QuestionQUESTION: Hi, Kevin:
I have to replace the front blower on my 01 towne and country (3.8L). All of the screws to remove the lower air housing are accessible except for one, which is behind the housing, upside down (I think), and nearly up against the firewall. How do I get to and remove this one stupid screw? I can't find a way to access this screw.
Thanks.
ANSWER: swivel 8 mm socket
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QUESTION: I'd do that except the screw does not have the hex head on the the underside of the housing like the other screws. The head is facing the top of the dash. I even removed the dash cover and tried to access the screw via the speaker but no luck? Any other suggestions?
AnswerREMOVAL
WARNING: REFER TO THE APPLICABLE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS FOR THIS SYSTEM BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - WARNING - A/C PLUMBING), (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - CAUTION - A/C PLUMBING), and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - WARNING - HEATER PLUMBING).
NOTE: The blower motor and blower wheel are serviced only as an assembly. If either component is faulty or damaged, the blower motor and blower wheel must be replaced.
Remove the HVAC Housing from the vehicle (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/HVAC HOUSING - REMOVAL).
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.
REMOVAL
WARNING: REFER TO THE APPLICABLE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS FOR THIS SYSTEM BEFORE PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATION. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - WARNING - A/C PLUMBING), (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - CAUTION - A/C PLUMBING), and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT - WARNING - HEATER PLUMBING).
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
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.
