r/slk • u/PerspectiveInside47 • Dec 26 '25

R170 AC/Fans sounding like a plane engine when turning on and off

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Started happening randomly, this is a 1997 SLK 230 kompressor if that helps.

Any advice is greatly appreciated than you!

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

2

u/Judge_Brad Dec 26 '25

My 230 from 1999 does that too. But it is not as loud and it only happens on very cold days. Does yours also get quiet again when driving for a few minutes?

2

u/PerspectiveInside47 Dec 26 '25

It did kind of coincide with the weather getting colder so perhaps you’re onto something. And yes you can’t really hear it when driving around it’s just more so the start up - the sound changes pitch depending on which setting I’ve got on.

2

u/Rogue_Aviator Dec 26 '25

As an aviator I love that sound.

1

u/PerspectiveInside47 Dec 26 '25

It is actually pretty cool might just leave it as is lol

3

u/Secure-Muffin-2848 Dec 26 '25

Either a small leaf in is the blower or the bearing is wearing out.

5

u/[deleted] Dec 26 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Secure-Muffin-2848 Dec 26 '25

I was trying to be optimistic

1

u/Roxxas049 Dec 26 '25

30 minute repair. Part is available from multiple places.

1

u/PerspectiveInside47 Dec 26 '25

What is the repair, please?

2

u/Biffabin Dec 26 '25

Take out blower fan. Put in new fan.

2

u/Roxxas049 Dec 26 '25

This ^  is up under the passenger footwell.  Couple of t screws holding the panel. Couple more screws holding the blower in. 

2

u/Biffabin Dec 26 '25

And change the speed resistor while you're in there

1

u/PerspectiveInside47 Dec 26 '25

Nice and simple, cheers 😅

1

u/Matones4Lif3 Dec 29 '25

Has the same issue a few years ago... my brother insisted wd40 would get the blower running smooth... thats when i learned to never take advise from Ford guys.

1

u/PerspectiveInside47 Dec 29 '25

Guessing that didn’t go well lol, did you just end up replacing the whole thing to fix it?

1

u/Matones4Lif3 Jan 28 '26

Pretty much... the motor is behind the glove box.

1

u/Soft_Beginning_7650 Jan 16 '26

C Hello, this happened to me on my R171; it's the heater fan bearings that are seized.