Blower Motor

[diangelo]

I have a 97 sls and my heat went out today. I went to the Cadillac dealership and they said that the blower motor needs to be replaced. I was wondering if there is any steps around that and if not how I would replace the part myself, and the difficulty doing it. Thank you.

[caddydaddy]

I'm pretty sure you have to cut the old one out. I'd check a service manual before attempting it myself. It's not as easy as the ones that are just held in by screws.

[darklighter39]

Originally Posted by caddydaddy

I'm pretty sure you have to cut the old one out. I'd check a service manual before attempting it myself. It's not as easy as the ones that are just held in by screws.

You can change the motor yourself. If the motor hasn't been changed before, there is be a rubber cover over the motor and if you look around it there will be a tear line. Take an razor blade a cut out the cover. The cover is designed in such a way that when you cut it out it should push bac into place. You don't necessarily have to put the cover back put for piece of mind it's good to.
Now to get the motor out, you really have to be up for it. First don't even try anything before you remove the upper strut bar that runs the back of the engine campartment, there are only 4 nuts holding it on. Once you get that off, I would disconnect the vacuum hose to the brake booster just to get it out of the way. There will also be a bunch or wiring running across the back of the engine on the rocker cover that will be in the way, there is just a click holding it there. I would also highly suggest unbolding the wiring clip from the engine. Basically do everything you can to make as much space as possible. Once you've done that, there are I believe 5 little bolds that hold the fan to the firewall. Take those out, disconnect the fan. This is the hard part, getting the fan out is an insanly tight squeeze but it can be done without taking the rocker cover off. Don't worry about damaging the old fan cause it is garbage anyway. Pulling the old fan out you will probably crack the blade on it. when you put the new one in, the trick is to feed the blade into the hole and face the motor so that it sits closest to the engine. It won't just slide in, you have to stragetigally squezze the circular fan blade to that it slowing works it's way into the whole. It is really a slow process because the rocker cover is so close and puts the fan on a awkward angle when putting it in but it CAN be done. Don't let the dealership tell you it needs to come off if you decide to take it there. They just want your money. Hope this helps you out

[clutch492]

Don't cut the housing!!!!!!!

Raise and support the car near the drivers' door.

Take the cooling fan loose and move it to the side so that the water pump and other items will not contact it.

Remove the engine struts off (these hold the engine from rotating and are bolted to the body and the engine).

Place a jack under the front area of the frame that supports the drivetrain.

jack up against the frame.

Take the front bolts out that keep the frame attached to the car body (one on each side).

SLOWLY lower the engine and transmssion (frame and drivetrain).

At one point you will have to stop lowering the engine as that the engine will make contact with the radiator. STOP.

Now the fan motor will come right out. REPLACE IT.

Jack the frame up, bolt it, bolt the cooling fan in, connect the engine struts from the body to the engine.

[brcidd]

I agree- lifting the body off the engine cradle about an inch is the easiest way.-- I did not remove the bolts- just backed them off to do it...