Climate control fan noise

[DaraSue]

Last night as I was coming home from work, I had the temperature knob turned most of the way to heat, the selector on bi-level and the fan on 2. When I stopped for gas, I left the ignition on accessory so I could listen to the radio, but when I got out of the car I noticed a loud fan noise from the front. I had by then turned the fan switch off but the selector was still on bi-level. The sound went away when I turned the selector back to off (so it wasn't the radiator cooling fans, and it was cold enough that they shouldn't have been on anyway), but is this normal behavior? I'm thinking of that time last week that I left the accessory switch on for most of my shift and wondering if I burned something out. If it's a sign that something's about to conk out and/or catch on fire, somebody let me know in the next hour or so... :paranoid:

The car seems fine other than that and if all goes according to plan I'll be going through northern UT during the day anyway so I can just not use the heater, but I have noticed a couple times that the climate control panel felt hot to the touch. If there's anything I need to take a look at back there, now would be the opportune time since I still have the right driver's side knee pad out from my gauge repair.

[DaraSue]

Never mind, I called Mike @ MW just now and he said the cooling fans do run on that setting, b/c the a/c compressor runs to dehumidify the air from the top vents. So it's functioning as designed. Off I go...

[Andrew]

Last night as I was coming home from work, I had the temperature knob turned most of the way to heat, the selector on bi-level and the fan on 2. When I stopped for gas, I left the ignition on accessory so I could listen to the radio, but when I got out of the car I noticed a loud fan noise from the front. I had by then turned the fan switch off but the selector was still on bi-level. The sound went away when I turned the selector back to off (so it wasn't the radiator cooling fans, and it was cold enough that they shouldn't have been on anyway), but is this normal behavior? I'm thinking of that time last week that I left the accessory switch on for most of my shift and wondering if I burned something out. If it's a sign that something's about to conk out and/or catch on fire, somebody let me know in the next hour or so... :paranoid:

The car seems fine other than that and if all goes according to plan I'll be going through northern UT during the day anyway so I can just not use the heater, but I have noticed a couple times that the climate control panel felt hot to the touch. If there's anything I need to take a look at back there, now would be the opportune time since I still have the right driver's side knee pad out from my gauge repair.

It sounds like the bearings in the interior fan are dry / failing. You might be able to quiet it down and/or extend it's life by shooting some spray grease in the base of the unit (I used the vent tube opening). If you need a new fan you can get one pretty cheap as DeLorean sourced the interior fans from Delco. The OEM unit actually has a Delco number stamped on the housing! The cross reference is a 1980 Chevy Monza with A/C, with vent tube. (For those who are wondering, yes, it turns the correct way, counter clockwise) The various part numbers can be found on the cross reference list. You should be able to get it the same day or next day through Autozone for around $30.00

The install of the fan is pretty easy (assuming you don't have a back / neck or shoulder problems) You'll need a 7mm socket for the retaining bolts and a 10mm for the nut that holds the fan to the motor. The entire job should take 15 minutes max.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Yes the bi-level runs the AC compressor even on the first key on position. So your cooling fans should be running. The car design should have powered the compressor on the second AUX relay so as only to run AC with the second position (engine running).

[David T]

Sounds like a failing cooling fan motor and there is a mod so the lights on the center console only come on when you turn on the parking lights or headlights. Keeps the illuminated console cooler. Keep an eye on the fan fail bypass. If the cooling fans draw too much current you will burn it up.

[DaraSue]

The sound isn't necessarily loud, I'd just never heard it with the motor off before. I'm halfway to Vegas right now and so far so good.