Radiator fan motor

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

freckvan1
Registered user
Posts: 227
Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 19:00
80-90 Mem No: 8492
Location: freckleton, near preston, lancashire

Radiator fan motor

Post by freckvan1 »

Evening All ,

1984 , 1.9 , DG , W/ C

Discovered my Radiator fan motor has died .
Three wire connection , tried the paper clip test on Thermoswitch and no start .

I am trying unsuccessfully to buy another , apart from Heritage which appears to be nearer
the hundred pound mark , can't seem to find any other suppliers .

Has anyone any ideas as to where to get on from ?

Part Number :- 251 959 455

Gratefull for any ideas , thanks,

Atb,
Chris
1984 1,9DG. W/C

MidLifeCrisis
Registered user
Posts: 566
Joined: 20 Nov 2011, 19:07
80-90 Mem No: 10519
Location: Bagshot, Surrey

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by MidLifeCrisis »

Have you checked the fuse?
Have you tried powering the fan directly? (Rather than just doing the paper clip test)
1987 Westfalia Van, Petrol 2.0 AGG

User avatar
jrt
Registered user
Posts: 3445
Joined: 01 Oct 2011, 15:53
80-90 Mem No: 10288
Location: East Cheshire

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by jrt »

Definitley check the above before getting a replacement, i had some fan issues when i first bought the van and was chatting to Simon at Brickwerks about it and he said it was very unusual for the fans to fail. He'd had very few in all the years he'd been in business. Mine turned out to be a fuse related problem.
David
the future is unwritten

User avatar
CovKid
Trader
Posts: 8411
Joined: 30 Apr 2006, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 3529
Location: Ralph - Coventry (Retired)
Contact:

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by CovKid »

or fan relay
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.

California Dreamin
Registered user
Posts: 2673
Joined: 03 Apr 2007, 12:54
80-90 Mem No: 8386
Location: Nottingham

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by California Dreamin »

freckvan1 wrote:Evening All ,

1984 , 1.9 , DG , W/ C

Discovered my Radiator fan motor has died .
Three wire connection , tried the paper clip test on Thermoswitch and no start .


Chris

I'm sure you mean ...paper clip test to the plug and not the thermoswitch!

I agree.....motor failure is rare.
Earth points can be an issue especially given the massive current that these draw.

Martin
1989 California 2.1MV

freckvan1
Registered user
Posts: 227
Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 19:00
80-90 Mem No: 8492
Location: freckleton, near preston, lancashire

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by freckvan1 »

Morning ,

Thanks for suggestions regarding Fan motor , really appreciate this lads .

Well , after waking up in middle of night realised I've been testing the
Thermoswitch itself , not the b....y plug on lead , geez ! :oops:

Just hoping now may not need a motor and will carry out all suggestions
tomorrow .
Need van today as working on son's house (again) in Liverpool , a straight
40 mile trip both ways so should be ok ..

Whilst under van noticed a slight coolant weep coming from heater control unit
where cables connect .Looks areal awkward job to get to , can see it but
buggered if I can get hand up there . Anyway I'll have a bash , as this is now the
only leak left in Cooling system .

I'll let you know how I get on Wednesday , bought a multimeter just need someone to
show me how to use it now !
Atb,
Chris
1984 1,9DG. W/C

User avatar
AdrianC
Registered user
Posts: 2975
Joined: 29 Dec 2010, 21:57
80-90 Mem No: 9144
Location: Living in Hay whilst the Sun pours down.
Contact:

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by AdrianC »

freckvan1 wrote:Well , after waking up in middle of night realised I've been testing the
Thermoswitch itself , not the b....y plug on lead , geez ! :oops:

bought a multimeter just need someone to show me how to use it now !

Dead easy here. Put it on a voltage range that'll comfortably show you +12v DC - probably 20v.
Black lead to a good solid bit of metal body, something like a bolt head.
Red lead, you want to find out which of the three pins in the plug for the switch has +12v to it.

Now put the meter down. From that +12v pin, jump to one of the other two. Then from that +12v pin to the third pin.

One of those should get the fan spinning up loudly. The other should make you look around for the hovercraft that sneaked up on you.
A year and a half living in a Westy hightop... http://www.WhereverTheRoadGoes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

California Dreamin
Registered user
Posts: 2673
Joined: 03 Apr 2007, 12:54
80-90 Mem No: 8386
Location: Nottingham

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by California Dreamin »

In that case....probably a thermo switch fault...buy a decent brand (Wahler) easy to check with a split pin in the plug to the thermoswitch.

