The dreaded squeaky blower fan is endemic in the 500 but it is relatively simple to fix. The problem (as with many such issues) is the lack of lubrication from the factory, many owners end up at the FIAT dealer having a new unlubricated unit fitted only for it to start squeaking again. There are some very useful posts in the Panda section on this subject but I thought I would share my fix which has worked on my 500C 1.2.
There are two approaches, one more comprehensive and complicated than the other but both are relatively simple for a competent mechanic. I have referenced pictures but I cannot link to them, so please look in my gallery.
a) Simple Fix (which will probably work in most cases)
On the passenger side of the car, kneel on the ground and look up behind the centre of the dashboard with a torch. You will see a black cylinder shape protuberance with two shiny bolts on the end with rubber washers, these are bright yellow on my car, (see photo: IMAGE 1). This is the fan motor housing. If you look in between these two bolts there is a small cover about 1cm diameter which you can prise off with a small screw driver. What you now reveal is the end of the motor shaft in its bronze bushing. All you need to do is spray a small amount of lubricant into this bushing and refit the plastic end cap. WD40 would seem the simple choice of lubricant but this seems to have limited lubricating life. I have found that 3 in 1 Lithium Spray Grease (you can get this from Halfords) works well but be careful not to blast it everywhere inside the motor as this will affect the electrical contacts on the commutator.
b) Comprehensive Fix (a good service)
This will require removal of the fan motor from the car. This is much easier if you remove the glove-box / shelf. Don’t worry it is not difficult if you have the tools; a 5mm Allen key (ideally socket set fitting), a T25 Star bit, a 5.5mm hex socket and a screwdriver.
To remove the glove-box / shelf you will need a T25 Star bit and a 5mm Allen key, the latter ideally as socket set tool as you have to have a long reach. Open the small cover at the back of the shelf to reveal the fuses, next to these fuses you will have an Allen bolt which you remove. Next, unscrew the two T25 bolts at either end of the underside of the shelf, and the three T25 bolts at the top of the shelf just under the painted dash panel. Lastly, remove the final T25 bolt which is inside the small drop-down glove-box. Now you can pull the whole shelf away, it is held by two push fit clips at either end of the panel so it may need a bit tugging to release. When you have removed the shelf you will easily see the fan motor (see photo DASH_1).
To remove the fan motor from the car, firstly disconnect the battery earth. Just behind the fan motor you need to disconnect the electrical plug (grey) by pushing down the clip on the top at the same time as you pull the connector, a screwdriver may help as a lever (see photo IMAGE_2). Now remove the 5.5mm hex bolt at about the 3 o’clock position on the fan housing and rotate the whole fan housing clockwise by about an 1/8th of turn, the fan can now be pulled out of its housing (photo IMAGE_4), be careful not to distort the fan blades as these have been carefully balanced.
With the fan housing out of the car remove the outer casing by removing a 5.5 mm hex bolt and the two small bolts on the end of the housing (the ones inside the bright yellow washers), these are Star bolts but a 4mm hex socket will do. You can now push the motor together with the fan out of the housing using a small rod pushed into the holes vacated by the end bolts, the motor is a friction fit. Once exposed you can clean the commutator (photo IMAGE_6) with Meths and give everything a quick spray of WD40, which will not affect the electrical connections. Finally spray some 3in1 Lithium grease into the noisy bush on the end of the motor (photo IMAGE_5) and then you can start putting everything back together. It’s an old cliché but `assembly is the reverse of disassembly’, don’t forget to reconnect the electrical socket. Tip, while the shelf is out of the car put a dap of grease on the ventilation flap gears (photo IMAGE_3).
I hope this is all simple to follow.
Good luck. Mark
There are two approaches, one more comprehensive and complicated than the other but both are relatively simple for a competent mechanic. I have referenced pictures but I cannot link to them, so please look in my gallery.
a) Simple Fix (which will probably work in most cases)
On the passenger side of the car, kneel on the ground and look up behind the centre of the dashboard with a torch. You will see a black cylinder shape protuberance with two shiny bolts on the end with rubber washers, these are bright yellow on my car, (see photo: IMAGE 1). This is the fan motor housing. If you look in between these two bolts there is a small cover about 1cm diameter which you can prise off with a small screw driver. What you now reveal is the end of the motor shaft in its bronze bushing. All you need to do is spray a small amount of lubricant into this bushing and refit the plastic end cap. WD40 would seem the simple choice of lubricant but this seems to have limited lubricating life. I have found that 3 in 1 Lithium Spray Grease (you can get this from Halfords) works well but be careful not to blast it everywhere inside the motor as this will affect the electrical contacts on the commutator.
b) Comprehensive Fix (a good service)
This will require removal of the fan motor from the car. This is much easier if you remove the glove-box / shelf. Don’t worry it is not difficult if you have the tools; a 5mm Allen key (ideally socket set fitting), a T25 Star bit, a 5.5mm hex socket and a screwdriver.
To remove the glove-box / shelf you will need a T25 Star bit and a 5mm Allen key, the latter ideally as socket set tool as you have to have a long reach. Open the small cover at the back of the shelf to reveal the fuses, next to these fuses you will have an Allen bolt which you remove. Next, unscrew the two T25 bolts at either end of the underside of the shelf, and the three T25 bolts at the top of the shelf just under the painted dash panel. Lastly, remove the final T25 bolt which is inside the small drop-down glove-box. Now you can pull the whole shelf away, it is held by two push fit clips at either end of the panel so it may need a bit tugging to release. When you have removed the shelf you will easily see the fan motor (see photo DASH_1).
To remove the fan motor from the car, firstly disconnect the battery earth. Just behind the fan motor you need to disconnect the electrical plug (grey) by pushing down the clip on the top at the same time as you pull the connector, a screwdriver may help as a lever (see photo IMAGE_2). Now remove the 5.5mm hex bolt at about the 3 o’clock position on the fan housing and rotate the whole fan housing clockwise by about an 1/8th of turn, the fan can now be pulled out of its housing (photo IMAGE_4), be careful not to distort the fan blades as these have been carefully balanced.
With the fan housing out of the car remove the outer casing by removing a 5.5 mm hex bolt and the two small bolts on the end of the housing (the ones inside the bright yellow washers), these are Star bolts but a 4mm hex socket will do. You can now push the motor together with the fan out of the housing using a small rod pushed into the holes vacated by the end bolts, the motor is a friction fit. Once exposed you can clean the commutator (photo IMAGE_6) with Meths and give everything a quick spray of WD40, which will not affect the electrical connections. Finally spray some 3in1 Lithium grease into the noisy bush on the end of the motor (photo IMAGE_5) and then you can start putting everything back together. It’s an old cliché but `assembly is the reverse of disassembly’, don’t forget to reconnect the electrical socket. Tip, while the shelf is out of the car put a dap of grease on the ventilation flap gears (photo IMAGE_3).
I hope this is all simple to follow.
Good luck. Mark
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