Technical Ventilation Drone noise.

[FiatFleetFamily]

I have this potential issue, so will try and describe best I can.

When using the climate control with or without AC on, the fan / motor I think it is has a droning noise, gets worse the more fan speed I increase. Seems drone even worse if ventilation on recirc mode with AC. Quieter drone without recirculated mode and on windscreen only.

I recall many years ago I think on a Stilo MW or Multipla had a similar issue where some flaps where stuck and flaps had to be reset because blower not getting the volume of air out, because closed internal flap in system.

Any thoughts for a 500X?

 

[varesecrazy]

Does selecting various flap modes change the tone ?

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Does selecting various flap modes change the tone ?

No. Same.

 

[varesecrazy]

Probably not an airflow restriction.

Am I correct in thinking this vehicle is relatively new in service ?

I'm thinking something (debris.. or a fan unit part..) is rubbing within the fan unit

Could be a bit of tape..a parking ticket.

Or something else just causing drag


Charlie

 

[PuntoHowTo]

When was the Pollen Filter last changed ?

If its clogged then it can drone quite badly.

you could even try pulling it out temporally to see if that helps

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Since the purchase, only thing I could think of was as Andy said above, the charcoal filter as the car was serviced the dealer as part of the sale. I have trawled through the 500X posts and recall a post by member Nello ( August 2018 ) of which was a side comment on putting you hand into the housing and check for leaves as these create noises.

Found a USA 500X YouTube video, watched it a few times and this morning set about removing the end panel ( pull slowly from bottom ) and glove box ( Remove felt underside 2 plastic clips, 2 torx screws on bottom, 3 torx screws top when glove box open ) then pull out glove box and disconnect the electrical blue plug, which took 10 mins, took the filter cover off ( 1 hex screw - 5.5mm socket ) and withdrew the filter, which was new and a Fiat part. Poked in my oversize hands and felt the fan impeller and felt crispy items ( leaves ). Removed 12 small leaves in total.

Put all back in reverse order, and tested. No more drone. Great.

Though, why did it happen. Looking at the fresh air flap when open directs flow straight to the filter, so if you pull the filter the leaves fall into the fan housing unless you close the flap ( recirculate button on ) and remove the leaves by hand or use a vaccum before pulling the filter.

 

[s130]

After a main dealer service I had a drumming/droning on high fan speeds.

Dealer put a warranty claim in for a new fan unit. Whilst waiting for unit to arrive and a booking (they were busy with more serious customer problems) the problem went away I assume because the leaves broke up into small bits?

I didn't tell the dealer so I now have a spare fan unit which I bench test as perfectly OK and vibration free.

The acid test is to feel the fan motor housing. If it is vibrating then either there is leaf/other debris in the unit or it has genuinely gone out of balance.

 

[Nello]

It only takes a small leaf or two left inside the drum fan to make that drone noise!

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

It only takes a small leaf or two left inside the drum fan to make that drone noise!

Thanks Nello for your comment in 2018, a good tip.

 

[s130]

I replaced my filter this morning and ........

Top of filter had a lot of leaves on it. you have to be ever so careful in extracting the filter looking carefully with a good torch/LED lamp.

I had one piece drop inside the fan assembly that I retrieved. There is also just enough room to get your fingers inside end let them gently walk the fan rotor around feeling for anything.

Getting a *small* and bendy vacuum pipe (e.g old style bunsen burner hose) is also possible.

As for the recirculate flap it plays no part in the 500X filter change.

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

As for the recirculate flap it plays no part in the 500X filter change.

Depends if you interested in how it works and no further leaves falling in when changing the filter if flap is open for a first timer..

 

[s130]

Depends if you interested in how it works and no further leaves falling in when changing the filter if flap is open for a first timer..

The recirculate flap is inside the main ventilation/aircon unit.

The air comes in from the main air vent, through the pollen filter into the fan unit. From there air is either naturally blown in or additionally sucked in and blown in into the ventilation/aircon unit. Recirculation, heating, cooling, and direction control is then undertaken in the ventilation/aircon unit .

To stress. The air intake from under the windscreen/scuttle area goes FIRST to the filter and then to the fan motor unit and then into the main ventilation/aircon unit containing all the recirculate, direction controls, etc.

So with regards to the pollen filter change there are no flaps or controls involved.