Blower motor squeek / chirp on low *FIX*

Did this, adjusted until the fan ran at the highest speed. It had the white lithium aerosol grease on it now. If the screw adjustment doesn't work with that, my last attempt will be wheel bearing grease.

Crossing my fingers

 

My TYC blower started chirping after about two years, so I ordered

$179 87103-04043 Genuine Toyota Blower Motor Sub Assembly

87103-04043 from ToyotaPartSales (operated by Toyota of Dallas) for $109 + shipping. I also read about the resistor connector melting issue, so I ordered the improved Denso resistor 87138-04052 for $25 at the same time. Installed both yesterday.

The -04043 blower is quiet and doesn't have the servo whine at higher speeds like the TYC blower (you can hear it in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC6mFt65f6k

 

Just installed the -043 blower motor in my truck. Best $125 I've spent on my truck since I bought it. I stomped the old blower motor into smithereens once it was out. Felt great to be a gangsta (Office Space reference).

 

Mine has been squeaking for years now. Finally read most of the posts in this thread and decided to do something about it. I had intentions of getting the proper grease at the store and doing a full clean of the motor - but - I didn't have to do that at all (which is weirding me out lol).

I basically took out the blower motor, hooked the power up to it and turned the switch on to low (the "squeak" setting), and sure enough the thing started to squeak after a few seconds in my hands. The sound would progressively get a little bit worse as the blower motor/fan was tilted/angled. Afterwards I "adjusted" those two small balancing screws located at the bottom of the blower motor while the blower motor was "on" - I noticed that as I would loosen one screw the fan would slow right down, and then would go faster again when I would tighten the same screw. I tried that with the other screw too and it did the same thing. I sat there and told myself "neat", and I hmm'ed and hah'd for a few more minutes. I have no idea what happened but the squeak stopped while did this, so I tightened the screws up again (not "crazy" tight, just snug tight) and I put the blower motor back into its proper place and put the covers back on and it's been quiet now for 2 days. Bliss!

I fully expect it to squeak again but maybe I'll just mess around with those screws again to try and solve it.

 

...FYI, I also used a 7/32" socket to take off the 3 screws, and then a philips screwdriver to adjust the balancing screws - and since I'm a big guy and can't turn my head upside down, I used my iPad mini with the camera function on (and reversed) and placed it on the floor under the fan on the passenger side enabling me to get a great view of the underside of the glove compartment- this was VERY helpful in locating the placement of the screws with my thumb-fingers lol.

 

Sucks to be in Canada eh? Would've been more satisfying to shoot it.

 

great my grease only lasted about a month, squeek is now worse

 

Hey all. So I am going to take my fan apart and I was thinking that a little anti cease might work better the grease or oil. I'll give it a shot and let you know.

 

3 months with the new fan and no issues. Pretty much forgotten that it used to annoy the hell out of me.

 

Nice did you just buy a new one from the dealership?

 

I wouldn't. I tried the aftermarket fan route (AutoZone I think). Had it in about 2 weeks and couldn't stand it. It was worse than the chirp I had.

 

sub'd

 

Bought it online through Camelback Toyota.

 

I went this route too with a VDO fan from Autozone (with a lifetime warranty). The cage is smaller in diameter than the factory cage, so it makes more noise. So much so that it sounds like it's vibrating the dash on the HI setting when you're sitting still. On the road you don't notice it as much.

Took me a few to get used to it, and I've stuck with it. At any sign of chirping, etc. it's going back. That's the reason why I went with aftermarket (easy warranty return) versus mail order (I didn't price a local OEM, figuring it would be pricey).

 

Mine is driving me nuts again after multiple lubrication and screw adjustment attempts...I'll probably go with the updated OEM I think

 

Completely worth it IMO if it drives you mad. Takes no time to install, and you'll be surprised how fast you forget that it was ever an issue.

 

I performed this fix on my '06 three years ago and it never squeaked, chirped, or clicked again. My "11 I just bought was doing it the day I brought it home. Just finished fixing it today. After cleaning everything with CRC electrical spray cleaner, I used a few drops of high speed electric motor oil (kind of like the little cans of sewing machine oil) on the two brass bearings, then let them sit while I worked on smoothing the edges of the brushes with a jewelers file. Next I packed dielectric grease around the shaft next to the little cover that slides down over the brass bushings that I oiled previously. I hope I get several years of quiet fan motor with this truck now.

 

I applaud your tenacity but isn't it a shame Toyota doesn't address this long standing problem.

 

Yes it is my friend. Yes it is.

 

Thank God for this post. I cleaned the internals with electronic cleaner, cleaned the internals, and let them dry. I picked up some WD-40 White Lithium Grease in the aerosol can and used the straw to hit the bearings. So far so good, no noises anymore!