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How to Replace the Fan in Your Subaru Forester for $35

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$1,500. FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS.

That’s what the repair shop wanted to charge me to replace the blower fan in my 2015 Subaru Forester.

After about a month of making a strange, high-pitched whirring noise, the fan responsible for pushing hot and cold air through my car’s vents finally gave up. So naturally, I got a quote to have it repaired.

$1,500?! Are you kidding me?

I decided to do a little research and see if I could tackle this repair myself. Turns out, replacing the blower motor is ridiculously easy, and I was able to get a replacement fan for around $35. Here’s how I did it.

Step 1: Is It the Blower Motor or Something Else?

Before you start ripping things apart, it’s worth knowing that a nonworking blower fan doesn’t necessarily mean the blower motor itself is dead.

There are a few potential culprits, including:

  • A faulty blower motor relay
  • A failed blower motor
  • A wiring harness or electrical connection issue

I started by checking the relay, figuring that would be an easy and inexpensive fix if it turned out to be the problem.

Checking the Blower Motor Relay

To access the relay in my 2015 Subaru Forester, I removed the glove compartment door and gently pried off the plastic panel behind it.

The panel is held in place with press-fit clips, so it pops off relatively easily.

From there, I located the relay and replaced it with a new 12V relay.

revelaing the 12 volt relay

Unfortunately, that wasn’t my problem.

But hey, at least I had ruled out one potential culprit!

Step 2: Removing the Old Blower Motor

With the relay ruled out, I turned my attention to the blower motor itself.

I had a similar experience with a bathroom exhaust fan that started making a terrible noise before eventually dying, so I figured the same thing might have happened here.

And considering I run my car’s fan on full blast pretty much all the time, it wouldn’t surprise me if I’d finally worn the poor thing out.

Fortunately, removing the Subaru Forester’s blower motor is surprisingly straightforward.

Here’s what I did:

  1. Located the blower motor underneath the passenger-side dashboard.
  2. Unplugged the electrical connector from the motor. You may need a small flat head screwdriver to help release the clip.
  3. Used a short Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the three screws holding the blower motor in place.
  4. Carefully removed the old blower motor assembly.

That’s it. Three screws and an electrical connection!

this is the blower motor

Step 3: Installing the New Subaru Forester Blower Motor

I found a replacement blower motor on Amazon for approximately $35.

Yes. Thirty-five dollars.

Installation was essentially the reverse of removal.

  1. Positioned the new blower motor in the housing.
  2. Reinstalled the three mounting screws.
  3. Reconnected the electrical plug.
  4. Started the car and turned on the fan.

BINGO!

The blower fan was working again. No more high-pitched whining. No more dead fan. And, most importantly, no $1,500 repair bill.

Tools

  • Short Phillips-head screwdriver
  • Small flat head screwdriver — helpful for releasing the electrical connector

Parts

Be sure to verify that any replacement parts are compatible with your specific vehicle before purchasing. Also, the steps shown here are based on my 2015 Subaru Forester; other model years may differ.

Learn how to replace your 2015 Subaru Forester’s air filters here!