AC/Heater fan ticking... 2002 accord

[Accord+Miata]

Can someone point me in the direction of some directions on how to get to the AC/Heater fan in my 2002 accord? It sounds like there is a leaf/twig/something in the fan. It sounds like a card hitting the spokes of a bicycle wheel when the fan is one. VERY annoying.

Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks

-scott

[Accord+Miata]

I got my lazy tail out into the garage and took a good look myself... Thankfully, honda put the fan right there where you can get to it! Undo 3 screws and the fan is out, along with some pinestraw.

I see that there is a direct route from the fan to the cowl area... I would assume that the "pollen filter" installs somewhere before the fan?

I put the fan back in and the noise is gone. I would like to stick some kind of filter up there so this doesn't happen again...

[HondatechAV6]

the filter is after the fan before the evaporator. i assume having the filter before the fan would cause air flow problems through a clogged filter since most the small leaves just get blown right into the filter anyway. a clogged filter would probably put extra strain on the blower motor also, shortening its life.