I have a 2014 Mk3 2l Sport tech and noticed this week that there’s a buzzing / ticking coming from the passenger side air vent when the heating is on. I took off the glove box and the noise is coming from the white unit on the left of this photo:
I’m assuming that’s the fan unit? The faster the fan speed the faster the noise. It’s not really loud or anything and pumping up the stereo drowns it out, but it is a little annoying as it can be heard while driving around in this weather with the heating on. I thought I might see a stray leaf knocking about or something but everything looks sealed up like nobodies business.
I have a horrible suspicion that fan unit is telling me all is not well. Anyone experience anything similar?
Not with a Mk.3 but with a Mk.1 and also a Mazda 6. If it’s just a ticking rather than the squeal or grumbling of a worn out bearing then the good news is it’s probably some debris like leaf litter as you suggest. In both cars I found that (once the necessary wiring was unplugged) it was just 3 screws and the whole motor/impeller dropped straight down and out. Very straightforward. In the case of my other half’s Mazda 6 it was indeed the bearing which was getting grumbly so I got a used unit cheaply from eBay and that soldiered on for years.
Thanks for the reply, it did look like I may be able to undo some screws and drop the unit out, sure though I read on another thread that taking it out was a whole dashboard and steering column off job, which would be excessive for the issue!
So if it is a leaf or similar, by dropping the unit out do you know if it’s likely I’ll see the offending article inside the unit somewhere?
Yes, the whole motor and fans drop down as a unit with 3 screws with a stubby screwdriver, (awkward parts is the cable connector) and you can clean it out, there are no filters so stuff can drop in.
Mine does still make the ticking noise and I know what you mean as you naturally tune into it but not enough to buy a new motor!
Great I’ll have a pop this week then and see if I can find anything! Do you know if the ticking noise yours makes is the fan itself, assuming you’ve had it out to take a look?
My 3.5 2010 1.8 had the same problem it just started running very slow with a kind of ticking noise.
Sometimes it wouldn’t run at all. This was only last week and came on very sudden.
I popped out the motor today and found nothing wrong. It looks fine and spine without resistance or noise.
I went into the housing and cleaned out a bit of debris but hardly anything of significance.
when I replaced the motor it ran perfectly across all modes.
Thanks guys you’ve saved me a few quid.
