Buick Enclave: Front Blower Motor Does Not Work

[@davedeloa]

15:34 finally a how to video worth watching knew exactly what size object I needed to start fan motor that was stuck thanks great video

[@lucasbuhr1150]

Might be my all time favorite SMA video with the old truck story and a relatable problem.

[@rickconstant6106]

I'm retired now, but that sort of job was something I never enjoyed in my workshop. For a start, I'm 6' 3", so any job under the dash was difficult to get to. Added to that, here in the UK, cars are usually more compact, so you have less room to work, and on top of that, most cars are designed as left hand drive, then they make a right hand drive version for the UK and similar markets, with the bare minimum of alterations to the layout under the dash, so you have to work around the pedal box and steering column as well. It's good to be able to sit here and watch someone else do it now, knowing that I don't have to. Keep up the good work, Eric.

[@j.balberta5049]

I went from " Oh crap how much is this gonna cost " to 20 minutes later having it done and smiling. Thank you very much !!

[@99andrianmonk]

Nice job, Eric. Good ole, practical mechanics. See problem, diagnose in a practical manner then fix it; taking us along with you. No scanner, no wave form, no TSB's. Just good old logic based on experience and knowledge. Change of pace. SMA videos are always valuable.

[@billrimmer5596]

I think there may have been a scope, but of course I could b wrong. Rather than a dead spot on the commutator, it maybe that the brushes were a little stuck?

[@danielbutler578]

My Escort had the same problem. The first time it happened I put a set of brushes in the fan motor. I had it long enough to wear it out again and just replaced the whole motor the second time. I diagnosed it the same way. I just slapped the heater box and it would work for a few days. I've used the same trick to get vehicles with worn-out electric fuel pumps started. Only failed me once. My 97 Chevy Express died and I was about 2 miles from home. It got pulled up a pretty steep hill by a 91 Nissan Sentra.

[@bmb13]

I watched the first two minutes of this video, paused it, walked outside to my truck, smacked the blower motor (after I already changed both blend door actuators) turned on the car and it worked. I stood there shaking my head and said “you gotta be f-ing kidding me right now!” 😂😂 Thank You!

[@ferdytacomaboy3628]

Good video. Years ago, on my '72 Ford, I ignored my blower fan squealing because I had no money. Eventually, the blower fan switch melted and failed. Cheaper to fix the problem before it gets worse.

[@mikearmstrong9671]

The Classic” Don’t mess with your daily driver.” Love it

[@mph5896]

Yup, I learned that a long time ago.

[@robertpowell7672]

Hi Eric. You had a 5.7 chevy when you left school and you had no money. You don't know how funny that sounds to the rest of the world!

[@rjb6327]

The night light on my radio went out over two years ago. I didn't feel like pulling the radio to see what was wrong, so there I was without a lit radio at night for well over two years. The other night I got sick of not seeing the time on the radio at night, so I gave it a good shot with my knuckle. LET THERE BE LIGHT! BTW: Always nice to hear Mrs.O.

[@machintelligence]

Percussive maintenance for the win.

[@FishFind3000]

Worked for my buddy’s 1992 Toyota Tercel dash. As a joke I beat on the dash and the lights all came back on. After that had our standard operating procedure.

[@Vincent_Sullivan]

@@FishFind3000 I have a 1986 Corolla GTS that did that some years ago. Eventually I got tired of hitting the dash so I took it apart and found a fractured solder joint on the light switch. Easy fix and no parts required!

[@jpack61108]

Hahahaha “fellas gotta be careful making that motion with his hands” 🤣

[@alex1949]

Someone here was just arrested for that at a public pool.

[@jpack61108]

@@alex1949 😳

[@randlecycling2462]

Hey hey hey

[@williamgagnonroadboxservice]

He he he. Ha ha

[@tpctrash]

Lmao. I just wait for those little dingers

[@rider547]

What a great evening! A new SMA video plus a “used to own a…” story! Thanks for the video!

