Blower motor replacement - I’m stuck (literally)

[tobinjtaylor]

2011 model year. I’ve watched every YouTube video I could find but most are for the F150 which seems to maybe have more floorboard clearance. Any advice on what kind of black magic is needed to get the blower motor to drop out? There just doesn't seem to be enough clearance to make that happen or there are some laws of physics that I don't understand. Grunting, twisting, pulling and praying don't seem to make much difference. The housing gets hung up on the sound deadening pad which is taking a beating from my efforts. I keep thinking there must be a trick or step I've skipped. I got so frustrated I just reattached the old squealing motor figuring if I got the old one out, I'd face the reverse struggle on installing new one. Noisy motor seemed better than no motor. I read something that suggested that the squirrel cage has more flex and give than I may have anticipated and been willing to test. Oh, and don’t get me started on that third bolt in the back by the firewall. Any help is appreciated!

 

[07navi]

2011 model year. I’ve watched every YouTube video I could find but most are for the F150 which seems to maybe have more floorboard clearance. Any advice on what kind of black magic is needed to get the blower motor to drop out? There just doesn't seem to be enough clearance to make that happen or there are some laws of physics that I don't understand. Grunting, twisting, pulling and praying don't seem to make much difference. The housing gets hung up on the sound deadening pad which is taking a beating from my efforts. I keep thinking there must be a trick or step I've skipped. I got so frustrated I just reattached the old squealing motor figuring if I got the old one out, I'd face the reverse struggle on installing new one. Noisy motor seemed better than no motor. I read something that suggested that the squirrel cage has more flex and give than I may have anticipated and been willing to test. Oh, and don’t get me started on that third bolt in the back by the firewall. Any help is appreciated!

You need those 2 big red shop manuals for that year, in the meantime maybe you can oil the original one.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Did my 2015 and it will come out. Just gotta find the right way. I pulled my carpet and padding back to give it more clearance. But I can assure you it will come out.


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[07navi]

2011 model year. I’ve watched every YouTube video I could find but most are for the F150 which seems to maybe have more floorboard clearance. Any advice on what kind of black magic is needed to get the blower motor to drop out? There just doesn't seem to be enough clearance to make that happen or there are some laws of physics that I don't understand. Grunting, twisting, pulling and praying don't seem to make much difference. The housing gets hung up on the sound deadening pad which is taking a beating from my efforts. I keep thinking there must be a trick or step I've skipped. I got so frustrated I just reattached the old squealing motor figuring if I got the old one out, I'd face the reverse struggle on installing new one. Noisy motor seemed better than no motor. I read something that suggested that the squirrel cage has more flex and give than I may have anticipated and been willing to test. Oh, and don’t get me started on that third bolt in the back by the firewall. Any help is appreciated!

You didn't try swearing. Also try dousing it with some WD40, like Trump said; what do you have to lose?

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Pull the carpet padding down.

 

[Jonneyo]

I recently replaced the blower motor on my 2010. I had the same frustration. It was a long battle especially while trying to not break anything. You need to pull back all the carpet and then push down on that somewhat flexible padding while pulling down the motor and keeping your flashlight positioned with your third hand. There is a small piece of the motor that does come off during installation. It’s that tube on the side. This frees up a little space. I watched a YouTube video for a Navigator or something similar. It helped but didn’t show how difficult this was to replace. And the worst part is that it didn’t fix my heat problem. Good luck.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Removal and Installation

1. Remove the 2 RH lower instrument panel insulator pin-type retainers and remove the insulator (if equipped).

1. Remove the RH lower A-pillar junction box cover.

1. Disconnect the blower motor electrical connector.

1. Remove the 3 blower motor screws.

1. NOTE: The carpet below the blower motor must be repositioned, the blower motor will have to be carefully manipulated along the dash panel insulator, and the dash panel insulator will have to be slightly deflected to allow the blower motor to clear the heater core and evaporator core housing.
   
   Remove the blower motor in the following sequence.
   1. Rotate the blower motor housing until the vent tube opening is facing the rear of the vehicle.
   1. Depress the ridges in the dash panel insulator to allow the blower motor to be removed.
   1. Remove the blower motor.

1. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

 

[07navi]

Jonneyo; Sorry but it doesn't look that hard to me.

 

[tobinjtaylor]

Thanks, all. I was able to “manipulate” the dash panel insulator with a serrated knife. I’m not proud. But I’m not ashamed either. I cut a chunk away, removed it, the motor dropped away easily and I reinstalled the new one with same ease, and repositioned the dash pad insulation.

 

[07navi]

Thanks, all. I was able to “manipulate” the dash panel insulator with a serrated knife. I’m not proud. But I’m not ashamed either. I cut a chunk away, removed it, the motor dropped away easily and I reinstalled the new one with same ease, and repositioned the dash pad insulation.

Exactly what I was planning to do, it's not really a hard job as it looks even though I haven't done it yet.

 

[ExplorerTom]

My was squealing pretty bad too so I pulled it out. It wasn’t easy like others have said. But it comes out. Next I cleaned mine as best I could- mostly with compressed air blowing into it. Lots of dust came out (an HVAC filter would be nice). I shot the exposed bearings with some bearing lube and reinstalled it. Haven’t heard any squealing since.

 

[mrbadwrench]

When I replaced mine I pulled the mat (rubber mat instead of carpet) and pad back and found some soft rubber bonded to the floorboard that caused lots of friction trying to pull it out. I went to my kitchen and got a chopping mat.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cooking-Concepts-Chopping-Mats-2-pcs-Planches-a-Hacher/367433757
It's thin, flexible, hard, and slippery. Putting it between the rubber and the blower let me slide the old blower out and the new one in easily.