xdriver

Now that it is cold out my blower fan/motor has decided to be make a squealing noise like it needs to be lubricated/is warming up. Once it has been on for a while the noise goes away. I read that the brushed go on them, but mine seems to blow and work fine so far - its just the noise. Ideas?

Who has replaced just the brushes on these? If so, where did you end up getting the parts?

I didn't see any write ups on this, but a few posts saying to remove the glove box and the air bag mounting bracket.. any more info?

BikerBill

I have a 2000 A4 and I've had that same problem every winter. I live in North Andover, MA so I'm not far from you. The recent cold weather has brought on the squeal once again. I've thought of creating a temperature-vs.-squeal graph so I could tell the temperature just by the intensity of the noise.

If this were a problem with worn brushes you'd think they would have failed long ago. Since I've had the problem for many years I don't think it's a wear issue. It's apparently some kind of design problem. I notice that when I turn a corner the noise gets louder in one direction and softer in the other. I think left is softer, right is louder (gyroscopic forces on the motor bearings?). It's certainly baffling. I hope someone in northern Maine or Minnesota has figured this out and can help us here.

xdriver

it warms up? I am glad that yours has made it for some time, I would hate to have to replace it in the middle of winter

dkeats

My 2000 A4 has the same noise too, and it does change (louder and softer) when turning. Unfortunately in a straight line it is the loudest. If I pound on the dash it will go away for a minute. Someone has to know an easy fix.

de (-eeez_nutz)

You'll probably have to remove the glove box to get to it.

BikerBill

car for a while. If it's not that cold out, then the noise does seem to quiet down after some time.

It's one of those annoying problems. When it's really cold and the fan is making the noise you really don't feel like tearing apart ductwork and blower motors to identify the source of the noise. Then it warms up and stops making the noise and you forget all about it.

BikerBill

Or is this conjecture on your part? If I recall correctly, when you remove the cabin air filter the blower motor is just below where the cabin air filter sits. Seems like you could access it from the engine compartment.