2009 Mazda5 - Blower Motor Recommendations

[Number_35]

What is the SST part #? Just curious what it looks like

The first two shots are from my FSM - sorry about the poor quality.

The last two are from online, and show the tool recommended for a Mazda3. The SST number is slightly different (with a A suffix).

The gist is, the motor is inserted through an opening on the passenger side, motor first, and the base of the motor is secured on the driver's side with a plastic ring.

It's really hard to hold the motor in place while trying to install the plastic ring. If I'd had someone to hold the motor/fan assembly in place (i.e. firmly against the driver's side of the console), I could have installed the plastic locking ring easily.

But, I was working alone, so had to keep trying until I got it.

 

[ejes]

OEM if available.

Agree. If you are going to go to all that trouble, OEM.

 

[KevinMalone]

Great work and good call on the OE part.

Now do a BMW X5 next!

 

[Number_35]

Finished it off today. This job was right at the limits of what I'm capable of.

Book time at the dealer is 4.2 hours, which is likely a quarter of the time I put in over several days.

I'd be interested in hearing from any of the pros here as to how hard they consider this job.

I could probably do it again much faster, but certainly hope to never do it again.

Anyway, saved Jr. a few $.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Good job OP. Learning something new just improves your skills going forward.

 

[Fleetmech81]

Finished it off today. This job was right at the limits of what I'm capable of.

Book time at the dealer is 4.2 hours, which is likely a quarter of the time I put in over several days.

I'd be interested in hearing from any of the pros here as to how hard they consider this job.

I could probably do it again much faster, but certainly hope to never do it again.

Anyway, saved Jr. a few $.

This video is pretty realistic ...

Good call going oem.
The one I replaced in that vijeo was a cheapo cooling depot model. The old motor was noisy for a while and they ignored it til it burnt out the resistor completely. The resistor cost more than the motor. I picked away at it one evening after work and spent the following morning swearing at it. I consider it a pita to replace.

 

[zmelli]

OMG! What a nightmare, I was going to suggest a low mileage OEM from your local Junk yard or u-pull-it. I would not want to do that job again, EVER!

 

[Number_35]

Good call going oem.
The one I replaced in that vijeo was a cheapo cooling depot model. The old motor was noisy for a while and they ignored it til it burnt out the resistor completely. The resistor cost more than the motor. I picked away at it one evening after work and spent the following morning swearing at it. I consider it a pita to replace.

@Fleetmech81, was that your video?

If so, thank you so much!!! I doubt I could have done the job without your help.

That one hidden nut at the top of the brake pedal assembly is pure evil. Also the three screws on the passenger side, for the air-directing assembly are pretty bad.

Edit: I found the cabin air filter to be pretty restrictive (couldn't see light through either section, or blow air through) and put the car back together last Thursday without the filter sections in place.

I replaced the filter earlier today.

I speculate that the old filter (filters, actually) were restrictive enough to have caused the blower motor to fail prematurely.

 

[Fleetmech81]

@Fleetmech81, was that your video?

If so, thank you so much!!! I doubt I could have done the job without your help.

That one hidden nut at the top of the brake pedal assembly is pure evil. Also the three screws on the passenger side, for the air-directing assembly are pretty bad.

Edit: I found the cabin air filter to be pretty restrictive (couldn't see light through either section, or blow air through) and put the car back together last Thursday without the filter sections in place.

I replaced the filter earlier today.

I speculate that the old filter (filters, actually) were restrictive enough to have caused the blower motor to fail prematurely.

Yeah, glad it helped! I changed that motor for a co-worker that just bought that Mazda(they got hosed). It was in pretty rough shape and had lots of other problems. Probably would have cost more than the car is worth to pay a shop $150/hr to replace the blower motor.

 

[Number_35]

Yeah, glad it helped! I changed that motor for a co-worker that just bought that Mazda(they got hosed). It was in pretty rough shape and had lots of other problems. Probably would have cost more than the car is worth to pay a shop $150/hr to replace the blower motor.

We bought the 5 in May 2013. It's been a good vehicle.

I had to do some front-end work a bit prematurely, I thought, likely due to the 50-series tires it came with. I swapped out the optional 17" wheels for standard 16" with 55-series tires, which has helped.

I've rebuilt the L driveshaft (with online help from Trav, a veteran Master mechanic here on BITOG), and changed both front wheel bearings and one rear one.

If you're looking for some rather tedious reading, you can find various of my posts about the 5 here.

Anyway, thank you again for your YouTube video! I don't think this old former Albertan could have done the job without your help.