Does replacing the blower in an old Santana require removing the dashboard?

[JessicaFitz]

No. Here is more information about the Santana: 1. Brand introduction: The Santana is a brand of cars produced by Volkswagen in California, USA. Since 1985, after more than 20 years of production, the classic Santana has become ubiquitous across the country. 2. Main models: (1) Santana 87 (classic Santana, discontinued, latest model is the 2008 version). (2) Santana 2000 (discontinued, latest model is the 2002 version). (3) Santana 3000 (discontinued, latest model is the 2005 version). (4) Santana Vista Zhijun (latest model is the 2014 version). (5) New Santana (latest model is the 2015 version).

[ODerek]

Replacing the blower motor on an old Santana indeed requires dashboard removal, something I've done multiple times. The blower is hidden deep inside the center console - removing just the glovebox won't help, you've got to take out the entire instrument panel. It's quite a labor-intensive job. The mounting bolts are positioned in particularly tricky spots, some behind the steering wheel where wrenches can't reach without disassembly. You must carefully note every wiring harness location during disassembly - the wiring in older cars is brittle and snaps easily. Reinstallation requires adjusting the instrument panel gaps, otherwise you'll end up with rattles. I recommend using a lift for this job - working on your back will kill your spine. Even when everything goes smoothly, it takes at least two hours. Beginners shouldn't attempt this themselves - those plastic clips break way too easily.

[Jeff]

Replacing the blower motor on an old Santana indeed requires removing the dashboard – I've experienced it firsthand. The blower is installed in the space between the firewall and instrument panel, completely blocked by AC piping. During my last repair, I first removed the steering wheel lower cover but still couldn't reach the mounting bracket. Eventually, I had to lift the entire dashboard after removing all seventeen screws. Pay special attention to the blower power cable – that connector hadn't been touched in twenty years, requiring rust penetrant and careful wiggling to remove. Before installing the new blower, thoroughly clean the air ducts as they're full of leaves and rodent droppings in old cars. Expect to break several glove box clips during the process, so remember to prepare spare parts in advance.

[LaValeria]

Anyone who's worked on an old Santana knows replacing the blower motor requires dashboard removal. The blower sits deep behind the steering wheel's right side - you can only feel its housing when reaching in. Last time I did this, I first disconnected the battery, then removed the lower steering wheel trim and radio panel. The crucial step is extracting six hidden dashboard mounting screws located behind the wiper linkage - extremely tricky to access. Lifting the dashboard requires two people coordinating carefully to avoid snapping the speedometer cable. When installing the new blower, always test all fan speed settings - these old cars' resistors often develop poor contacts. The most frustrating part is realigning the dashboard gaps afterward, as all the plastic components have aged.