Date:         Mon, 11 Sep 2000 12:05:41 -0400
Reply-To:     psheridans@NETSCAPE.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         M Kaz <psheridans@NETSCAPE.NET>
Subject:      Radiator Fan Ballast Resistor
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Is anyone familiar with the various radiator fan speed control circuits on vanagons with manual
transmission?  I have two different wire harnesses, and they differ in that one uses a ballast resistor
(three terminals) and a fan motor with two terminals, and the other does not use a resistor at all, but
the fan motor has three terminals.
I have been studying the different schematics in the bentley and there are so many variations on this
circuit from year to year. The questions I have are, do all fan motors need a resistor  to control the
fan speed, or do the three terminal fan motors have a dual speed motor that do not require a
resistor to control speed (voltage divider circuit).
My concern is that If I don't need the resistor to control speed( as in the wire harness I have with no
provisions for a resistor) will I be operating at the correct speed for cooling, and will I burn out my
fan motor (because of excess current) at an inopportune time and end up being  stranded.
I have been studying the bentley, and three are so many variations. I would like to know if these are
dual speed fans, and if not, how do you tell the difference, and do I need the resistor even though
the harness has no connections on it.
TIA
Mark K.

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