Climate Control Fan Noise

[KevinH1990]

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but I think my fan is starting to be troublesome. Here are my facts and symptoms:

2000 Boxster with 151,000 miles. I usually drive the car 3-5 times a week, but it has been almost a daily driver this summer. I removed the foam from the blower control doors about 3 years ago.

The first time I started the car after I returned from a 10-day trip I heard a brief high-pitched whine. Now, I hear it every time I start the car in the morning. It continues for 30 seconds to two minutes and then stops. I don't hear it when I restart the car for subsequent trips or in the afternoon when I have driven the car in the morning.

When I drove the car two days ago, I shut off the HVAC fan at a stop light and the noise stopped. However, the engine had reached operating temperature at that point, and it that could have been why the noise ceased. I'm having difficulty pinpointing the direction from which the noise is coming. I'm planning to turn off the fan the next time I start the car and see what happens.

If it does turn out that the HVAC fan is the source, it sounds like a used part might be the most economical option. I was wondering whether other automakers use the same part and if the HVAC blowers from Audi or VW might be an option.

I found a DIY video and the procedure looks similar to the one I followed when I replaced the HVAC fan in my 2005 Mercedes C230.

Please let me know if you have suggestion or a used fan sitting around.