[@stevejohnson1397]

Love watching your videos I got out of this line of work over 10 years ago and every time I see you getting your hands in a tights places I am really glad I got out of it

[@sambitar8448]

GOOD JOB AGAIN, THANKS. YOUR ASSISTANT MRS. O ARE THE GREATEST, MOST HELPFUL. YOU ARE A LUCKY MAN.

[@glenncerny8403]

I kept a piece of busted broom handle for clubbing the blower motor in my old Nova.

[@heinrichschmitt5252]

Hey Eric. I enjoy hearing your stories almost as much as the mechanic work that you preform. Great content as always.

[@blake8297]

I was thinking the same thing, enjoy hearing his stories.

[@heinrichschmitt5252]

@@blake8297 Eric is down to earth and humble but you can tell by his stories that he has lived a interesting life. 😁👍🏻

[@dlsimmonsjr1]

700000k subscribers wow! Who woulda thunk it! Congratulations my friend!

[@thomasschleis2545]

Simple job, but the hammer method successful. Our neighbor farmer used to say if it didnt work, get a bigger hammer, as he took a sledge to his tractor shifter. It worked.

[@ROACHRAGE2]

Good talk; My first car was a 1962 English Ford Anglia Estate ("Station wagon" for us yanks). I don't think they had ever changed the oil because it clogged the oil filter within 500 miles for the first ten oil changes. I ended up rebuilding the motor within the first year. Horrible car, but I dreamed of swapping the motor for a Cortina motor with double my 39 horses! Woot!

[@switch55]

Nicely done and thank you! If I may add if it hasn't been mentioned in comments already, mine (2011 Enclave) first acted up last time I had the heat on during spring. Ordered the new fan from Amazon but summer hit and using AC, the fan ran just fine. Chicago getting chilly again so running the heat, it would get stuck again so I've been bumping it with my fist to kick start it lol. Today... I put that new one in! Now to figure out why I have constant heat on my drivers side when my AC in on.. Ugggs

[@robertrosicki9290]

Warmed up my 2012 Sierra this past winter and did the same job in the driveway at -30 . More fun watching Eric do it .

[@craiggoodwin9704]

Eric, fun watching the video and reading the comments as we lament about the old trucks we use to own. Had a old Ford truck with a worn out neutral safety switch. Took it out and apart, replaced the worn out balls in it with bb's. Worked great. Pretty amazing the stuff you think about when your upside down under the dash. Thanks for Sharing!

[@johnf22371]

Eric i didn’t know a blower motor changeout could be so entertaining. Great vid as usual!

[@btrswt35]

In high school I had a '83 Chevrolet Chevette. The dash selector didn't work for the defrost and floor. So each time in the winter had to decide, cold feet or a defrosted windshield. You had to reach up under the dashboard on the passenger side to manually move the diverter. It was a total PITA but being a first car it was freedom regardless!

[@tbozzz8785]

If you think back, I'm sure you could be like ''if I had just of had say a steel clothes hanger hooked to the blend door opposite the bearing/hinges what haveyou and ran it to arms reach near the steeringwheel or ankle and' voila' manual mode". Buuut never did by the sound of your post. Now, wait for it

[@Enzo87325]

You probably just saved me a bunch of money my friend thanks !

[@bobbaker3479]

Really enjoy your videos. Hate you have to work on so many rust buckets.I can't do it but glad you can.

[@geoffhoulahan9099]

We were all young and dumb once. I kept messing with my daily as well. My Dad kept saying if it ain't broke don't fix it.

[@waynepagnozzi3043]

Thanks man perfect video got mine fixed with a good ole wack... I must still be a kid because I am still broke at 45

[@Robase023]

😂@8:25 "you ain't messin' wit no broke...broke!" His one-liners catch me off guard.

