Re: Milano heater fan

[AKress1948@domain.elided]

It's my understanding these fans are NLA - but it wouldn't hurt to ask 
around.  If indeed it is cooked, you'll have to get a used one.  Did the 
smoke smell like wood smoke?  these cars have a problem w/ allowing lots of 
leaves into the heater plenum, and these ignite when the fan speed resistor 
heats up - copious smoke - it smells just like camp.
In any case, easiest way to get to it is at the driver's footwell.  there is 
a cap w/ 2 wires going into it.  Held on by 2 or 3 screws.  remove.  Inside 
that is another plastic or fiberglass cover held on by another 3 or 4 screws. 
 in the center of that is the fan - the body of which is held in by a hose 
clamp.  Unscrew the clamp, and slide the cover out.  The fan blade is a 
squirrel cage type, and it is firmly fixed to the fan motor - i.e. it's all 
one piece.  You'll have to work at getting it out, but then again, if the 
motor is all done - should be easy - the brute force method is justifiable 
here.  If you suspect the motor might be ok, then carefully work the fan 
blades out - one edge at a time, it'll come, just be patient.  BTW, patience 
is really required for the job, even if you happen to be a member of 
Contortionists Are Us.  You will have to work at cleaning the smoke residue 
from the plenum otherwise your new fan will blow stinking horrible air - hot 
or cold - into your car.  Don't forget way up inside and to the back - there 
is a shelf there - good at catching ash & other stinking bits.  Also can get 
at the plenum from the passenger's side - just put the fan on recirculate, 
and the trap door in the passenger footwell opens to give you access.  Again, 
patience is required - you'll probably hae to do it a few times.  By the way, 
you can get at one side of the heater core by carefully prying the deflector 
vents out of the console - they are just pressed in.

Good luck, remember Nietsche (I think) "that which doesn't kill us makes us 
stronger".  Hah!
Andy

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