Fan Not Working

[Guest Andy Mack]

Right my fan hasnt been working since my car was fixed after the crash. I thought it was just that the fan had burnt out because 1 of the bumper irons was shmashed through the fan protector bit and could have stoped the fan turning.

 

So i bouyght a new fan, wired it in and warmed the car up to fan going on temperature. But the fan didnt come on. I then got some 12v wire and tested both fans(wish i had done this at the start and saved me £30. Anyone want a fan???) both fans work.

 

The problem I have now is how do i test the fan thermostat that plugs into the radiator? And how do I test the fan relay? I was just lying behind the headlight, where is it ment to go and get help in place??

 

Cheers

 

Andy Mack

 

edit:- Where is the under bonnet fuse box? Is it bolted to the slam pannel to the right as you look into the engine?? Also Mine has 2 25 amp fuses is it ment to have anymore?

Edited September 16, 2003 by Andy Mack

[Zoldalma 1]

The problem I have now is how do i test the fan thermostat that plugs into the radiator? And how do I test the fan relay?

Pull off the connector to the fan thermoswitch, mine is in the side of the radiator. Short any 2 wires of the 3. You have 66% chance of starting the fan either high or low speed If it doesn't start, try another combination. This will ensure the relay is working as well.

 

The underbonnet fuse box is where you described. There are some empty slots by default, it's nothing to worry about.

[Guest Andy Mack]

ok i have now check the thermo switch and when i short out the wired the fan comes on! woo hoo!

 

I do have a spare thermo switch does anyone know how i can test it to see if it works before i fit it to the radiator??

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

1. There is no relay! (there is on diesels but not on GTis)

 

2. Testing thermo switch is an arse, hot water, a multimeter and a thermometer is probably the way to test but never tried it. Just put it in the car, it will probably be less work than testing it! However, personally I wouldn't risk a blown head gasket through an over heated engine for the cost of a new thermo switch...

 

Rob

[Guest Andy Mack]

right i put the other thermo switch into the radiator and warmed the car up again and still no fan.

 

When should the fan come on?? I waited till it was a little over the second line before i switched the engine off and shorted the fan so it comes on manually.

 

Should i just go buy a new one?

 

Edit :- Does anyone know the part number for one for a 1.9 GTI? The local French Parts supplier tell me they have 6 differernt ones and they dont know which one is right for my car!

Edited September 17, 2003 by Andy Mack

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Yeah, there are about 3 different temperatures you can get. Not sure if there is a "correct" one as all would fit just the switch temperatures are different.

 

Get them to tell you the switch temps and make a choice...

 

Rob

[Guest Andy Mack]

ok i went and bought a new termo switch. I just asked for 1 and the guy gave me it. He didnt mention temperatures like the person on the fone.

 

So fitted new switch and fan still doesnt come on. I took it to the 3rd line on the temp reading, didnt want to go any higher.

 

The switch they sold me the temp range on it is, "97C - 92C / 101C - 96C"

 

Does this sound right? should i go back and take it back and complain?

 

Could there be something other thats stopping the fan coming on?? I can start the fan by connecting 2 of the 3 connecters together. So i think everything must be ok from there back.

 

HELP!

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

That sounds like the hot one. The numbers are:

 

"slow turn on" - " slow turn off" / "fast turn on" - "fast turn off"

 

so unless you get to 97 degrees it won't turn on, too hot in my book...

 

Rob

 

P.S. there isn't much to the circuit, the three wires on the connector are:

 

Live feed

Slow fan

Fast fan

 

If you can get both fan speeds then there is nothing wrong with the fans, if slow is missing then you need to check out the slow speed resistor.

[Guest Andy Mack]

The fans can operate at the slow speed and the high speed by using the wire to connect them up.

 

Whats the thing that looks like the relay? In the haynes manual it shows a picture of a relay from a TU engine. Mine has something that looks similar, what is it??

 

When does the fan come on in other cars? Maybe I'm thinking it should come on before it really should. I would expect normal operation temperature to be about the second mark on the scale as this is where it sits at motorway driving.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

If by relay you mean the silver cylinder then that is the slow speed resistor.

 

Rob

[Guest Andy Mack]

right i just looked at the one that was on the car first and it is also a 97/101 thermoswitch.

 

I dont know what my third one is as i just fitted it so i can take my new one back and get a lower temp one. Does anyone know what temp range it is ment to be at??

[Zoldalma 1]

Mine is something like 87-95, but don't quote me on the exact numbers... As the thermostat opens fully at 88 C, there is not much point for getting a switch that starts the fast stage any sooner (speaking of std. engine & usage).

[Guest nobby]

hello guess what mine dose exactly the same and i've replaced the thermostat, fan switch and flushed the raidiator and it still dont come on untill the last two bars on the temp gauge and the slow switch (silver tube ontop of the rad) is melting with some wires please help dont want to replace the head gasket and need my car !

 

best regards nobby

[Guest Andy Mack]

well mine now comes on fine. I just thought it should have come on much earlier. Guess i was just being paranoid.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

hello guess what mine dose exactly the same and i've replaced the thermostat, fan switch and flushed the raidiator and it still dont come on untill the last two bars on the temp gauge and the slow switch (silver tube ontop of the rad) is melting with some wires please help dont want to replace the head gasket and need my car !

 

best regards nobby

Do you know the fans work? It may just be that the fan resistor is dead, this disables the slow speed fan, also if it is melting wires then move them? It should be clipped well out of the way of any wiring, mine was dangling (and had melted into a load of alarm wiring) when I bought my car though and I had to buy a clip from Pug to mount it on the rad.

 

Rob