[@scottdelancey4736]

Hitting the blower worked.. thank you so munch for your video..👍😃👍

[@GregSr]

Ahh...the memories. Back in the late 90's a mouse found its way into the AC duct work of my '96 Impala SS. It ended up in the squirrel cage blower fan. I didn't know it at the time. I was driving in the middle of the Nevada desert with the AC cranked up. Then suddenly, the entire car started severely vibrating. When I reduced the fan speed, the vibration was much less. I drove about 2 more hours before getting home. Our cat showed an unusual level of curiosity about the car. She normally wants nothing to do with cars. She apparently smelled the dead rodent. Just like Eric did, I dropped the fan assembly down from behind the glove box. Much to my surprise, there was a mouse inside the fan. Needless to say he was deceased and very flat. The centrifugal forces did him in. I took some pictures (of course) and removed the dead rodent. Put the fan assembly back where it came from. No more vibration.

[@GTCGreg]

Often, the blowers fail because the brushes fail to make good contact with the commutator due to wear. Bumping the motor causes then to make contact again and the motor takes off. It may run for a day, week or month. Best to replace the motor when this happens because it is going to fail again. This type of failure usually doesn't show up as a dead spot when you scope current draw

[@SouthMainAuto]

as we saw :)

[@SouthMainAuto]

as we saw :)

[@andrewkennedy9704]

@@SouthMainAuto you can say that twice!

[@robertsantos286]

You my friend are a true friend.

[@D989501L]

Morning Eric, I used to do the same thing with my car back in the 80's a 2 litre Ford Cortina GXL. The Mutts Nuts, my Dad used to say to me " If you want a car to go fast, buy a fast car"? I must have spent a fortune on it and not really got anywhere. But "you can't put a young head on old shoulders" where would the fun be if we'd listened to out parents😁👍. Regards as always Richard 🇬🇧

[@willw8011]

That is a nice little tool kit. Something to give to a kid, so they can cause all kinds of trouble.

[@scottm9966]

The one at the 2 minute mark? I thought that was handy dandy all in one. Trying to find it on the internet now.

[@SMKreitzer1968]

Thanks Eric! I too had a few hit to start blower motors.

[@windward2818]

For dealing with the small plastic hardware I use a Milwaukee M12 Fuel Brushless Electric screwdriver (2-speed driver) model number 2402-20. The tool has a built in LED light when activated. The tool has two speeds, torque limit and driver or drill setting. The trigger pull is progressive. Once you get used to the tool you can snug up small plastic screws without over torqueing or stripping out the plastic. Then you can final torque with a hand driver. I like to use the Kobalt magnetic ratcheting screwdriver model# 15000.

[@DL-ry3qg]

You tube sucks with their new warnings before you can comment,anyway, these are the kind of videos I like to watch you do, I know the scan tools are really needed on new cars, but the average guys wants to watch you work on common problems,after you’ve scanned lol !

[@CTSCAPER]

I had a '92 c1500 with the big 4.3 in it and the automatic. Great motor. Great truck.

[@danielgeng2306]

Ha, did the Fonzarelli (spl?) so n my f350 4 years ago, bought a blower motor and said when it goes all the way I’ll replace it. Conclusion, as long as that new motor sits in my basement the one in my truck will never go! Lol thanks Mr. O another good one !

[@howardwhitcomb6381]

It's fun to look back on what we drove I remember going from a 2 barrel carb to a 4 barrel on my dodge slant six lol. I thought I was going to have all kinds of power.

[@jasonmarks1636]

when you turned that new blower motor on, I felt a nice breeze at my desk.

[@stuartmcnicol2914]

So much easier then the ones buried in the dash or under a fender. We were all broke at some time and did some pretty unwise things! Nice job!

[@aku2dimensional]

The best part of your story is the statement of wanting more horsepower than you'd know what to do with, there's a lot of folk who want a fast car but few lack the experience to handle such a machine. Though it seems that a lot people lack in every department when they drive a vehicle, like they cut their own license out of a cereal box and the DOT approved them without any testing.

