Date:         Tue, 5 Apr 2016 21:43:56 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Squealing Radiator Fan Motor
Comments: To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <499872115.3855500.1459899694081.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

The squeaking and squealing could be either the bearings or brushes. These motors are not readily serviceable. At 25 to years old these motors owe us nothing. There are some vendors offering replacements. You can also fit a universal 16" radiator fan with some creativity for mounting brackets. 
Yes the easiest way till have to remove the fan and housing is to lower the radiator. You will have to drain the coolant and disconnect the radiator hoses. Remove the brackets holding the AC hoses on the chassis rail as far back as possible. Then you lower the assembly without disconnecting the AC hoses. As you begin to lower remove the two top screws holding the condenser to the radiator. When it is down far enough tilt the radiator back and the condenser will separate at the bottom. Now you can do what is needed. Reverse to get it back together. 

Dennis






-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Richard Koerner
Sent: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 7:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Squealing Radiator Fan Motor

Lately I've had a couple incidences of squealing from my radiator fan motor.  You know, when you are in stop-and-go traffic and the fan comes on.  (BTW, just did a cross-country trip from CA to Florida and back and had some heavy rain; maybe water got into the bushings?)  I figured I would lower spare tire carrier and take a look, maybe spray in some lubricant on shaft bushings.  But it all looks pretty closed up on the motor, no readily available access points (which I think is a good thing for this electric motor in a wet environment); not sure how to address this.
And to get the motor out, looks like removal of radiator and A/C condenser would be required.
I did a search of the archives, and didn't get any help.
Any ideas on how to proceed?  That is, how do I lubricate radiator fan motor?

RichSan Diego