1998 Passat Blower Motor Repair

Through the 1970s, Volkswagen was struggling to stay afloat and its two newest cars of the decade were, in the kindest way possible, not-so-attractive failures. In 1974, VW released the Passat to every market, except the U.S., we saw the Dasher, which was basically a Passat with a few America-specific safety features. From 1982 through 1988, VW experiment with the Quantum, the Dashers replacement, then finally brought the Passat to the U.S. in 1990. Replacing the blower motor requires removing the glove box, but it is a task most do-it-yourself mechanics can perform.

Instructions

1

Remove the two bolts on the lower corners of the glove box, using a ratchet and socket. Open the glove box and carefully pry the glove box light outward, using a flat-head screwdriver, and pull it from its hole in the glove box. Press and hold the unlocking button on the glove box lights wiring harness and unplug the harness. Remove the glove box light.

2

Remove the five bolts on the inside of the glove box, using a ratchet and socket, and pull the glove box out of the dashboard.

3

Look inside the glove box cavity and find the blower motor attached to the heating and air-conditioning box. Press and hold the unlocking button on the blower motors wiring harness, and unplug it from the motor. Remove the three screws securing the blower motor assembly with a ratchet and socket and pull it from the heating and air-conditioning box.

4

Slide a new blower motor into the heating and air-conditioning box, and tighten its three screws with a ratchet and socket until they are snug. Plug the wiring harness into the blower motors receptacle.

5

Slide the glove box back into the dashboard, guiding the glove box lights wiring harness as you slide it in. Hand-tighten the five bolts inside the glove box with a ratchet and socket. Plug the wiring harness into the glove box light assembly. Position the light assembly, so its switch is facing downward and press it into the cutout in the glove box.

6

Close the glove box door and tighten the two screws in the lower corners of the glove box, using a ratchet and socket.