Blower motor replacement GR Caravan 2001- how difficult is this?

[jcheskes]

I have been advised by the dealer that that although I read this was a fairly simple change out behind the glove compartment, that it has since changed location and this is now a big job with several hours of labour.

Can someone confirm, or explain how to do it otherwise.
I am selling this van and plan to get a unit from a wrecker. Seems a shame to spend tons of money on it when I'm about to list for sale.

Is there instructions that can be found somewhere? Can a regular "mechanic" perform it without going to the dealer?

Please HELP!

Jason

[buzzkill]

it used to be easy, and its in the same place but a design change in the AC case causes some headaches.

Some people have done it with the dash in place but I would not recommend this. More than one case has needed replacement after this "time saver"

I think the best way to change the motor out is to loosen the dash and flip it to the side just as if you were changing the evap coil..from there its removing screws and gently bending some plastic to remove the motor..depending on skill level you may have to remove the entire ac case (RG body) on a RS body you usually have to remove the entire ac case. I just find removal easier

Est time to do this...DC will pay a tech about 4 hours. Depends on how familiar you are with what needs to come apart I guess

[donald7150]

haha wow this looks very hard according to the very lengthy procedure listed in the factory service manual, the same procedure that DC apparently pays a tech 4 hours to do

first you must remove the HVAC unit from under the dash:

procedure:

Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant system. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT/REFRIGERANT - STANDARD PROCEDURE - REFRIGERANT RECOVERY).

Drain the engine cooling system. (Refer to 7 - COOLING - STANDARD PROCEDURE - COOLING SYSTEM DRAIN).

Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.

Disconnect the liquid line and suction line from the expansion valve. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT/LIQUID LINE - REMOVAL) and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT/SUCTION LINE - REMOVAL).

Remove the windshield wiper module from the vehicle(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/WIPERS/WASHERS/WIPER MODULE - REMOVAL).

Disconnect the heater hoses from the heater core tubes. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT/HEATER HOSE - REMOVAL).

Remove the four nuts that secure the heater-A/C unit housing studs to the engine compartment side of the dash panel (Heater-A/C Unit Housing Studs).

Remove the instrument panel from the passenger compartment. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY - REMOVAL).

Remove the floor distribution duct from the heater-A/C unit housing. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION - FRONT/FLOOR DISTRIBUTION DUCTS - REMOVAL).

Remove the one screw that secures the heater-A/C unit housing bracket to the passenger compartment side of the dash panel (Heater-A/C Unit Housing).

Pull the heater-A/C unit housing rearward far enough for the mounting studs to clear the dash panel and remove the unit from the passenger compartment.

Disconnect the blower motor wire harness connector from the blower motor resistor block or blower motor power module, depending on application (Lower Intake Air Housing).

Remove the two screws that secure the recirculation door actuator to the lower air intake housing and remove the wire harness from the routing clips molded into the bottom of the lower air intake housing.

Remove the one screw (from the top) that secures the lower air intake housing to the upper air intake housing.

Remove the four screws (from the bottom) that secure the lower air intake housing to the lower half of the HVAC housing and the upper air intake housing.

Push the rubber grommet on the blower motor wire harness through the hole in the lower intake air housing (Blower Motor Grommet - Typical).

Feed the blower motor electrical connector through the grommet hole in the lower intake air housing.

Position the recirculation air door as necessary to access and remove the three screws that secure the blower motor to the blower housing in the lower half of the HVAC housing (Blower Motor Mounting Tabs).

Gently flex the recirculation-air door far enough to remove the blower motor and blower wheel from the blower housing in the lower half of the HVAC housing.

Remove the blower motor and blower wheel from the vehicle.

I could list all the referred procedures it would make for a very long post

[jcheskes]

All this for four hours... perhaps I should be grateful.
If all listed is required, it seems an unbelievable (I say this somewhat literally) process. Clearly one that is not for an amateur.

Damn. Anyone want to buy a 2001 Grand Caravan with an intemitent noise from the blower motor and 200,000 km on it?

[donald7150]

the HVAC unit changed again for '02 and the process is way different
it doesnt have to be removed, just pluck it out from underneath

[buzzkill]

ya, isnt that a kicker the RG changed in 02 and the RS changed a year later...wonder what brain child thought up the previous year(s) heh...

hmmm..now what if jason has a late build RG...we have seen it before...04 with an 05 harness...even had a gas 2500 with a diesel cluster (not really a big issue untill the son borrowed the vehicle and filled it up with exactly what the dash said to). Maybe he should take a peek and see if the motor is visible.

Good catch Donald! I had completely forgotten about the design changes.

[donald7150]

I was referring to the RS

[jcheskes]

Does that mean, there's still that chance?

Thanks all for your help.

[donald7150]

I see you live in ontario
you have an RS or an RG?
the RS is the american version of the caravan
the RG is the UK version such as the Chrysler Voyager

The instructions I listed above were for the RS minivans (north american)
jason I seriously doubt you have an RG body caravan in ontario, canada