AS I followed up in my "I thought I was on fire" post I finally got around to changing the resistor and it was burned and still had bits of paper towel in it. No question it was the source of the heavy black smoke. I WAS on fire.

ANYWAY the fan was still making bad noises.
I went on line and found all about changing out the fan if you have air and recapturing AC fluids or whatever.

I went to the local Jeep dealer and they quoted me almost $500 for the job but that included the $153 fan replacement.
THEN
I found this on yuotube
You do not have to disconnect just loosen and rotate and work a little.
I bought a replacement at the local parts place for $63 and jumped in with both feet.

NOW
you have to understand I am NOT a wrench guy. The most complicated thing I do is change oil and batteries as needed. BUT I found the fan looked it over and decided to try it .

Followed the youtube video and it worked. Took about an hour and a half finding the right pieces to do the dis-assembly and then getting every thing back together. It was a struggle to get the new fan back in but it will go in around the accumulator or whatever that thing is.

AND

IT WORKED!!!!

Have seen lots of folks worrying about replacing the fan as I prowled various sites. Just passing on you don;t have to be an AC tech to make the switch.
AND
saved about $400 for my time.

Great site, love being here even if I am older than dirt.

 

Auto AC systems in general are simple. Not many things that can be wrong. Good job at getting it fixed!

 

Great job fixing it! I love hearing stories like that.