Broan 688 Replacement Motor & Parts — The Full Guide
Your 688 is noisy, dead, or barely moving air — and three different part numbers all claim to fit it. Two of them really do. One is a kit with the mounting plate and one is without, and a third number floating around the internet isn't confirmed by Broan at all. This page sorts all of it out.
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The short answer
Plate still good? Order S97012038 — motor + blower wheel only.
Plate bent, rusted, or you want the fastest swap? Order S97012026 — same motor and wheel, pre-mounted on a new plate.
Want it quieter, not just fixed? The 690NT upgrade kit fits this exact housing — see §8.
Broan 688 at a glance
50 CFMAirflow
4.0 sonesNoise — fairly loud
3″ ductPolymeric damper
7½″ × 7¼″Housing size
01 — 30-second fit check
Answer three things. The model number is stamped on a label inside the housing — pull the grille down and look up (§2 shows exactly where).
02 — Find your model number first
Guessing by how the grille looks is how wrong parts get ordered — the 688 and 689 look like family because they are, but they're rated differently (50 CFM / 4.0 sones vs. 60 CFM / 5.5 sones).
Where to look
Pull the grille straight down a few inches.
Squeeze the two torsion springs together and lift the grille off.
Look inside the housing — the rating label is on the housing wall, near the receptacle the motor plugs into.
Write down the full model including any letter suffix (688-A, 688-E…). The suffix matters — Broan's fit list is written in ranges like “688-A thru E.”
The 7½″ × 7¼″ measurement is the one that decides both the replacement motor and whether the 690NT upgrade kit fits.
03 — Three numbers, one fan
This is the confusion this page exists to fix. The first two numbers are the same motor — the difference is whether the mounting plate is in the box.
✓ Broan-confirmed · Most common buy
S97012038
Motor & blower wheel ONLY — no plate
Base number 97012038. You unbolt your old motor from its plate and mount this one on it. Broan's catalog lists it for the 663, 688, 689, HD50, HD80 and the 678 family.
Best if your plate is flat and rust-free
Lowest-cost genuine repair
Sold as OEM Broan and as aftermarket equivalents (e.g. Endurance Pro) under the same number — check which you're buying
Full fan assembly — motor + wheel + mounting plate
The same motor and wheel, pre-assembled on a new plate. Unplug it, remove the one retaining screw next to the receptacle, and the whole unit pivots out — no motor-to-plate bolts to fight with overhead.
Best if the plate is bent or corroded
Fewest steps: one retaining screw and a plug
Costs more than motor-only — you're paying for the plate and the assembly
Some non-Broan guides cite this number for the 688, but it could not be confirmed in Broan's catalog or instruction sheets during our Oct 22, 2026 check. It may be a superseded or reseller number — or simply wrong.
We do not recommend ordering on this number alone
If a seller lists it, ask them to confirm it cross-references to S97012038 / S97012026
No buy link — we don't link parts we can't verify.
04 — Confirmed fits for S97012038
Straight from Broan's instruction sheet for this part. Its wording is strict: for use only with the models below — “no other usage has been tested or is authorized by Broan.” Note the sound rating changes with the host fan (2.5–4.0 sones) because the housing shapes the noise, not just the motor.
Host model
Fits S97012038?
Note
Broan 688-A thru 688-E
✓ YES
This page's fan. 50 CFM / 4.0 sones in this housing.
Nautilus N688-A thru N688-C
✓ YES
Same fan sold under the Nautilus name.
Broan 678-A thru 678-F · Nautilus N678-A thru E
✓ YES
Fan/light sibling — same motor, light is separate.
Broan 662, 668
✓ YES
Listed on the Broan instruction sheet for this part.
Broan 663, 689, HD50, HD80
✓ YES
Listed in Broan's parts catalog. Caution on the 689: it is a 60 CFM / 5.5-sone fan — the motor fits, the ratings of your fan don't change to match this page.
05 — Does NOT fit — read before you order
If you have…
S97012038 / S97012026?
What to do instead
Broan 670 / 671
✕ NO
Different motor family — don't order on looks. Good news: the 690NT upgrade kit does fit these housings (§8).
Any fan with an 8″ × 8¼″ housing
✕ NO
Larger housing class — and the 690NT kit doesn't fit it either. Find your model number and search it above.
NuTone 763RLN / Cenipar S0503B000 fans
✕ NO
Completely different assembly (120V / 1.0A motor on its own bracket). That fan has its own page on this site.
Broan 665 / 89850000 fans
✕ NO
The 665 takes the 89850000 motor — a frequent mix-up with this page's parts.
Any model not in the §4 list
? UNTESTED
Broan's own wording: no other usage has been tested or authorized. Treat unlisted as “doesn't fit” until verified.
06 — Full specs
Host unit — Broan 688
Airflow50 CFM
Sound4.0 sones
MountingCeiling or wall
MotorPlug-in, permanently lubricated
Motor assemblyPivots in & out — one retaining screw
Blower wheelBroan polymeric
Housing25-ga. galvanized steel, ≈7½″ × 7¼″
Duct3″, polymeric damper (no metallic clatter)
GrilleWhite polymeric, torsion-spring mount
ListingUL listed over tub/shower on GFCI circuit
Replacement parts
S97012038Motor + wheel, no plate
S97012026Motor + wheel + plate, assembled
S97012029⚠ Not Broan-confirmed
Sound in host2.5–4.0 sones, varies by model
LubricationSealed — never oil
Metal grilleOptional kit, sold separately
690NT upgrade output60 CFM at 3.0 sones
Exact motor RPMNot reliably published — not stated here rather than guessed
A note on honesty: where Broan doesn't publish a figure, this page says so. A parts page that invents an RPM is a page that gets your order wrong elsewhere too.
