If you were already on the monetary fast track going in, the 1980s and 1990s were pretty high times in economic terms. Even Volvo -- possibly the most historically humble of large European automakers -- got into the act, moving upmarket from safe little runabouts into the luxury car market. That's a reputation Volvo maintained for some time, owing largely to its first upmarket, stand-out Q-ship, the 1991-through-1997 850. The Volvo's most stand-out feature was probably its incredible squareness -- a bold statement for a new car going into the aero-obsessed 1990s. Seemingly the only place Volvo even thought about airflow was in the AC system's ducts, which don't do much with a broken blower fan.
Use a socket and ratchet to disconnect the car's negative battery cable. You'll be working in close proximity to the passenger-side airbag, so this step is critical to keep the airbag from possibly knocking your head backward like a Pez dispenser.
Use a screwdriver to remove the three screws from the passenger-side lower soundproofing panel below the dashboard. Open the glove compartment, and remove the four glove compartment screws, then the glove compartment itself.
Remove the four glove compartment door screws, and then the glove compartment door. If your car is equipped with a passenger-side airbag, remove the lower support brace for the airbag module. You should now have access to the AC blower motor.
Disconnect the electrical connector from the fan motor, and then remove the duct cable from the motor. Remove the two connectors from their respective brackets. Remove the four fan screws, and then pull the fan out of the housing.
Install the new fan motor and tighten the four screws just snug. Insert the two connectors in the brackets, and reconnect the duct cable to the motor. Reinstall the airbag module brace.
Reinstall the glove compartment door, the glove compartment and the soundproofing panel. Reconnect the negative battery cable and snug down the fastener. Turn your ignition key to the "On" position and test the blower fan.