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... ch-t3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Martin
1989 California 2.1MV

User avatar
CovKid
Trader
Posts: 8411
Joined: 30 Apr 2006, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 3529
Location: Ralph - Coventry (Retired)
Contact:

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by CovKid »

Replaced my thermoswitch three times in ten years. They do go. Now have a chicken switch so I can overide thermoswitch if I get pranoid. :D
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.

Budgie7
Registered user
Posts: 312
Joined: 23 Aug 2012, 22:19
80-90 Mem No: 13816
Location: Parbold lancs

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by Budgie7 »

CovKid wrote:Replaced my thermoswitch three times in ten years. They do go. Now have a chicken switch so I can overide thermoswitch if I get pranoid. :D
Hi CovKid,

Totally useless at electrics, I want to fit an override switch like you have, can you explain, also your paint thread is brilliant, just started with my bumper,

Thanks
2.1 Caravelle Auto

freckvan1
Registered user
Posts: 227
Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 19:00
80-90 Mem No: 8492
Location: freckleton, near preston, lancashire

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by freckvan1 »

Alright Lads ,

Just got back M62 to Preston , have to go back tomorrow as well,
then I can escape the attic !

Thanks for your suggestions and explanations , I really appreciate this
and your time .

Hopefully I'll have a chance on Thursday and let you know the outcome ok ..

Atb,
Chris
1984 1,9DG. W/C

User avatar
CovKid
Trader
Posts: 8411
Joined: 30 Apr 2006, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 3529
Location: Ralph - Coventry (Retired)
Contact:

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by CovKid »

Been a while since I fitted the chicken switch but I'll take a gander next week to remind myself how I wired it. I fiited the switch above handbrake light so its within easy reach. Have used it a few times in bumper-to-bumper traffic but I honestly think its paranoia. My old thermostat never allowed the coolant to get to normal whereas the new one (whilst performing correctly) pushes the boundaries for me.

Its more piece of mind. People argue for and against them (can see both views) but I like the ability to bring down running temperature if I really want to. Its amazing just how fast that temperature needle will drop when you flick it. I'm not a huge fan of the stock thermoswitch as theres no way to tune/refine it and its a bit 'rough and ready' .

If anyone knows of one that kicks in at a lightly lower temperature, I'm all ears. Would prefer my needle to sit around midway rather than 3/4.
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.

User avatar
marlinowner
Registered user
Posts: 1530
Joined: 28 Jan 2014, 12:02
80-90 Mem No: 13646
Location: Scottish Borders

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by marlinowner »

Adjustable fan thermostat -
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/351253569324?nav=SEARCH" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1993 SA VW T25/T3 2.5i Microbus/homebrew camper
1981/1968 Marlin Kitcar TR6 Engine

User avatar
AdrianC
Registered user
Posts: 2975
Joined: 29 Dec 2010, 21:57
80-90 Mem No: 9144
Location: Living in Hay whilst the Sun pours down.
Contact:

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by AdrianC »

CovKid wrote:Been a while since I fitted the chicken switch but I'll take a gander next week to remind myself how I wired it.
Just needs to be in parallel with the rad switch. Take the +12v to the switch, and take the switch output to the low-speed wire. If you get a three-position switch (off-on1-on2 or on1-off-on2), you can do the other to the high-speed for ultimate paranoia.
A year and a half living in a Westy hightop... http://www.WhereverTheRoadGoes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MidLifeCrisis
Registered user
Posts: 566
Joined: 20 Nov 2011, 19:07
80-90 Mem No: 10519
Location: Bagshot, Surrey

Re: Radiator fan motor

Post by MidLifeCrisis »

AdrianC wrote:
CovKid wrote:Been a while since I fitted the chicken switch but I'll take a gander next week to remind myself how I wired it.
Just needs to be in parallel with the rad switch. Take the +12v to the switch, and take the switch output to the low-speed wire. If you get a three-position switch (off-on1-on2 or on1-off-on2), you can do the other to the high-speed for ultimate paranoia.

Is this what you mean ??

Image

:D :D :D :D
1987 Westfalia Van, Petrol 2.0 AGG

Post Reply