Overheating - a fan issue apparently?!

[carrie]

Hello

I posted about our 1981 1.9 watercooled T25 overheating before but since having the van go through the garage recently they have informed me it's overheating (mostly when we have been driving for a while and especially when stuck in traffic) because the radiator fan is faulty (apparently its making unusual rattling). When the heating is turned on in the cab (and when the van is out the traffic) it slowly cools again. The garage have a new fan on back order (i.e. never to be found - no longer made).
Now I have a choice. Do I;
a) have a look at the fan myself....see if it can be fixed (when I say 'I' I mean the boyf)
b) trust the garage and source a new fan & radiator (or part thereof) and fit myself
c) sourse a new fan etc and get a garage to fit it

Does anyone have any experience of such an issue and / or any hints or tips about what I should do.
I am aiming to sell the beloved 'Otto' soon as things are a bit tight and am keen to get cracking.

Cheers

Carrie

[kevtherev]

these fans are quite generic in the VW range.
A second hand one would be your best bet.

there are a few traders on the forum that could help.. put a "wanted" in the wanted forum.
Bit fiddly to fit.. but no drama.

but first of all CHECK

take off the plug from the Radiator thermal switch.( see the haynes )
connect the two wires together in the plug.
switch on the engine

if the radiator fan runs ...it's the switch!