W210 Replacement Fan

[jberks]

Hi all,
Just wondering how tricky replacing the heater fan would be on my 2000 E.
It squeals for the first 20-30 minutes of any journey and I'm not sure it gets up to speed. I have been told that the fault may be the regulator so,
1) any idea how to determine whether its the fan or regulator ?
2) How innaccesible is the whole assembly ?
The last one I did was 15 years ago on an escort and that was a bugger, so I'm a bit wary on my current baby. Any advice appreciated.
cheers,
Julian

 

[jberks]

What, no one ever done one ?

 

[landover]

It is the fan that squeals. A regulator can't squeal .This is a much easier job than on an escort.... Remove wiper assembly......................... remove cover at fan.. now remove fan.........Eurocarparts can supply new fan.... Hope this helps.

 

[jberks]

thanks mate.
The garage had mentioned that they had changed a number of regulators for similar faults. Seemed odd but as I couldn't imagine enough power going through to have that effect. TV's do it, but they carry a lot more juice.

 

[piestore]

heater fan

Hi

Sorrey landover but I have to dissagree it is very common for the regs to make this noise, The fan and the reg are directley above the passengers feet, drop the trim panel and give the fan a direct 12 volts if no noise is detected repeat test several times (in circumstances that would be expected to produce noise ie first thing in morning) then assume regulator if noise is present then replace fan

 

[jberks]

thanks guys. I will do the test. Its tricky as the squeal only comes on with slow speeds, but it's getting rapidly worse. I've noticed now that as the squeal becomes louder, the fan actually slows down and I have had gusting through the vents as it stops and goes. I suspect a sticking bearing but could the regulator do this also?
Is there any way of separating the two so I can listen for definate.
I haven't tried so strip them down yet so this may be an obvious question once I'm there.

 

[dieselman]

It sounds like the fan bearings are siezing or the fan is loose on the motor spindle.

 

[jberks]

Hi,
it does sound exactly like the bearings are dry. However, playing with it on the way to work this morning I noticed that at times the fan was actually faster :? than it should have been given the switch setting (blasting out of the centre vents with the switch just over 1), then ran it up to full and back down a couple of times and it slowed down to normal again. So I am erring towards the regulator as the problem. I am planning to test the fan at the weekend, but in anticipation, anyone know where I could get a new regulator ?