Recommended to replace bearing in blower motor? Pretty sure that's my issue

MTN6243

MEMBER
1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE
3.8L
V6
FWD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

Ok, the blower in our 98 olds intrigue very seldom will work. Its getting cold and I was just going to replace it. Though I'm kinda trying to play it cheap, and thought maybe I could get another winter out of this one, we will likely be getting rid of it. You can fiddle with the fan controls and on a rare occasion the blower will kick on. So I pulled it, it does not spin too freely and somewhat wobbly. I plugged it in while not mounted and kicked the fan controls on, no response. Give it a lil spin by hand and away it goes, no problem. No funny sounds. Sound like bearing to you? Is it worth my time to try messing with it, or trying to lubricate it? Or should I just fork out cash for a new one? I haven't really looked into the resistor, nor do I really know the purpose of it. And no multimeter with me here. Advice?

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

If you can spin it to make it run, either it is gummed up and needs cleaned and lubericated or the brushes are bad in the motor. I have to be honest, I know they aren't fun to remove or replace so I would get a new one. The motor really isn't designed to be worked on or rebuilt.

As far as the resister, you will know when one is bad because the fan will ONLY work on the highest setting.