Sounds like crickets under dash when air cond. on?

[2001BMW330iRob]

Car runs great no complaints whatsoever.
Just noticed a couple days ago, sounds like crickets under the dash.
Was wondering what it could be...turned the air cond. off and the noise stops.
Anyone else have this problem?
Thanks,
Rob

[GRD-4-3L]

GRD-4-3L to the HVAC (heating/ventilation/AC) rescue!

Case 1: Your blower wheel is cracked/damaged and rubbing against blower housing. Remove blower motor/wheel assembly, then visually inspect the outer shell of the blower wheel. If you see rubbing marks on it, you know it is the blower wheel. Cheap & easy to replace.

Case 2: You have leaf or other obstruction that is rubbing against the blower wheel. Sort of like sticking a card in rotating bicycle wheel. Remove obstruction from the blower wheel and off you go. Might as well clean up the HVAC inlet duct while you are at it. Chances are, you have more debris waiting to fall into the blower.

Case 3: You have cricket in you dash. Release a large rat or a reptile in your car overnight. Remove the large rat or reptile in the morning. Don't forget to remove tiny black pellets.

[2001BMW330iRob]

Great Info...I will start with the Case 3 scenario and work up!
Thanks!!!

[beau]

I have the same problem. How does one go about looking at the blower wheel? Is there a write up anywhere? Any guess how much a wheel would cost? Would I be better of paying the $50 to have a dealer fix it with the CPO warrenty?

[GRD-4-3L]

I don't know how much the blower wheel would cost. For your information, mass production price of these things are typically $1~2. You would probably be paying $10~20 at dealer.

If you can get to blower motor, you are there. Getting to the blower motor is the difficult part. Blower motor is almost always right above passenger foot well and behind the glove box.

In some large SUV's you can actually see the motor housing sticking out below the trim!