Replaced cabin filter now the fan hums?

truckguy82 · May 12, 2020

I replaced the cabin filter last week (holy crap there was so much l debri in there with 60k miles)

now my fan hums. I dont doubt something got sucked into the fan. How on earth am I going to clear out the debri?

almost sounds like a leaf is caught in the impeller and causing it to be slightly out of balance. Not sure how accessible that is. Not sure if it’s worth waiting until it decomposes, which could be a really really long time in a non damp environment.

Side note, also replaced my engine air filter, do it if you have near 50k miles. I shined a flashlight through it, and the new one had like 10x as much light shining through.

mjm-1957 · May 12, 2020

Very common, debris fell into blower motor cage,You can try blowing compressed air into blower cage, if that doesn't work the blower motor will have to be removed and the cage will have to be cleaned. We see this all the time with do-it yourselfers and jiffy lube places changing the cabin filters without making sure that stuff doesn't fall inside when they pull the filters out.

truckguy82 · May 12, 2020

Thanks, any tips on how to blow it out? Not even sure where the cage is. Also how involved is removal?

gone_fishing · May 13, 2020

I've removed the fan motor to clear debris before. Wasn't too bad. A wire harness and maybe a few screws and it drops down. Have to remove some panels to get to it but overall it wasn't a bad job.

tmo · May 13, 2020

Very common, debris fell into blower motor cage,You can try blowing compressed air into blower cage, if that doesn't work the blower motor will have to be removed and the cage will have to be cleaned. We see this all the time with do-it yourselfers and jiffy lube places changing the cabin filters without making sure that stuff doesn't fall inside when they pull the filters out.

What do you recommend for making sure debris doesn’t fall down? I’m about to have to change mine for the first time.

99silveradoz71 · May 13, 2020

I'm thinking of cutting the cardboard or something similar to match the filter size then sliding it under the filter before removal.

Mileguru · May 13, 2020

To clean out something that fell, try a vacuum hack along the lines of this (duct tape helps seal it better):

To prevent stuff from falling when you're taking the filter out, get one of those card stock manila file folders, trace the new filter on it, and cut out a piece you can slide underneath the old filter. Ideally, you should have excess file folder coming out of the vent towards you so you can hold it still and catch as much of the dirt falling down as possible.

silveradosid · May 14, 2020

use the box that the filter comes in , it works perfect

truckguy82 · May 14, 2020

I wonder if I could somehow reverse the polarity to the fan motor and just blow it in reverse

Nanotech Environmental · May 17, 2020

I use a piece of thin corrugated cardboard. It's better if it has a bit of rigidity. It also needs to stick out from the entrance by 2-3 inches. Slide cardboard under filter, until it hits the back of the housing. Pull filter out while holding cardboard in place. Then carefully remove cardboard, ensuring that no debris falls into housing. There can be quite a bit of debris on the cardboard.

moab11 · May 30, 2020

Looks like I fell victim to this too, are there any write-ups on removing the blower motor to clean it out?

Donstar · May 30, 2020

Great tips! I guess I hit it lucky but will be sure to use the cardboard catcher next time! I am sure GM could come up with a much more user friendly design.

truckguy82 · June 7, 2020

Ok so here is how you clean it.

it’s super simple, but I had a helluva time getting one of the screws out.

total is 7 screws.

You need to take off the big trim piece right below the glove box. There are (4) screws, you need a 7mm deep well socket.

they you have access to the bottom of the blower motor. Unplug the wire from the blower motor. Then remove (3) t15 torx screws. Then blower motor drops right out.

Pictures attached of the panel and blower motor.