Date:         Mon, 28 Jul 2003 00:58:45 -0500
Reply-To:     "Dan R. Hall" <electro@WESTAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Dan R. Hall" <electro@WESTAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: 86 Weekender, radiator fan very noisy.
Comments: To: VWNut Hawk <vwnut@HAWKCOMPUTING.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Keith,
Could you describe the noise you are hearing.
Does it sound like the fan is striking something while rotating or is the fan JUST VERY LOUD.

When I first bought my '86 Westy Weekender, the fan only ran on high speed and was EXTREMELY LOUD---sounded like a heavy duty leaf blower, vibration felt through the floor.  I hated it.  If it kicked on you could forget communicating with the fine folks at the drive-thru window.  As the engine temp rose in stop and go traffic, the low speed wasn't working.  Nothing happened until the coolant temp rose high enough to trigger high speed mode.

>From this list, I learned that the culprit in my case could be a resistor.  This resistor(mine was greenish-gray in color--maybe one cm in diameter/about 3 inches long) is located behind the driver's side headlight. Take off the front grill, remove the driver's side headlights to get at it.  
 I pulled the connectors on the resistor and sprayed them with electronic cleaner and scrubbed with small wire bristle brush.

This cured my problem for several years.
Anytime I have the headlight off to replace a bulb I clean these connectors again.

Haven't heard the high speed, since.

Dan Hall
'86 Westy Weekender
"Das Boot"

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: VWNut Hawk 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 6:42 PM
  Subject: 86 Weekender, radiator fan very noisy.


  I haven't check yet but either there is something in the way or my
  radiator fan is cracked.
  It's very loud.

  Since I have AC I didn't see a replacement on the bus depot site.  Any
  one have to
  change their fan before?  Where did you get it?

  Thanks.