Date:         Wed, 30 Jul 2003 20:17:47 -0400
Reply-To:     aj <ajay@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         aj <ajay@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US>
Subject:      Radiator thermo switch problem
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

After reading some of the comments by members about the two stage fan I
realized the fan on my 86 2.1 vanagon has only one stage working .  I
tested the switch  by jumping the wires which produced fan movement only
when the first and third connections were made.  Any other combinations
produced no fan action.  I replaced the switch and got the same results.
 If I pull the fuse (30 amp #1)there is no fan action in any of the
combinations.  If I pull the relay for the second stage with the fuse in
place the fan still works as originally described.  I went to look for
the grounds under the dash and found a rat's nest of wires making it all
but impossible for me, a person with minimal skills and information in
this area, to work comfortably.  I have run the car at idle until the
radiator fan kicks in.  The fan runs for approximately 30 seconds or so
and then stops while the engine continues to idle. There is no second
(or is it first) stage. Turning the AC to the coldest temperature does
not kick in the fan.

I do have a female connector encased in yellow plastic that is dangling
in the fuse box.  The wire is blue and red with no voltage and the
Bently schematic shows that color wire going to the relay (could there
be a connection in back of the fuse box or elsewhere?)

At this moment I am in a state of confusion as to how to proceed. Do I
change the relay?  Find and clean the grounds? are the only possible
questions that come to mind with my limited experience with electronics.

Any ideas and information would be greatly appreciated

TIA
Alex