How do you change the blower motor on a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan?

Answer 1

The blower motor is inside the car, behind the glove box.

Time to remove: 1 hr

Aggravation: 6 of 10

Time to replace: a little less than 1 hour.

Allow 4 hours in your driveway.

Tools needed:

- small box or sandwich bag to hold all the screws

- flashlight for seeing up under the dash

- 5/16 socket

- 10 mm socket

- socket wrench, extensions, and universal joint

- a 5/16 socket screwdriver may reach some of the screws, not all of them.

- 1/4 inch socket or socket screwdriver or Phillips screwdriver

- Phillips screwdriver (optional for other things)

- flat bladed screwdriver for prying

to punch or press off fan from motor axle:

- 1/4 inch x 4 inch bolt or rod

- hammer

- 2x4's over saw horses to support fan

- something soft to catch the motor.

To make electrical connections:

- wire cutters

- wire connector crimpers OR solder, soldering iron, heat-shrink tubing

(I would solder. I would not trust crimp connections in a place so difficult to reach)

Removing the blower motor:

Work from the passenger side with the car on the ground, passenger door open.

1. remove the glove box

- open the box

- there are straps on the left and right side clipped to the dash with soft U-clips. Pry them off.

- drop the glove box straight down

- pick up everything that fell out.

- pry the right-hand hinge off the dash pivot - flex the box door

- pry the left-hand hinge off the dash pivot - flex the box door

- pry the center hinge off the dash pivot

2 remove the vent cover on the outer right side of the dash. You will need to remove screws hiden under it.

- open the passenger-side door to see the vent cover

- use the flat screwdriver to gently pry off the plastic vent cover

- Now the vent cover is off, you can get to some 1/4 inch hex head screws.

3. Remove ALL the 1/4 inch hex head screws around the glove box. You will need to flex this plastic trim to loosen the metal brace under the glove box. If you don't remove all the screws, you might break the trim.

- remove the screws that were under the vent cover

- remove all the screws around the glove box. All of them. Even the ones holding the metal catch. Even the ones on the left hand side of the glove box. Especially the ones on the bottom. Each hinge has 2 screws.

4. Loosen the metal bracket under the glove box. You will need to flex this to drop the blower motor.

- there are 2 bolts on the right side under the plastic dash trim

- get a 10mm socket, 6 inch extension, and handle

- flex the dash trim forward to expose the bolts

- remove the bolts and save them.

- lift the right side of the brace up and over the metal it was fastened to.

- you can allow it to relax into place. You will know when you need to move it.

5. Remove the 5/16 hex head screws concealing the blower motor

-there are 7 screws. Only 5 are actually through the cover. There are two more on a gizmo that blocks the cover.

- the ones on the right near the wheel well require a universal joint.

- the screw towards the passenger seat is partially blocked by the metal brace. Pull the brace forward to reach that screw.

6. Remove the blower motor cover

- you will notice the cover is loose, but blocked by the metal brace. Gently pry the brace away and wiggle out the cover.

7. Unfasten the blower wire so it is loose. Do not cut it.

- the blower wire is black and blue

- unclip the male electrical connection coming down from the top Pull it up and out.

- Now unclip the female connector from the side of the blower box. Wiggle it up and down and away until it pops off

8. Remove the blower motor from the housing

- look up inside with the flashlight.

- There are 3 5/16 hex head screws.

- Remove and save the screws.

- The motor will not come out unless you push the wire though the housing

- With a flat screwdriver, push the rubber wire grommet into the housing

- pull down and wiggel the motor, wire, and squirrel cage fan until it is out.

- feed the large female electrical clip through the blower housing.

Now the blower motor is removed from the car.

Now you must remove it from the motor holder, remove the fan, and install new parts.

9. remove the blower motor from the holder.

- the motor is wedged in with rubber pads.

- remove 2 Phillips head screws from the back of the motor

- use a flat screwdriver to GENTLY pry between the fan wheel and housing

- the fan wheel will move up, pulling the motor out with it.

- pry all around

- the twisted wire will hold back the motor. Untwist the wires as the motor comes out of the housing

10. Remove the fan from the motor

- lay the 2x4's across the saw horses

- support the fan on the 2x4s, allowing the motor to dangle

- put a mound of rags on the floor to catch the motor and housing

- with the 1/4x4 bolt, punch out the axle from the fan.

11. get a new blower motor.

- it will have about 6 inches of wire.

- clip the old wires very close to the old motor

- pul the old wires out of the motor holder

- feed the new wires through the motor holder

- the new motor may use bolts instead of screws, so be careful you line up the bolts with the holes in the motor holder.

- press the new motor into the motor holder

- press the fan onto the motor axle

12.make electrical connections

- the new motor ships with crimp connectors

- I suggest you solder because you do not want to re-pull the motor if the connections are not good.

- slip heat-shrink tubing over the new wires

- solder the old to the new wires.

- shring the tubing with a match or lighter

13. TEST THE BLOWER MOTOR BEFORE INSTALLING IT

- you can plug in the motor without installing it.

- connect the blower motor wires to the car wiring

- try the fan switch

- if it works, unclip the wires and install it.

14 Install the blower motor

- it is the reverse of removal. With less cussing.