Update: I found on my way home about 30 min ago that it's making noise in 1 of the fan speed positions, I think I heard it in speed 2. Speed 1 sounds alot like the same speed as the anti-mildew function and I think I heard it just breafly in speed 3. Before I had a chance to mute the radio and focus in on it, it stopped. Heard nothing in speed 4.
When I got home I left the key on and it was making a terrible racket, rumbling away crazy, I popped the hood and put my hand on the motor and it had a good vibration to it, tho I'm not sure what normal is. I grabbed it and tried to move it around in its mount and I found 1 spot I had to press down towards the starter fairly hard and the noise just about vanished for a few seconds and then returned. This thing may be rubbing on something after all!
I'd be interested to find what out a properly working motor sounds like with a mechanics stethoscope or a rubber hose on it to someone's ear compared to mine, to listen to the bearings. I'm guessing it would sound somewhat similar to a bearing on one of the front engine accessories? Smooth hum if it's ok and rocks in a blender if the bearings are wiped out?
I have a family function to go to later today (it's early Saturday AM in case you didn't notice lol), not sure what's going on Sunday but I would like to spend some quality time diagnosing this if the gf has nothing planned. I'll do my best to get free time Sunday to diag this as I also need to do a few other checks on the truck.
I'll report back soon! Tah tah.
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