I've been working on a problem with the blower motor in my '89 260 E (it usually doesn't run at all, but will run on increasingly rare occasions). I've replaced the electronic control unit, but it also looks to me like the carbon brushes on the motor are pretty much gone. The springs are extended and the wire on both brushes is nearly at the end of the brush housing. So, my main question is how does one go about this? There is no obvious way to detach or open the brush housings. I also see no obvious way to remove the fans from the motor shaft without breaking them. I really want to avoid spending another $250 on this problem!
My second question concerns the blower motor housing cover. It looks like someone tried to seal the housing cover by squirting silicone sealant into the groove. I don't see any mention of using a sealant in the tech manual. Is there any reason to do this?