[@johnpierson489]

So my girlfriend gave me her wore out enclave it’s been awful you have saved me again thank you so much

[@donaldross1077]

I did do it,,, now I am retired. By the way my 1990 chevy pickup with the 4.3 v-6 5 speed shifter is sitting in the driveway with over 350k on the odometer. Okay I changed motor at 250k and heads 100k later. Still runs good and is only used to make lumber yard runs. Nice video Don

[@shadetreemech290]

Obviously you don't live/drive in the rust belt.

[@Bub61fd]

Easy Peasy as you always say. Plus no frustration- lady’s back in business- getting harder on these new cars/trucks- thanks

[@fredflintstone8048]

I appreciate the little tool kit and the little Eric O scope. They will be perfect for my auto repair business where I make house calls and ride to the jobs on my bicycle due to fuel costs.. I've always been taught to 'think big' but due to the changing tides, I think it's now time to 'think small'.

[@jamesbruno5896]

Having a cold one & watching a SMA video! 👍

[@billyduffany3387]

So strange, my blower motor stopped working today in my Buick and when I hit my notifications and started watching your video, same problem, but mine was the resistor.

[@MartinE63]

Same job on an R56 mini (right hand drive) is total dashboard removal, five hours work and around 100 screws and clips.

[@reinhardeder8268]

Good Job, I deal with about 5 Blower Motors a week and I agree to get a new one but since I am in Mexico and People do not wanna spend that much Money for a new one I replace the Cole's if the rest of it looks halfway usable and good to go for another Year or two

[@mkilptrick]

There are many problems but the diagnostic path always helps us find a route to the problems.

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Nice repair and commentary Mr. O.

[@charlescastillo8870]

As much as we hate to admit our Ole Man was always right it's good to look back and see we've become just like them, great informative video Eric and good wishes to the family

[@billrimmer5596]

Appreciate u sharing that point about the rev limiter being in the cluster!! Whouda thunk it?

[@mrlister2000]

I had to replace the fan motor on my LDV Maxus. Gladly it was an easy job to replace it!

[@steveanderson949]

Did the blower and rister on my 2008 5.3 silverado about 6 weeks ago..it was 111f in Dallas today and 68 in my truck

[@73SDR]

On the GMT-400 (your old Chevy) the positive wire that connected to the blower motor often gets loose and burns up, but won't always be obvious right away. A simple spade connector will replace the original.

[@george420]

Lucky you. Just done a blower motor replacement on a 2012 focus. Such a pain in the ars. I now know a trick on the physical removal part but considering how difficult the screws are to get out and the darn cage that's around it as well. Next time I'll pay someone like you to do it 😂

[@Garth2011]

Yessiree...that 4.3 was no slouch but the 5.7 should have made a difference although in the EFI days all they put out was 210 HP and some were only 190 HP in the 3/4T or 2500 models.

[@jack002tuber]

Years ago my blower fan quit on my '72 olds, I found an inline fuse for it under the hood, replaced and going. I was lucky to find that, then later in another car had the same problem

[@ranger178]

reminds me of banging on old headlights that stopped working to get the filament to weld itself back together sometimes it worked for a while till i got around to replacing it lol

[@jessefoulk]

Well bouncing on that, i4, v6 to 5.7 v8 conversions were a common theme among s10 owners. My brother did that. Minor alterations but you, them, and or I could do it in our backyard.

[@SouthMainAuto]

Yep that's right. They were super easy swaps back in the day!

[@bltoth1955]

SMA After Dark. Sweet!

[@DIYDaveOK]

Replacing a blower motor in my old LeSabre was one of the first things I did myself. Thanks as always, Eric!

[@XtheUnknown99]

Did a 66 leSabre myself at 13

[@brandonlink6568]

When I was a teenager my heat and air never worked, I always thought it was a bad blower motor but just lived with it for years. I eventually took it apart to find a screen clogged with maple seeds. All those winters suffering and all I had to do was undo a couple bolts.

