"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
03/02/2019 at 10:39 • Filed to: Smart
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"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
03/02/2019 at 10:39 • Filed to: Smart | 4
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US spec smart 451 fortwos use different blower motors than their Euro counterparts and to the surprise of nobody on Oppo, the US ones are worse.
Because I’ve attempted to take good care of my car, mine has lasted at least three times as long as average. However, all US spec smart 451 blower motors will die. I’m not exaggerating, they all have a fatal flaw that never got fixed in the generation’s run.
To confirm it’s actually dead, you have to take it out. Start by looking into your driver footwell above the pedals. Then yank out this plug:
Turn the motor anticlockwise while holding back its locking pin (obscured, so feel for it) and it should release.
Pull it out and examine it.
Mine is pretty dirty and there’s definitely a lot of corrosion.
To dig deeper, remove this torx screw.
Things will look pretty bad in there..
You can clean this area up, but you’ll only be delaying the inevitable. Spark erosion makes the unit corrode and cause higher resistance. Resistance especially increases when the motor gets hot . Over time, the resistance will become great enough that it’ll slow down and just stop working for good . Right now mine is in the early stages of failure where it works when cold, then it stops when it’s hot.
A somewhat popular mod is to swap the blower motor for one out of a Pontiac. It’s cheaper than a replacement smart motor and will last the rest of the life of the car while also providing more airflow than an asthmatic mouse.
Uggggh, why is everything breaking this winter????
RacinBob
> Mercedes Streeter
03/02/2019 at 11:29 |
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If the cost is not high, the Pontiac motor might do the trick.. If you own a dremmel with a wire wheel attachment, polishing up the rotor looks to be pretty easy, I suggest trying it and seeing. If the original lasted 6 years, you might get another 6 out of it.....
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Mercedes Streeter
> RacinBob
03/02/2019 at 11:49 |
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Oh I already did that. :) It lasts all of a few minutes longer. Short of rebuilding the thing (which since I don't have a soldering tool, will cost the same) I'll have to do the Pontiac blower mod. Should only set me back like $20.
shop-teacher
> Mercedes Streeter
03/02/2019 at 12:02 |
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Why is everything breaking? Because it's a crappy car with high mileage.
Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
> Mercedes Streeter
03/02/2019 at 12:59 |
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The blowe fan on the Pajero is dead at the moment too. It’s 15 years and 140k miles old though so it’s hard to get too offended.
My solution has been a Chinese knockoff from eBay. 1/4 the price of OE. They changed it the year after my car so used ones would have been 14 years old too - I figure a knockoff new one is worth a try
It arrived during the week so we’ll find out later today if the gamble came off.
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RacinBob
> Mercedes Streeter
03/02/2019 at 13:36 |
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$20 that’s a no brainer.