98 Saturn SL2 AC/Heater Clickingh
 

I have a 98 Saturn SL2, and the AC/Heater fan makes a clicking noise when the fan us running. I does not matter if I'm running the AC or Heater. It only comes on when I move the switch to turn the fan on. I removed the fan and tested. With the fan removed, I still got the sound when turning the AC/Heater fan switch on. The ticking is a double tick, and sounds kind of like a blinker. Is there a bad relay or something that could be making the sound? Thanks.

is there anything stuck in the squirrel cage or up against the motor spindle that might be rubbing? Does it click if you rotate it by hand with the switch off?

Derf, Thanks for the response.

I thought it may be something in the fan (squirrel cage), but I took the entire fan out and disconnected it. Without the fan even in, it makes a clicking sound when I move the handle on the AC/Heater fan speed control to anything other than off. It doesn't matter what speed it is, the ticking is the same. It sounds just like the blinker sounds. click-click click-click click-click and so on.

so the noise is the same interval independent of rotational speed?

Yes. The the clicking is a the same interval regardless of the speed of the fan, or the speed of the car for that matter.

When I took the fan out, I tried to get my ear as close to the source as I could. It sounds like the noise is somewhere behind the glove box.

By the way, we had our coldest morning in years here about a week ago, and that's when the noise started. It has warmed up since then, so I don't thinks it's related to the cold, but could the cold have triggered the problem?

Thanks again! -chris

As far as I know, the only blower motor relay is in the instrument panel junction block on the center console between the seats. There are blower motor resistors that shunt the current when you set different speeds on the dash controls, but they just shunt current -- no moving parts there.

Are you using the recirc fan at the same time? What happens with recirc on vs recirc off?

Derf, Thanks again for the help.

The noise is the same regardless if I have the recirculating button on or off. Infact, I can have both the buttons off and it makes the same sound when the fan is turned on.

I recorded the sound, so hopefully this may help. Let me know if you have trouble hearing it.

http://www2.chriscrawford.com/posts/...n_Clicking.mp3

By the way, in the audio I say that I'm moving the microphone under the dashboard. I'm actually moving the mic under the glove box.

Thanks -chris

dude you have a cool accent-- are you from the south?

Pull the cover off the IP junction block on the center console and see if you can feel the blower motor relay ticking (softly) when the fan is running. Maybe this relay is misbehaving and is oscillating the current going to the motor????

Is there any protection circuitry you can see on the blower motor itself where the fan attaches to the wiring.

It definitely does not sound like a bearing noise -- that would likely change with fan rotation speed....

Did you come across the resistor pack in your travels? Maybe it has a protection circuit that is tripping???

Ok -- I really don't know....

Anyone?

Anyone?

Hey Derf,

Thanks again for all the help, and sorry for the delay in responding.

Yes, I'm from the south, Mississippi to be exact. Lived here for 36 years.

So I took your advice and start trying to find the motor relay. I'm not sure if I found it, but I did find what was making the noise, and like you said, I could put my hand on it and feel it ticking. However, it was not in the center console. I found it under/behind the glove box to the right of the blower.

I've taken a picture of the part. Hopefully someone can identify it and recommend a solution.

http://www2.chriscrawford.com/posts/...cking_Part.jpg

Thanks again!

So after doing more research, I've come across the possibility that it could be the recirculation door actuator.

Could that be what it is? If so, where could I find another one?

My 1998 SL had a bad recirculation door motor. A gear cracks in the unit allowing the motor to keep running. The gear is doing the clicking.

The local GM dealer wanted $55. Is there a cheaper alternative?

Is there a cheaper alternative?


Search the internet?

The first thing I'm gonna do, is congratulate RobG on a very detailed and concise explaination of his problem. The sound byte was awesome, dude! Nothing like "being there" to hear the problem first-hand.

That being said, I'm not sure there's a cheaper alternative, although a couple of calls to the local U-Pull-It yards may give you a better answer ......

This is the website where I found mine. However, after shipping, I'm not really sure I came out any better than the price you found locally.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0

-Chris

Thanks. After a little more searching, I found the part number
"16124567 air inlet valve actuator"

The cheapest new part I have found is at
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/

I also found used parts on ebay. I'm leery of a used part since it might also have a cracked/cracking gear.

Hey I know this thread is old but mine makes a noise to its a tick about every 25seconds.amd when it.gets real bad it kinda sounds like an old door opening. Spray it with wd40 and its quiet for awhile

Hey Chris, I don't have a clue as to what that is, but since you're in Mississippi, there is a Pull-A-Part salvage yard in Mobile. I don't know if you're close to Mobile or not. If so, just go to their web site (pullapart.com) and just type in the vehicle you're looking for. The site will tell you what year Saturns they have in the yard and what row they're on. I'd say that several year models will all have that same part in them. I don't know for sure, I'm new to the world of Saturns. Good luck with it.

chris hasn't been with us since Jan

Dammit! I guess I should start checking the dates on these posts! LOL I type slow anyway and that was a lot of typing for me!

I know this thread is 3 1/2 years old, but I didn't have this situation 3+ years ago !!

1996 SW2

Sometimes ( it's only been happening a couple of days) I'll turn the heater blower on (or air conditioner...I've tried both ways) I heart a loud and steady tick tick tick tick in ad infinitum when the recirculate button is engaged. When I disengage the recirculation the noise stops. The "tick tick ticking" does not speed up nor slow down when the blower fan speed is raised or lowered.

I've looked for the source but cannot, physically, locate it. I've always been able to make it quit "ticking" but I don't really know what it is I've done to stop it. I've tried opening and closing the heat slider, opening/closing the door that directs air toward feet , face or in between, turned blower switch to different speeds and on and off etc. This morning the noise seemed to quit when I jiggled the fan speed switch, but that might have been purely by coincidence.

I bought the SW2, new, off the lot, in 1996 and although her Blue Book is pretty low after 19 years, I don't feel bad about investing in mechanical fixes that surpass the cars KBB value. But, since I'm not able to do any of the work myself, I'd hate to think how much it would cost to tear the dash apart (if thats what's necessary) in order to replace a "convenience" part.

On the other hand, although I could merely stop using the recirculation, it would bug the heck out of me to know something is broken.

Any ideas?

Thanks



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