Center Dashboard Fans

[E-POTS]

Hey has any1 ever had a problem with their center fans on a 2010 Mazda 3 Sport (GT)?

I booked a service appointment but it won't be for a few days (i hope the noise doesn't drive me too crazy :bang)....

Well here's my problem, the fans in the middle are making a buzzing/grinding noise. This happened to me only once before but it fixed itself when i turned the front defog on then off (this was a few months ago). Today on the other hand, the only way to make the noise stop was to turn off the fans but as soon as you turn them back on the noise is back :bang:bang and fan speed doesn't matter.

Who knows if the noise will be there when i start my car after work, but with my luck the noise to go away 10min before my appointment and they won't even look at it and charge me cuz it's not making noise :loco

Any1 have any suggestion what this problem could be? (Just want to be informed before heading to the dealer) I think maybe the fan bearings are gone/going? or could it be something else?

[bluemazda3]

it should be covered.. but depending on the dealership... good luck

[pacmann33]

You have leaves in your blower. Very easy to fix....search the forums for the write up about how to change your cabin filter....but with the 2010 you do NOT have to remove the glove box. I can swap cabin air filters, and vacuum out the leaves in 10 minutes easily.

It is in the passenger side foot well. for fun, take teh cover off, but leave the filter IN and turn the car on with the fan on hi. The leaves that come out will be like confetti!

good luck!

[E-POTS]

kk, well I had to push back the my appointment cuz something came up. But on the plus side since Friday I have not heard any noise so I'm guessing it could just be leaves?

I found the instructions on how to do it yourself, seems simple enough (only 4 screws) but the only part that worries me is not breaking the clips lol (instructions not 100% clear on how to carefully remove them)

I'm gonna try to get it serviced this week, in the event that is it just a filter change and no a warranty clam whats the average dealer price for a cabin filter replace?

[pacmann33]

They will charge you for the labor to change the filter. I'd do it myself, I changed the filter once, but I've cleaned leaves out of there probably 6 or 8 times myself. You will do a better job that the guy at the dealership, he won't vacuum it out or wipe anything down. I forget how much the filter was, it wasn't cheap, I think about 30$ or so. You don't need to change the filter just yet.

Open it up, clean the leaves out, take the original filters and tap the dirt out on the driveway and decide for yourself if it needs replacing yet or not. now that you've done this once it'll be much easier in the future.

My advice.

[E-POTS]

well I "attempted" this today...just a disaster lol

i removed the covers easy enough, took 1 out of 4 screws out....my screwdriver was to long :S so i couldn't get the angle to take out the top screws....
I wonder, can the filter door/cover be removed with taking off the sensor (or whatever that black thing with the wire is)? I wasn't sure cuz I can't really see other screws :S

omg its soo freaking tight in there how the hell can any1 actually do this!?

what kind/size screwdriver should I be using for this? i'm also 6 feet tall, so any tips on how to work in that small area would be appreciated :)

[E-POTS]

can't edit yet, the line should read as:

I wonder, can the filter door/cover be removed without taking off the sensor (or whatever that black thing with the wire is)? I wasn't sure cuz I can't really see other screws :S