How do I Replace a Blower Motor on a 1999 Mazda Protege?
by Marion CobrettiThe blower motor in your Protege is directly responsible for the circulation of the heat and air conditioning throughout the vehicle. Although it rarely requires replacement, the motor on the blower eventually wears down. The circulating power or blowing capacity may decrease dramatically. Often, just before the blower motor becomes defective, it will only operate on one setting. You can remove and replace the old blower motor in your 1999 Mazda Protege right in the driveway at home. The job should take no more than 40 minutes to complete with a few tools.
Step 1
Open the front passenger’s side door on your Protege. Position yourself so that you can peer underneath the dashboard.
Step 2
Locate your car’s blower motor. The top of the blower motor looks like an upside down metal canteen cup. On the left side of the motor, you should also see a cooling tube. It connects to the HVAC housing at one end and to the blower motor on the other.
Step 3
Disconnect the cooling tube from the HVAC housing by pulling downward on the tube. Your new blower motor should come with a cooling tube already attached to it.
Step 4
Unplug the blower motor’s wiring harness. If the space is too tight, lower the glove compartment door.
Step 5
Remove the three bolts from around the blower motor’s base plate with your socket wrench. Carefully lower the blower motor from its position in the HVAC housing and discard it.
Step 6
Raise your new blower motor up into position beneath the dashboard. Insert it into the HVAC housing in the same exact position and orientation as the old blower motor.
Step 7
Support the blower motor with one hand. Use your free hand to thread all three of its mounting bolts. Tighten the bolts as tight as you can by hand. Secure the bolts in place with your socket wrench.
Step 8
Plug in the blower motor's wiring harness. Shut the glove box if you opened it. Push the new cooling tube onto its connection on the HVAC housing. Start your Protege’s engine and check the functionality of the new blower motor.
Things You'll Need
- Socket wrench set
Writer Bio
Marion Cobretti began working as a freelance writer in 2006. His work appears on Newsvine and other websites. Cobretti completed a three-year course in automotive technology and is currently seeking an Associate of Applied Science at Macomb Community College.
