Removing the blower motor

[davidr]

Hi - I’m looking for a bit of advice. There’s a noise coming from the blower motor on the passenger side of my 2001 XKR. It sounds like something is caught in the rotor. I recall a while ago when I was removing the centre console for some reason I made the mistake of putting an 8mm long socket on top of the fascia. It rolled off and disappeared down the screen vent. I suspect it has gradually moved its way down and is now making itself known.
I have removed the glovebox assembly and found the 3 mounting bolts for the blower motor. It is now free but I just can’t see how to actually get it out. I thought it would pull down and come out into the footwell but that just isn’t happening. The metal cross brace won’t let it past.
I’m hoping someone out there has done this before and can give me some hints and tips!
Best wishes
David

[mike020150]

Hi David,
I suspect you might not like what comes next! The workshop manual starts the task by saying, "Remove the dashboard". To do so, means stripping the entire interior. If you can't reach the socket via an existing opening, my advice would be to drill a hole in the blower motor casing, remove the offending socket and then plug the hole with a rubber grommet/bung. Mike.

[Astromorg]

It would seem that Mike and my copies of the w'shop manual may have differing opinions on this job's access needs

But perhaps that is because my copy for the 4.0 models just says 'Information not available at this time' and I've been assuming the job description in the 2003-2006 manual would cover earlier models thinking they are likely the same in the ventilation department.

This is a link to the later manual; blower motor motor removal is covered in Section 412-1.

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/AutoRep ... Manual.pdf

If the Contents List is not on show, click on the two and a half bars icon at the top left corner and expand to Section 412-01

The directions require the Instrument Panel to be removed for passenger side motor removal, but I wonder if that's where terminology 'instrument panel' and 'dashboard' have created uncertainty. Looks like you're best placed to resolve this David?

Later

Just done some more reading and I'm now bowing to Mike's more informed interpretation of instrument panels and dashboards. Some outside-the-box thinking might indeed be the way ahead for you David. Maybe via the centre console?

[davidr]

Thanks Both - I’ve seen that instruction in the manual that says remove the instrument panel and wondered why because it’s on the other side. The illustration shows the heater blower with noting in the way which I guess there wouldn’t be if the whole dash has been stripped out!
I think I shall have a think about my options.
Perhaps i can get enough access to put my camera down to see what’s going on and maybe even get a magnet down to pull the errant socket out if that proves to be the issue.

[mike020150]

Good luck & don't drop anything else! Mike.

[davidr]

Further attempts to get inside the blower motor have been unsuccessful. I’m building up to making the decision to take the dashboard out which as Mike described means removing practically the entire interior forward of the rear seats.
Let’s look on the bright side. I’m bound to find s few coins etc under the seats so the job may make me a profit!
I’m short of time but i fear it would cost a fortune in labour to get the job done for me so it will have to over a period of time an hour or two at a go.
I’ll try to keep you updated on here with photos as I haven’t seen a blow by blow account of this job anywhere else.

[davidr]

Well I bit the bullet and the dash is now out and the errant socket retrieved. Turns out that a bit of twig that had somehow made its way in was causing the noise. Anyway, the issue is sorted and I’ve got my socket back!
Just got to put this lot back together again now. Only trouble is that I’ve noticed a few inevitable ‘while I’m in there’ jobs so they have to be done first. For example, I need to get some corrosion in the drivers side floor pan sorted. Now’s the time while I have everything stripped out I guess.
Here’s the retrieved socket

And here’s the stripped out interior

My workshop is now full of XKR interior so this will take a while!
I’ll put up some more photos of the process when I get some time.
Saved me getting bored on a rainy Saturday!

[ptjs1]

Great work, David!

It's very daunting when you see the dash completely removed!

Good luck with the re-install! Maybe helpful if you were able to list out the steps in order that you take to do the re-install with your photos?

Cheers

Paul

[davidr]

Thanks Paul - I did the job according to the workshop manual which is logical and step by step. It has a reassembly sequence too so that will help. There were a few electrical plugs that weren't mentioned in the workshop procedure so I'll have to remember to plug those back in as well. I was careful to bag and label the fixings as I went or put them back in so I hope nothing will have gone astray.
I'm busy getting about the 'while I'm in there' jobs now.
Pleasingly the only casualty was a body earth connection that had corroded and snapped off when I was removing the loom but that's easily fixed.
Regards
David

[MarkX]

Hats off to you David!

Intrigued to know what else you are working on now you have got it totally stripped out?

Fingers crossed the driver side floor is not too bad.

Would you like to contribute an article for the mag?

Best
Mark

PS - how do you add photos to posts?

[mike020150]

Congratulations David. You deserve a bravery medal for tackling the job and a second one for getting everything back together and working! I have an occasional similar tinkling noise from one of the blowers in my XJ coupe for which I'm also pinning my hopes on it being a dried leaf or twig. It definitely isn't a socket. Mike.

[davidr]

Thanks Mike but hold on before awarding medals - any fool can take something apart - I’ve got to get it back together again yet!

[ptjs1]

And I've got the dreaded Darlington Transistor problem on my 4.0 XJS to deal with!

Suggestion for the next Technical Seminar, Mike? "Taking the Dashboard out of a variety of Jaguar Models" ?!

Paul

[davidr]

So removing the blower motor turns out to be really easy. 2 bolts at the top, a nut at the side, undo the plug at the bottom and pull it out. 5 minutes is all it takes. The only slight complication is a day to remove the vast majority of the interior to get access!

I’ve some corrosion in the driver footwell so I’ve bought a repair panel on line. My welding skills aren’t great so I’ll get someone to let it in for me

[andypryce]

Wow! Good work and well done retrieving the socket!