Airconditioning fan

[chazza]

I am sure this matter has been raised before but I can't find it on a search of this forum or Technical.

Is there a cheaper alternative for the electric airconditioning fan? I was quoted $536 today (just for the fan) which doesn't include of course the cost of de-gassing and re-gassing the airconditioning system.

A Rover specialist recommended I leave it alone, as only one fan is not working but these fans do play a part in cooling the engine at extreme temperatures.

Perhaps he is right - it is a big deal to replace a fan :(

[ladas]

I am sure this matter has been raised before but I can't find it on a search of this forum or Technical.

Is there a cheaper alternative for the electric airconditioning fan? I was quoted $536 today (just for the fan) which doesn't include of course the cost of de-gassing and re-gassing the airconditioning system.

A Rover specialist recommended I leave it alone, as only one fan is not working but these fans do play a part in cooling the engine at extreme temperatures.

Perhaps he is right - it is a big deal to replace a fan :(

To change the condenser fans does not require the gas to be removed. Unless it's a D1 - which I guess it may be., but from memory you should still be able to do it without removing the condenser !!!!!!

Just get any 12 v fan - that is

1. Same physical size (approx)
2. Same rotation - ie blowing the right way



Take about 1 hour to do it yourself.

[chazza]

G'day Ladas,
Yes it is a Disco 1.

Looking at it from the outside it looks easy to remove but the manual says to remove the condenser and the Rover specialist said the same thing ;)

I may elect to do nothing but it would be nice to have it working,

Cheers Charlie

[PhilipA]

Remember if its broken you can just chop it up to get it out, then find one that fits without moving the condenser.
Regards Philip A

[The Fish]

Here is the link to how I replaced my fans and I didn't have to degass the system or remove the condenser.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/42757-air-con-condenser-fans.html

[chazza]

A HUGE thank you Fish! :D

Exactly the sort of information I was looking for. :D

When I was examining the fan yesterday, I couldn't see any reason why it couldn't be extracted from the front of the car - you confirm that. :D

Seeing that my car doesn't overheat in traffic with the airconditioning running and only one fan working, I think any concern about the Davies Craig fan pushing enough air is not worth worrying about - any fan is better than no fan! The only time it has got a bit warm was towing a S2A up a steep hill at high revs and slow speed. I suspect now that the viscous coupling was a bit below par and that one condenser fan was dead as well. As soon as we could pick up speed the temperature dropped like a stone, indicating a good radiator and thermostat.

With reference to your tutorial when you were describing the difficulty of determining whether there was power to the fan; I used a test light with a needle probe, which I stabbed through the insulation on the live lead where it is soldered to the fan, with the aircon. switched on. This established that there was power; I then used the same technique with a continuity meter to establish that the earth lead was earthed to battery negative. As a final check I connected both the test light (and after it a voltmeter) between the live terminal and the earth terminal on the dead fan, to confirm that there really was a closed circuit in existence with good voltage.

Thank you once again, I am off to the two local parts dealers to see if they can help (which I doubt),

Cheers Charlie

[chazza]

Well; my local stockist had a Davies Craig fan in stock and I fitted it today.
It cost me $104 which certainly beats $536! :D

It is of interest to note that the fans can be removed from the front of the car, without the need to remove the radiator etc. as Fish rightly pointed out. In my case I had to loosen the oil cooler union and undo the oil cooler support bracket on the LH side of the car. Once the brace and the bonnet catch were removed it was easy to remove the fan.

I used different brackets to the ones Fish used; just four short pieces of flat bar with a slot in one end and a hole in the other (forgot to take a pic).

Feeling happier now :D Thanks a heap Fish!! :D

[The Fish]

No problem Chazza. I remember the feeling when I was told that the fans were $500 each so I'm glad I helped you save some money. I wouldn't worry about the flow rate of the Davies Craig fan either as I have had mine on for a while and the temperature gauge stays bang on where it should be. I spent last week on Fraser with the really hot temperatures we had and was loaded right up, air-con cranking and we went through some of the softest sand up the northern end no worries at all.