Hey guys,
I am getting a really weird noise coming from out of my center vents. It sounds like something would if stuck in a fan. On the lower settings it is much less. Also, the strangest part is that when I turn the wheel slightly sometimes there is a louder version of the same sound. It seems to be coming from inside the center vents. Anyone have any ideas? This is a weird one. Later, Scott

If, when you turn the wheel and the noise increases, you are not moving, then I am clueless too. However, if you are in motion, the noise is from the fan. The bushings on the fan shaft are a "self lubricating" type. However, they dont last forever. They are of a material like an oilite or something similar (lubricant-impregnated brass). They have to take care of not only radial, but also axial loads. When you turn a corner, the axial load increases, making a loud bushing louder. The worst example of this I have seen (excluding my own W201) was my old Maserati. The fan stopped working periodically and would restart if I hit railway tracks when turning right. I used to go out to a place I knew where I could determine if I could get a few more days out of that fan, or whether it had finally siezed altogether. You might get a few more months out of your fan, like I did, by taking the cover off and using a pinpoit oiler to put a little 3 in 1 on the shaft and bushings. In the summer, however, this will attract dirt and wear the bad bushings even worse, but you can at least prove the fan is indeed the culprit. Don't forget the obvious of turning the ventilation system off completely to see if the noise goes away first.

Where is this particular fan that runs the vents located under the hood? No technical terms please I'm not too smart with under the hood terms. Thanks guys! I'll see if the noise continues with the blower off all together but I think it might not do it. Why does turning the wheel when moving slowly affect the fan? Thanks! Scott

My blower motor was making a noise at low fan speed spettings and while braking and was aggravated by hitting bumps. When it made noise I would turn up the fan speed and it would go away. It stopped making noise altogether on its own for at least a year (knock on wood).