[@diablo7322000]

I love that tool kit, working on mostly high end euro crap it's in constant use for interior jobs.

[@paulcochran1721]

Yes, I think there used to be a link to that kit, but I don't see it right now.

[@carchris3954]

I am currently swapping out the heater hoses on my 08 Caravan. Gonna toss in some cleaner since it blew a hose.

[@leecarroll1817]

Like you, I had a Chev C10 w 4.3, best engine ever. Only prob was the old Getrag puked 5th gear @ about 220,000 mi. Didn't use or leak a drop of oil. Only got between 18-20 mpg. Wish I still had it, yes it would chirp the tires going into third.

[@davidlong1786]

I have a 1988 Toyota truck that the blower motor would not work every time and giving it a bump helped sometimes. Rather than spending too much money on an OEM part from Toyota or taking my chances with a used one off of Ebay, I bought a brush kit and cleaned up the motor commutator, Been working several years now.

[@cbsctomh]

Had a '95 Cheyenne std. cab 8 ft. bed with the 4.3 and a cap...very nice truck! I have a picture on my desktop and look at it quite often. Me and the misses had a lot less back then but put a lot of miles on it heading to the Wisconsin northwoods pulling sleds or a trailer with the camping gear.

[@kaafromoz]

TY Eric, enjoyed the easy fix mate. We all live and learn and when older look back at our youth and how did I ever live this long with all the crazy stuff I did. Thank You Sir and bring back the coveralls LOL Keep Safe Keep Strong 🦘🦘🦘🚗🚗🚗

[@freetolook3727]

Back when I had my RV repair business, I actually did the Fonzirelli thing to a Hydroflame furnace. The furnace wouldn't kick on, so I hit it on the left side and it kicked on. My customers were amazed. But, I spoiled it by telling them that the relays were prone to sticking and sometimes jarring them can loosen the contacts. Of course I replaced the relay but was the subject of campfire conversations for awhile.😂

[@kevindavis6042]

Mike Just want to say thank you for sharing your knowledge I'm saying this because a couple of weeks ago you posted a video about replacing a condenser in a Chevy truck Today was the day that I had to do the same Keep up the great work my friend and once again Thank you sir

[@mattmanyam]

Eric*

[@kevindavis6042]

@@mattmanyam oops sorry

[@stationaryenginesworldwide]

thanks Eric for the video ...i have changed many a blower motor .... changing out is the best way to go. have a great week young man

[@waynecasper5346]

Eric you got all kinds of beautiful little gadgets

[@MoparDan]

Eric, I had to laugh when you said your Dad told you not to do it. That must have happened to every kid, including me, down through time.

[@idontreallycare5743]

New tshirts on order. Wore the old ones out. Thanks!

[@scottgeorge50]

Please add the tool kit that you used to your Amazon store. I would like to purchase one but didn"t see it in your store listing. Great job on the blower motor replacement. Common sense repairs always work.

[@michaelpressman7203]

This last summer my AC went out pulled the dash apart pulled blower the resistor got into the head unit all that never did get it worked had it taken took it to a shop in the bottom line was it was a relay that was hidden in the kick panel on the driver's side so you live and learn but I know where everything is now have a great day

[@danielmoore8538]

Don't mess with your daily,that's good advice.

[@Teknyk303]

The Ol' Rusty Tip....good name for a pub. 😂

[@fredwalker839]

Hey Eric, we Canadians know how to blow or build electrical! LOL, true storey worth reading, when I went to trade school in 1967, one of my instructors was just completing a 350 Chev V-8 engine with the rear 2 cylinders cut off, thus now a 4.3 L engine! It ran ,but had severe crankshaft vibrations ! Everybody, including me, thought he was crazy & needed a life ! I wonder if that crazy idea inspired GM , many years later to come out with the 4.3 in 1988 ? Just too coincidental ! X my heart & spit , True !

