AC Blower Motor high pitched noise

korybenken@gmail.com · Mar 20, 2019

I recently started having a high pitched noise when turning on the fan for the AC in my 2014 Outback. The pitch of the noise actually lowers as the speed of the fan is increased. I bought and installed a new blower motor, bought from an auto parts store. That motor made the same noise, in fact it was worse...The noise definitely seems to be coming from the motor (I held the motor in my hands while turning it on and changing the fan speeds, I know not a good idea but was trying to isolate the sound). Any ideas on what the problem may be? The auto parts guys thought it might be the resistor, but that doesn't seem to make sense..

p.s. there was no debris in the motor when i took it out...I also changed the cabin filter (which was very dirty)...The fan speeds all work as they should as far as power...all fan speeds are working...seems to be no issues there

thanks for the help!

patchelect · Mar 22, 2019

Is the blower itself metal or plastic? I know that the metal ones can occasionally create a harmonic noise/vibration if the crimps that are on the flat sides where the hub itself attaches are slightly loose. Try adding some oil to that spot and see if it goes away. If so you need to remove the wheel, brace it, and put a few cross hashes at the hub where it rolls over on the tin.

However if the wheel is plastic or the motor came with a new wheel then all bets are off.

botenredwolf · Mar 23, 2019

Holy crap I came here to post the exact same thing. I've actually got mine on video:

Anyone got ideas? It sounds electrical, not physical, in nature, and it's definitely not coming from the speakers.

edit: auto parts guy might be right, now that I read the rest of your post, but I'll have to see how much of a pain it is to get to.

https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...ed-Sedan/POWER-TRANSISTOR-------------------------AUTO/49283110/73533AJ00A.html

If so, this would be for my car, but the part might actually be the same. Not technically resistors anymore, esp. with a PWM control like these automatic units are bound to have.

korybenken@gmail.com · Nov 5, 2019

Here's the Part I used....fixed it 7 months ago...has worked perfectly ever since. I've had a couple people email me and ask me for the part...Hope this helps!
https://www.certifiedsubaruparts.com/p/Subaru__/49283110/73533AJ00A.html

korybenken@gmail.com · Nov 5, 2019

It was the power resistor

OutbackJeff · Nov 21, 2019

I had the same noise at 18,000 miles in my 2014 2.5 CVT OB and the dealer simply replaced the HVAC motor.

AC Blower Motor high pitched noise

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