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Topic: Heater fan noise (Read 862 times) previous topic - next topic

Heater fan noise

Got a little nippy here in Upstate NY on our way back home to Maine. Turned on the Aqua Hot furnace and a LOT of noise came out of the window vents.....sounded like bad bearings on the fan. The noise level and sound " changed" while I had it on, but the sound was unbearable, so I shut it off. Can I get to the fan bearings??? Can I lubricate them or do I replace ?? Fortunately, we don't encounter cold weather often, but when we do, I would like to be able to use the AH. Thanks
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #1 –
Roger posted a way to turn off the relay for the windshield vent blower if you want to do a quick fix and get to the bearing problem later.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #2 –
I had same problem in January.  Not a serviceable bearing.  Roger's switch mod will shut them off with AH use, but you still have to use the fans underway for dash hvac...one of mine seized underway and let the smoke out.  You'll have to replace them (2).  Only source for replacement Spal fans I could find was FT parts.  Must disassemble most of the dash to get to the fan box for the swap (and cleaning while in there).  New fans are quiet and efficient.  Woody.

Quote from: GleamB –
Got a little nippy here in Upstate NY on our way back home to Maine. Turned on the Aqua Hot furnace and a LOT of noise came out of the window vents.....sounded like bad bearings on the fan. The noise level and sound " changed" while I had it on, but the sound was unbearable, so I shut it off. Can I get to the fan bearings??? Can I lubricate them or do I replace ?? Fortunately, we don't encounter cold weather often, but when we do, I would like to be able to use the AH. Thanks
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #3 –
Woody,
Thanks for the response.
1) when I call FT do I ask for Spal fans or describe the fans that are noisy??

2)  how do I go about dismantling the dash to get to the motors?? You say its extensive, but I have no idea of how to begin.

3) are the fans, themselves,  difficult to switch out ?
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #4 –
Glenn, here is a link to AH blower override, it is worth doing.
Aqua Hot Dash Blower Fan Override

You might be able to get to the blower through the top.  Otherwise you have to take the front of the dash apart.

Who has done this?  Woody, did you take pictures?
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #5 –
Awhile back I had to repair my burnt control board so while I was at it I clean the (2) fan motors. The  squirrel cage was plug with dirt and lint and the ducting, after cleaning it did increase airflow.
Steve
2001 U320 40' IF$ Build #5798
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Toad
2015 GMC Duramax HD2500 Toad
2014 Polaris RZR 1000
Litchfield Park, AZ- Soon to be Paulden, AZ

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #6 –
GleamB...when you call FT parts and give them your build and that you need hvac blower motors...they'll get you the right parts.  The part number on mine were: Spal/SGM part number 0083-0012 12v.

Roger, used the BeamAlarm notes...very helpful.  Have only one picture of the carnage, taken by a neighbor in Quartzite who was flabbergasted that I'd just "destroyed" the dash on my new (to me) luxury coach.  The box at my feet contains the blowers.  Easy swap out from that point.  Then reassembly.  Pictures along the way will help immensely in getting it all back together without any extra parts.  I must've done okay, as I only had a couple of wood screws left over, and it didn't rattle too much for the 8000 miles I put on after the work.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #7 –
How do you start to take apart the dash ??
Wanna come up to Maine and help me do it...??? Looks like a nasty job !!
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #8 –
One screw at a time or Velcro.

Dash Removed 2002
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #9 –
Hey Roger,
did you ever take yours apart to replace the fans??
Looks like a fun project, but I have a few others to do, first.
When I read the Beam instructions, it seemed that there were pictures attached, which I could not access.???
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #10 –
Glenn, I have dug into it quite away for other tasks but not as far as I would need to to do the blower. Someday I will.  My fan starts up complaining but seem to smooth out after a while.  We have not used the dash fan with the AH for years.  We use a couple of 12v fans and a floor 120v fan while driving.  We resist AC for a while.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #11 –
FYI, 2001 models uses a one year control board and mine was damage by a loose electrical push on spade supplied power to the AH dash fan. I did but the bypass switch in and so far never have needed it. See attach issue on the 2001 only dash air controller. Javelina A/C Logic Controller
Steve
2001 U320 40' IF$ Build #5798
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Toad
2015 GMC Duramax HD2500 Toad
2014 Polaris RZR 1000
Litchfield Park, AZ- Soon to be Paulden, AZ

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #12 –
Glenn, not sure what happened to the pictures...but Rich Bowman was the original poster of the guide on BeamAlarm and hopefully he can post them here.  Rich?

The process of getting to the heater fan box is just a matter of removing the puzzle parts that are in the way to get to the metal box behind it all.  The instrument cluster back cover is just popped in place and needs to be gently pryed up & out, and the top center dash cover is held on with velcro and pulls straight up.  The rest of the footwell covers and assemblies are screwed together with sheet metal and wood screws...keep close tabs on what goes where with some cell phone snapshots.  Confounded me....I could not get my center console frame out without breaking it, so just dove in behind it to pull out the fan box..see my picture? 

Woody.

Quote from: GleamB –
Hey Roger,
did you ever take yours apart to replace the fans??
Looks like a fun project, but I have a few others to do, first.
When I read the Beam instructions, it seemed that there were pictures attached, which I could not access.???
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #13 –
Messaged Rich and he reminded me that the pics and writeup are still here on the forum.  Here's the thread:

Dash Removal

W.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #14 –
Thanks, Woody and all....
Are the fans INSIDE the metal box??
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #15 –
Pictures are from my rig, also you may be able to just change the bearings,
Steve
2001 U320 40' IF$ Build #5798
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Toad
2015 GMC Duramax HD2500 Toad
2014 Polaris RZR 1000
Litchfield Park, AZ- Soon to be Paulden, AZ
 

Re: Heater fan noise

Reply #16 –
I probably should buy what ever wears out in there before all the parts are gone.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN