Heater squeals real loud

[orange1983ranger]

When the truck is cold and it's cold outside, the heater makes a heinous noise when I turn it on. The noise is coming from the dash right near the middle somewhere. I think the fan is getting stuck cause it makes wobbling sounds sometimes before it squeals. Any thoughts?

 

[adsm08]

The bearings on the fan are going bad. You need a new motor.

 

[orange1983ranger]

Are they easy to replace? It's the heater motor right?

 

[adsm08]

They aren't hard, 3 bolts and a plug. The parts store will have it listed as a "Blower motor" because it isn't just for the heater.

 

[orange1983ranger]

sweet! I just went to autozone and got one for 98 cents. I had 20 bucks in credit from purchases and the manager gave me another 10 percent off. I would do it now but it's cold and dark. Thanks for the advice!

 

[509lifted]

yea just had to replace one on my moms gmc and they are easy as can be and then when ur driving u wont swerve when it squeals out of no where haha.

 

[orange1983ranger]

Ya, good one 509lifted. The first time it happened I nearly put my head through the top of the cab.

So I couldn't stand it once i found out how easy this job is and did it. Cold and night won't stop me!

 

[wildbill23c]

Mine is squealing like crazy as well in my 84 B2, I'm thinking that from sitting and with the leak somewhere in the roof the thing has some rust in it. Going to pull mine out this week and look at it and for $22 at autozone for the blower motor I'm not going to bother trying to do anything to repair it, just replace it and be done. Looks to be pretty simple to do and easy to get in and replace.

 

[509lifted]

wildbill yea u cant really fix them persay, just replace it and fix the problem for good lol

 

[wildbill23c]

Given the shape of the vehicle with the rust issues, I'm guessing the bearings and the squirrel cage inside have rusted and maybe there may be debris in the housing as well won't know until I get the motor out but yeah I'm not going to bother doing anything with it just throwing the old motor away and buying a new one, depending on the shape of the squirrel cage I may replace it as well if its bent or damaged.

 

[orange1983ranger]

At autozone the cage is 14 bucks. I got the motor cheap from enough purchases with them over 20 bucks. they gave a 20 dollar credit and the manager was impressed enough that I replaced one of the heads myself, he gave me an extra 10% off. I can really appreciate a 98 cent part, especially a brand new one. When I pulled the cage off the old one, it was plastic and I'm sure it is the "og". It broke right where the clip goes, but I put the clip right over the broken piece and let it cinch down with no glue or nothing and it works great. Old plastic is really brittle.

 

[wildbill23c]

Looks like the cage that I'm finding online at autozone is aluminum so if the one in my B2 is plastic aluminum is a small step up I guess. So for about $35 it will be an easy and simple fix or well I hope it is anyhow. Sounds like that's definitely the problem though.