Really stupid problem.

[RaceOn]

I have a '99 Rodeo that was making an irritating noise down by the heat/AC blower motor. It kind of sounded like there was a piece of paper stuck in the fan. So, last week I pulled the motor out to clean it, and found that it was stuffed with pine straw (it's a Southern problem) and some other tree debris. I cleaned the fan and before I re-assembled it I use air pressure to clean out the fresh air intake.

I took the car out for a drive on Saturday and the noise re-appeared. So, I went through the same process and thought I was done. NOPE! On Sunday, it re-appeared, so I cleaned it again. Long story short. It's doing it again.

Has anybody run into this before, and if so, what did you do to fix it? From what I can find, these vehicles do not have a cabin filter, so it looks like what ever gets under the windshield grate, can easily find it's way into the fan motor. If that is the case, I think I'll pull the windshield grate , and place some screen material over the fresh air intake. I'm open to any other suggestions!

Pat

[FL 3.2L]

Kinda curious, too. On Friday I had to get into the HVAC duct of my Jetta by removing the blower fan to change the blower motor resistor, and I couldn't believe how many years worth of debris from the tree by the driveway had found its way in there. No filter either. It comes straight in from under the raintray.

[Ramblin Fever]

I've had the same issue....it's eventually worked it's way out, probably by power washing.

[amigo-2k]

Same issue. typically when it starts I'll swithc the fan speed to 4 for a couple of minutes and it blows itself clean.