Electric cooling fan - testing, removal and refitting

Cooling, heating and ventilation systems / Electric cooling fan - testing, removal and refitting

Testing
1 The cooling fan is supplied with current through the ignition switch, fuse and radiator thermoswitch which is mounted in the lefthand end of the radiator. Either a single- or two-stage fan is fitted. The two-stage fan has two speed settings; the thermostatic switch actually contains two switches one for the stage 1 fan speed setting and another for the stage 2 fan speed setting. Testing of the cooling fan circuit is as follows noting that where applicable the following check should be carried out on both the stage 1 speed circuit and the stage 2 speed circuit (see wiring diagrams at the end of Chapter 12).

2 If the fan does not work, first check the fuses. If they are good, run the engine until normal operating temperature is reached, then allow it to idle. If the fan does not cut in within a few minutes, switch off the ignition and disconnect the wiring plug from the cooling fan thermoswitch. Bridge the relevant two contacts in the wiring plug using a length of spare wire, and switch on the ignition. If the fan now operates, the switch is probably faulty and should be renewed.

3 If the switch appears to work, the motor can be checked by disconnecting the motor wiring connector and connecting a 12 volt supply directly to the motor terminals.

4 If the fan still fails to operate, check the cooling fan circuit wiring with reference to Chapter 12. Check each wire for continuity and make sure all connections are clean and free from corrosion. If the motor is faulty, it must be renewed, as no spares are available.

Removal
5 Disconnect the battery negative lead. Note: Make sure you know the anti-theft code for the radio so that it can be re-activated when the battery is reconnected.

6 Disconnect the wiring from the cooling fan motor.

7 Remove the four screws and lift the cowling together with the cooling fan and motor from the radiator.

8 Remove the nuts and lift the cooling fan and motor from the cowling (see illustration).

5.8 Cooling fan and mounting nuts

9 If necessary the fan can be separated from the motor by prising off the clamp washer.

Assemble the components in reverse order using a new clamp washer.

Refitting
10 Refitting is a reversal of removal.