07 — Diagnose before you buy
Tap your symptom. Half of “dead fan” calls are a $0 fix — do those checks before any part goes in a cart.
08 — Repair, upgrade, or replace the whole fan?
🔧 Just fix it — S97012038 / S97012026
Housing is solid and rust-free
You liked how it worked when it worked
Cheapest path back to a working fan
Reality check: a new motor in a 688 is still a 50 CFM / 4.0-sone fan. Fixed ≠ quieter.
⬆ Upgrade it — Broan 690 / 690NT kit ✓ fits this fan
60 CFM at 3.0 sones — Broan claims up to 50% less sound, 20% more airflow
Fits only the 7½″ × 7¼″ housing — measure first
~10-minute install: grille, two motor plates, and wrench included
Also fits 689, NuTone 693/695/696N, Broan 670/671, Nautilus N671/N688
You want 80+ CFM or a humidity sensor — no kit gets a 688 there
That's a bigger job (drywall, duct, wiring). Honest call: if the housing is sound, it almost never pencils out vs. the two options on the left.
⚠ Unverified: one third-party guide claims a “RE70BN 70 CFM” kit fits this fan. That claim is not confirmed in Broan sources as of Oct 22, 2026 — don't plan a purchase around it until Broan says so.
09 — Swap it: tools & step-by-step
⚠ Power first — properly. Broan's sheet doesn't say “flip the wall switch.” It says disconnect power and lock out the service panel so nobody can turn it back on while your hands are in the housing. If anything inside looks damaged or scorched, stop and get a qualified person — that's Broan's instruction too, not just ours.
Tools — mercifully short list
Step ladderFlat screwdriverVacuum + dusting brushFlashlight / headlampTape measure (for the §8 check)That's it — no wiring tools, the motor plugs in
The swap (per Broan's instruction sheet)
Kill and lock out the powerBreaker off at the panel, locked/tagged out. Test the switch — the fan must not respond.
Drop the grillePull it down, squeeze the two torsion springs together, and lift it clear. Set it aside for a wash (§10).
Unplug the motorThe motor cord plugs into a receptacle inside the housing. Pull the plug — there are no wire nuts to undo.
Free the assemblyRemove the single screw next to the receptacle. If the plate resists, pry it gently — then pivot the assembly down and out.
Inspect before you install anythingVacuum the housing out. Check: housing secure and corrosion-free, receptacle intact, damper swinging freely. Damage here = stop, qualified person.
Fit the new assembly in reversePivot it in, refit the screw, plug the motor cord in. (Motor-only kit? Transfer/bolt the new motor to your plate first, on the ground — not overhead.)
Test, then grillePower back on, run the fan, listen. Only then squeeze the springs and pop the grille back.
10 — Maintenance: the one rule people break
Never oil this motor. Ever.
The 688's motor is permanently lubricated and sealed. It never needs oil, and Broan is explicit: do not oil it and do not disassemble it. Oiling a sealed motor doesn't revive it — it gums it up and shortens what's left of its life. If the bearings are making excessive or unusual noise, the fix is replacing the blower assembly (motor + wheel together), not lubricant.
Cleaning — twice a year is plenty
Grille: wash with mild detergent, rinse, dry fully. No abrasives, no steel wool.
Interior: power off, vacuum the housing and wheel with a dusting-brush attachment.
Wheel: a dust-caked wheel is the #1 cause of “runs but weak” — clean it before you blame the motor.
Damper: confirm the 3″ damper flap moves freely while you're in there.
11 — FAQ
S97012038 or S97012026 — which one do I actually need?
Same motor, same wheel. The 038 is motor + wheel only and reuses your plate; the 026 adds a new plate, pre-assembled. Plate flat and rust-free → 038. Plate bent, corroded, or you want the fewest steps overhead → 026.
Is S97012029 the right part? A guide I found says so.
We couldn't confirm S97012029 in Broan's catalog or instruction sheets (checked Oct 22, 2026), while S97012038 and S97012026 are both Broan-documented. Until Broan confirms it, treat 029 as unverified and buy on the confirmed numbers.
Will this motor fit my Broan 689?
Yes — Broan's catalog lists S97012038 for the 689 too. Just know your 689 is a 60 CFM / 5.5-sone fan; those are the housing's ratings, and a replacement motor doesn't turn this page's 688 specs into yours.
Can I make my 688 quieter without replacing the whole fan?
Yes — this is the rare case with a real answer. The Broan 690/690NT upgrade kit fits the 688's 7½″ × 7¼″ housing and delivers 60 CFM at 3.0 sones. Measure your housing first; the kit does not fit 8″ × 8¼″ housings.
My motor hums but the wheel barely turns. Oil it?
No — never. The motor is sealed and permanently lubricated. A stiff wheel is usually dust build-up (clean it, §10) or worn bearings, and worn bearings mean replacing the blower assembly, motor and wheel together.
OEM Broan or an aftermarket equivalent under the same number?
Both exist under S97012038 (Broan OEM and brands like Endurance Pro). Aftermarket is usually cheaper; OEM is the exact factory part. Either way, confirm the listing's number matches — and that a cheaper listing isn't quietly the unconfirmed 029.
The fan is over my shower. Anything special?
The 688 is UL listed for use over a tub or shower when connected to a GFCI-protected circuit. If your install isn't on GFCI, that's an electrician conversation before it's a parts conversation.
Verified Oct 22, 2026. Flagged as unverified on this page, deliberately: the S97012029 part number (third-party guides only), the RE70BN 70 CFM kit claim (single third-party source), and the exact motor RPM (not reliably published by Broan). If Broan publishes any of the three, this page gets updated — not before.