Date:         Mon, 29 Jun 1998 08:02:54 -0400
Reply-To:     Dave Mancuso <Mancuso@MTWP.K12.PA.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mancuso <Mancuso@MTWP.K12.PA.US>
Subject:      Radiator Fan Prob Fixed (NOT Thermoswitch): SUMMARY
Comments: To: Vanagon List <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hello All,

Thanks to all who replied to my original post. It was not the
thermoswitch as I thought--it was the big green resistor behind the
driver's headlight. It took me 4 minutes in a parking lot to change this
$30.30 part, and all was instantly well. The fan came on like clockwork
as I used the A/C.

This part looks funny-- a hollow cylinder (chalky--ceramic?) with the
resistor wire wrapped around it and a green coating. It looks like
something out of the Fifties, but I'm told that many VWs have it, not
just the Vanagon.

Special thanks go to Andreas Fenner, Tim Smith, Ken Lewis, Max Wellhouse,
Jimmy Sanby, Don Gibbons, and Karl Mulloo, all of whom gave great advice
(hope I didn't miss anyone). You saved me a lot of time and $$!

Happily Rolling on with my Westy,
--Dave


'87 Westy (4,000 miles on rebuilt AVP engine--running great!)


My original post:
>Hello All,
>
>My fan doesn't go on at the lower speed/radiator temp. It will, however,
>go on very loudly if it gets to the hotter temp.
>
>My thinking, just from looking at the electrical diagram, is that the
>thermoswitch is out. Either that or a relay, but I think the relay is for
>stage 2, the higher setting.
>
>Since the thermoswitch is $29 from VW (plus the O ring), not very
>expensive, It can't hurt to try.
>
>But does my thinking sound OK?
>
>I drive at highway speeds most of the time, so the engine hasn't gotten
>warm--but I don't consider driving without the fan real secure. Y'know,
>what if I get caught in a traffic jam?
>(Well, I guess I'd turn the engine off. But still)