Fixed Blower Motor For $6.03 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 07-14-2002, 03:51 PM

My A/C blower has had the "tap & run" thing going for about a month now. So I took it apart today and pulled the brushes out and replaced them with new ones I found at ACE Hardware for around $3 each. Easy job to do, bend the little tabs that hold the brushes up with a small screwdriver, cut the wire leading to the old brush, pull out. Take to store and find the same size as close as possible and put back in. Bend tabs back into place, twist new wires to old wires and solder into place. Oil the thing while you have it out and reinstall. Job took about 30 minutes not including finding the brushes.
Motor runs great and no more tapping to start it

On another note, NAPA has GM brushes that are the exact size but are to long by a good 1/2 inch, also were not in stock. You could file them down if needed. The brush size from the motor I took apart was M-41

#2 07-14-2002, 10:06 PM

Bill,
This repair is the easiest repair I have done on this car except for changing a fuse. Once you get the fan out there is only one little 8mm screw holding the fan motor to the housing. The brushes are right on top, no cover to pry off or anything. A new motor was around $100.00, whole new assembly was over $230. Figured I may as well give it a shot. This way I have $94 left over to buy fuel and oil so I can actually drive the car

sixto · #3 07-15-2002, 06:40 PM

How much axial play in the motor?

Thanks,
Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL

#4 07-15-2002, 07:37 PM

I didn't notice any play in the motor at all. When I pulled the old brushes they were both close to the same 1/4" in length, just plain used up. Figure if it lasts a year it was well worth it.

Wallknight · #5 07-15-2002, 11:20 PM

I might get the cheapskate award, but I fixed mine by jaming some aluminum foil into the shaft to get more spring pressure on the remaining speks of brush. Works great.
(I know I could have gotten new at the store, but this was the dead of winter, and it would have been a cold ride!)

P.E.Haiges · #6 07-16-2002, 10:01 PM

If you took it to your MB dealer, it probably would have cost $600 plus tax. 100 to 1 is about the best a DIY can do. Congratulations.

P E H

Beagle · #7 07-17-2002, 02:58 AM

The prognosis is good! I did that same fix a couple of years ago and it hasn’t missed a beat since. Couldn’t find brushes with the same cross/sect or length so had to file to suit. Also one of the tabs broke off so had to glue on a cap to fix that.
Thought the motor had that “Made in China” look about it but shouldn’t complain I suppose that it wore out after 580,000km.

BTW- Anyone know where the blower pre-resister is located? At one point I thought that was my problem as one of the speeds was missing – I believe it is behind the dash somewhere, but never did find the damn thing!

Sixto – My motor had 3-4mm end float. Seemed a bit excessive to me.

Walknight “I might get the cheapskate award,…”

Oh no you won’t! - Ill take that.

When I came to pay the dealer he shook his head and said:
“Don’t worry … and here, you better take a couple of spares just in case ”

I must have looked very hungry AND stupid!

surfblau · #8 07-23-2002, 02:37 PM

I ended up paying $6.51. Sales tax in california adds up.

I just happened to drive by a vacuum cleaner repair shop on the way home. The brushes were a little narrow, so I sort of shimmed the new brush in place. My wife doesn't really like all the graphite that I deposited on the cutting board, but then again she never really uses the kitchen (she only uses the car).

Ownership of these cars without this forum would be unthinkable.

RG5384 · #9 07-23-2002, 04:04 PM

it felt similiarly rewarding when i fixed my aux fan for $4.12. I completely agree, ownership of these cars without this forum would make us all broke!
Ryan

venkatreddytx · #10 08-03-2002, 05:45 PM

Rebootit,

Thanks for posting the info on what you did to fix your blower. My blower started acting up, did a search on the site for blower related post and read your post. I took the blower out bent the tabs holding the brushes in, took the brushes out and as expected they were worn down. Went down to ACE bought
a pair of brushes for $6.40 soldered the connection and works like a charm. Thanks Doc.

Venkat
85 300SD 180K

Dcraig · #11 08-03-2002, 10:07 PM

OK, maybe I'm bummed. My '85 CD's blower motor was made by Siemans and couldn't have the brushes replaced. I had to shell out $235.00 for a new one from Performance Products.

Craig

#12 08-04-2002, 04:19 PM

did you take it apart and look at it? I'm sure the shop manuals don't detail the brush replacement as something to do. All motors have brushes, don't know any other way to get juice to something that spins. Somebody makes these brushes, and there are tons of places to buy them. Ace Hardware, any starter alternator rebuilder, vacuum repair shop, electric motor rebuilder, A/C repair shop etc. All you need is something close, it's easy to file to fit.
I am always willing to take something broken apart and see if I can fix it. (within reason)

Dcraig · #13 08-04-2002, 04:30 PM

It was a few years ago but what I can remember is that some of the late model 1985 W123 cars used the Siemans blower motors. I think MB was switching from Behr late in the model year. I think these were that same as the early W124 blowers. Anyway, after I removed the motor from the housing I saw there was no way to take the motor apart. The cover was crimped on and I didn't think I could put it back together and make it work.

Craig

Piotr · #14 08-04-2002, 11:11 PM

Dcraig, send me an e-mail about repairs on your wag!
I have a 1988 black with red-brown enterior. Got it in 1996, put in about $4500 in repairs. I'm thinking of replacing the driver side air injection manifold (urgh). At this point I'm reduced to putting gung into thinks to stop leaks (transfer case and power steering pump-replaced timing chain and front seal). What's frustraiting is that replacement parts go bad after 2 years.

pmizell · #15 12-02-2002, 03:51 PM

re: M41 blower brushes

Not sure if the brushes from my 300E blower are larger but I couldn't find a fit anywhere. The closest I found were at ACE -- the width was perfect, but thickness was not close. I checked 2 vacuum repair stores, a regulator repair shop and an industrial tool place, all with no luck.

I think George Murphy sells these for $15 from the Ritter/Easley list, so I'll contact him.