cricket in the dash
 

Yesterday and today upon the 1st start in the AM, outside temp about 35F, comes a sound like a cricket from the center of the dash. Constant, without interruption, for about 2 minutes regardless of the heater fan on or off, then suddenly stops. All climate control buttons seem to work properly. Any ideas?
regards,
Mark
BTW its a 1994 E320

Whistling dash pod? That's my guess...

dash noise
 

I don't know. Perhaps the speedometer cable until it warms a bit. Start car and drive immediately while the noise is present and see if there is any "bouncing" in your speedometer readout.

Air sampler fan motor.

The blower motor may be on its last legs. It is located behind the centre dash, underneath the wiper assembly.

I had that cricket sound experience before. It became more frequent and eventually on all the time. Replacing the blower motor solved it.

Does this sample the condition of the air inside the car as part of the automatic climate control system? If so, then I would expect it to stop when the ACC is off, but the noise persits even when the ACC is off.
regards,
Mark

Can you give me an idea of what is removed to expose the blower motor?
regards,
Mark

See if this works...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/121167-blower-motor-replacement-w124-chassis-diy.html?highlight=blower+motor+replacement

Sorry, I just read in your thread that the cricket noise is there with ACC on or off.

In that case, it may not be the blower!

The cricket noise I heard in my case was the blower being worn, so the noise would not be there if the blower was not running.

The sampler motor generates airflow over the inside temperature sensor, but I'm not certain that it's switched on by the CC controller. If the sound you're getting is a rythmic whirring, there are a limited number of suspects . . . the speedo cable, blower motor, sampler motor . . . not much else in the dash with a motor/bearing in the middle/right side of the dash.

Impala,
Thanks for the link re: blower motor

MTI,
Where is the sampler motor located?

regards,
Mark

In the W201 it's behind the glove box, but on other models I believe it's closer to the center console.

The sampler motor (I am pretty sure) is located on the same assembly as the sunroof switch and overhead lights. Look for the grill like thing. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

The cricket noise continues, but it appears to eminate from the air vent on the passenger side at the end of the dash. It begins a few seconds after starting on a cold morning, and stops abruptly after about 2 minutes. No glove box to remove for investigation, as an air bag takes this area in the 94E320.
regards,
Mark

I believe the sampler motor is located down in the dash close to the glove box area (or where it would normally be on dual air bag cars). The intake is above as described, in the overhead interior light, sunroof switches.

Haasman