A friend had the same problem with a blower motor. First thing’s first, don’t try to turn it on anymore. She fried her motor (was about $50 to replace, if I remember correctly). The problem turned out to be mice that had made a nest over a weekend.
They get in from the holes that lead to around the top of the front wheels, which leads them under the cowl. Then, it’s just a short drop to a perfectly sized place to build a new home. Your problem could be debris built up as well.
Anyway, you’re going to have to remove the blower box, and it is a pain. You have to take out a bunch of crap because of poor design, and then the thing has to be wiggled and moved like a puzzle to get it out. Getting it back in is just as much of a pain. So take it out, take it apart fully, and clean it all. Then test to make sure all the settings work, then put it back together.
Unfortunately, you aren’t done yet. Now comes the real pain. You have to remove both cowls (and if they weren’t leaking before, they will be now). So either buy more faulty parts to replace the original faulty parts, or buy a tube of caulking before you start. I wrote a little more about this in my post about leaks I couldn’t fix (and I eventually did fix that one).
But once the cowls are off, you’re going to have to get some wire mesh with holes about .75 in^2, no bigger, but a little smaller might work, too. The point is to have them small enough to keep mice out, but large enough to let small sticks and seeds through without building up. This mesh needs to be at least on both ends of under the cowl, where the water drains out. I also put some over the blower box intake as well. And I used some ‘3m yellow glue’ to stick it to the metal and plastic. After it dried, it held very well, and I’m sure it won’t come off. Some shoe goo also might work.
Then just replace the cowls (whichever way you prefer).
Now, you’re problem is solved and prevented from reoccurring.