After replacing my outside temp sensor(found under the wiper cowel)
see picture:
and swapping out my fan relay and jiggling the wires on the blower motor I was still getting the dreaded flashing light scenario on my ECC unit.
I cast my mind back to when I inserted a needle to"clear the lint from the passenger side inlet fan and realised that it was, alas, me again to blame. I was throwing a 417 code so at least I knew where to look. All the other codes I had, had been cleared, like 418 which seemed to disappear after the wire jiggling at the blower motor.
So to start off you need to pry up the catches on the handle, use the thinist and flatest tool you can find or you will damage the plastic handle.
Next a 10mm (me thinks) socket to remove the two bolts and gently pull the handle out and down.
Remove the little cover from the roof lining over the inlet fan. Not shown here!
Work the plastic trim down as well as working off part of the vertical trim that covers the seat belt reel. As gentle as I tried to be, I broke a clip(maybe a good idea to grab a few extra at the wreckers yard before starting)
[Now work the roof lining away and expose the two screws that hold the inlet fan.
Because of the shoddy pictures you might find difficulty seeing the wire sensor I had pushed in, which had stopped the fins of the fan from turning. This was my 417 code. There was not too much in the way of lint and gunk in the fan, as other posters had found, maybe just lucky.
I moved the wires away from the blades checked it worked by turning on the ignition,and reconnecting the plug, the fan spun freely and NO Flashing lights.
Now the fun part, the two screws that hold the inlet fan in place turned out to be a real biatch to get in, I think due to the fact that most of my tasks are done solo. I resorted to using a piece of chewing gum to hold the screw on the torx driver. I am sure a magnetic driver would be a better choice, but you need to have one. The gum was discarded after the screws where driven home. Just in case any wise cracks come my way!
So far no recirculation flashing lights and everything is working well.
Scale out of ten
Scale of difficulty :1
Scale of profanity :2 (that was before I used the gum)
Tailor