[@harrylister804]

V6 is inherently unbalanced. Look at the mounts, theyre huge to keep it from coming unglued.

[@montiwestfall2581]

Wow bud .I'm in the Ithaca area and I'm thinking it's Cool ya got 2 napper's to get stuff done 👍

[@anthonymacneil2279]

New to this channel but man you have some wicked content. Very informative. Keep those video's coming especially Chev/GMC 2014 up. Cheers from Sydney, Nova Scotia Canada

[@adriangreco8249]

I just replaced two of them today in a Scania crew cab. I had to take half the trim apart.

[@danieltrejo5242]

I love your channel. It makes me wanna start a channel of my own. I see you on here and I see alot of stuff I deal with on a daily. I just can't find time to record

[@paulcochrane6268]

I was a mechanic too and told my son also a mechanic not to fiddle but he did and could not get it passed for registration and blew the motor

[@Kenny_P_abz]

Looks like the one you took out may have been a used part. Thought I saw scrap yard paint at 8:22. Love the videos.

[@stephentsun8560]

Luv your videos, your such a down to earth character. Wish we had more mechanics like you down in Australia.

[@donho3617]

The black tube directs air from the air box to the motor to cool the motor and bearing.

[@shadetreemech290]

Thanks for that!

[@jyao5409]

That's correct sir

[@Garth2011]

Those bearings are technically called bushings and rarely last a long time. When they start failing, they will require a lot more startup torque to spin. A drop of oil might make it work another year or so but not the most reliable repair method for a garage and customer. Nice replacement part.

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

I've had good luck using the oil you get from an appliance parts store for furnace fan bushings. It's thick like honey and stays put.

[@Garth2011]

@@LuckyBaldwin777 Would be better the manufacturers simply used real bearings.

[@TheOtherBill]

@@Garth2011 What? You think a manufacturer will spend another 8/10 of a cent on a 40K vehicle? That's crazy talk.

[@CrimeVid]

Spray with 3 in one and spin the fan with a pencil or something, keeps fans going for years !

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

@@Garth2011 true, but auto manufacturers often use the cheapest solution instead of the best.

[@billyrayvalentine5220]

It's got a rusty tip...and...where's the hole?...sounds like a true mechanics shop.👍🏻👍🏻

[@robpeabo509]

Too true Eric. Customer jobs have to be treated different to how you work on your own stuff. You have to warranty what you repair, and lets face it the labour to test and reinstate pretty much most of the labour cost. It only took you a few minuets to remove and reinstall the actual blower fan. Plus peace of mind knowing you installed a new NAPA (not sponsored) fan 🙄

[@BigDaddy_MRI]

Hey. I was checking out that space under the seat! Ok. Not really. Great video. Better to put a new one in than to have a disgruntled customer. Another one under yer belt, Eric. Nice job!!

[@nosefirst]

Drove our Nissan Pathfinder for years with the money light on because we were short on money.

[@jdgimpa]

I was expecting to see a mouse nest when you pulled that blower out. Back when I was wrenching in Michigan it was common to clean a mouse house out of blowers. My wife had a 89 Acclaim that I cleaned out twice in one winter. One day she said a mouse ran up the outside of the windshield when she was half way to work!

[@shadetreemech290]

Well apparently that was his stop.

[@patrickinottawa27]

Good thing it wasn't a squirrel, poor guys nuts would have been frozen.

[@johnkennedy2505]

Didn’t know the rev limiter changed with the cluster on the tbi motors. I know I fixed my abs light by swapping out the cluster on my 4.3 1500 I know the cluster was from a V8 because they had no 6’s at the time. Motivation to do the trans swap to get it back on the road to see if it revs higher.

[@Sojourning_]

I told my son some odd 20 years ago, don't mess with your daily driver, he didn't listen, live and learn good job boss.