to prevent plastic on plastic rubbing. It was happening on Camry, Tundra, Sienna,... as they all use that same system to get the instrument panel in position.

 

I wonder if this noisy cricket problem maybe has something to do with climate change? i.e., change in relative humidity or something? … I have not heard this squeak since this thread started with the heater on. I will have to wait for spring to come when I have to use defogger (heat/AC combo) and see if it comes back