What is the fan in the battery bay for, its shorting.

[toshT25]

Hi, Theres a fan or pump in the passenger side rear battery bay behind the air filter (changed filter yesterday) and it comes on and off when I move the wires in the electrical/relay box in the engine department (after being parked over night)

Parked up to sleep near a factory last night and because it was noisey I didn't hear it on until I woke and realized it was my van too and had 2 flat batteries.

I'm going to try and trace the fault, some of those wires have rubbed each others coats bare and are brittle but I'm concerned that thing is a cooler for the turbo, oil air or something and if I drive it and it doesn't come on (when its supposed too) while I'm trying to fix it I'll end up damaging something expensive.

Thanks in advance.

(1.6 turbo diesel 1987)

[toomanytoys]

cooling fan for the turbo IIRC..... should be a load of ducting to the turbo area as well..
think there is a thermo switch mounted near the turbo...

[simoncummins]

Errrrrrr don't think i've got one of those do i need one. 1989 1.6 td.

[Simon Baxter]

Turbo cooling fans are only on syncro models.

[toshT25]

Thanks for letting me know. I've checked it and from what I can tell (with a dodgy connection) its supposed to come on when the engine is started and not just when it gets too hot so I'll have to be careful.

Anyone know what happens if that fan stops working, what warning do you get that the turbo is too hot. I'm thinking the turbo uses the same oil as the engine and thus heat that up to trigger the oil light.

Sure is hard working on a syncro without a manual.

Thanks again.