Electric radiator fan.

[swaggy]

Had to take the top off the fusible link box in the engine bay today for the first time and noticed that although the legend on the top said 5 links, I only had 4. The one that is missing is the one for the radiator electric fan on the front of the rad (not the viscous fan). Its 30A according to the lid. Come to think of it I've never heard the fan work - now I know why.

My question is - should the link be there on a 2001 T2 Tdi? Is it common for the electric fan to fail prompting a previous owner to remove the link?

The engine has never overheated since I've had the motor.

 

[solarman216]

have a look first to see if you have an electric fan on your rad, methinks you will not, that is why there is no link/relay, if you have a fan on your water pump then it is viscous, Rick

 

[cncfabs]

have a look first to see if you have an electric fan on your rad, methinks you will not, that is why there is no link/relay, if you have a fan on your water pump then it is viscous, Rick

There is an electic fan in front of the (a/c)rad if its got a/c

 

[solarman216]

There is an electic fan in front of the (a/c)rad if its got a/c

yes you are correct Steve but think it is fused as part of the AC system as opposed to a twin fan which takes the place of the viscous unit, but having said that have yet to see one, but lots of T2's have a sticker that says the fan can start at any moment even with engine off, so I guess there must be some around, Rick

 

[swaggy]

Yes it does have a fan in a housing infront of the a/c rad (near side). So should I have a 30A fusable link in the empty space? I have the normal viscous fan behind the rad.

 

[solarman216]

Yes it does have a fan in a housing infront of the a/c rad (near side). So should I have a 30A fusable link in the empty space? I have the normal viscous fan behind the rad.

No, Rick

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Yes it does have a fan in a housing infront of the a/c rad (near side). So should I have a 30A fusable link in the empty space? I have the normal viscous fan behind the rad.

The electric fan only works when the AC is on and working hard. Too late to go and double check on mine tonight, but I am pretty sure that when I was first going over mine, I also noticed that the fan link was empty as well, and the AC fan definitely works.

 

[swaggy]

Sounds reasonable. Probably have to wait for a long hot summer to see if it works. :augie

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Sounds reasonable. Probably have to wait for a long hot summer to see if it works. :augie

When you next have the car up to temp, and it is a reasonably warm day, turn the the AC and internal fan full on, about 10mins before you park up, and then just leave it ticking over for a few mins, it should only take a couple of mins for the fan to come on.

Having said that, I have only ever really heard the fan on very hot days, where I have wound the window down to do something, and wondered what on earth the noise was. :lol It does not carry on after you switch the enging off though, so that sticker lies on my car:lol

 

[swaggy]

Thank you for the information. :thumbs

I checked the workshop manual to see if I could pin it down but it just describes it as a "cooling fan", even the schematic does not specify it. Just shows how valuable a forum like this is. :bow

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I popped out to double check at lunchtime, and sorry, I got it wrong...

I do have the Fan link, it's the FUEL H/EGI one I am missing.

Mine is a 1999 T2 TDi, and here are pictures of the box.

Hope that is a bit more helpful...:bow