Can anyone tell me if I need to remove the cooling fans to get to the cooling fan switch on my 1989 944 turbo. The workshop manuals say I need to, but I have not read anyone who said they did pull the fans to get to the switch. It looks like a tight fit for a wrench. Figure I could remove the cooling hose and maybe get the sucker from there.

By the way, changed out the water pump, snaped a bolt, drill it out and put a insert in with JB Weld-worked!!

 

I dont think that I pulled the fans when I did mine. You might have to loosen the fan shroud bolts to get onto the switch. I believe that I had the coolant hose pulled off when I did it.

 

I pulled my fans, only because it ended up saving me a lot of time trying to get the switch off. I think its a 1 1/8" socket. The fan is very easy to remove. just 5 nuts.

 

Just did mine on my 83 NA, pulled the fans and used an adjustable wrench. Should take about an hour or two including draining and refilling the radiator.

 

I removed my fans on my 84 - only 6 blots holding them both on - makes it far easier to get to the switch. Also, no need to drain water, just change the switch quickly and you will only get as wet as you would trying to drain it - you should still bleed it after doing this.

Also i don't recommend the low temp switch - i put one in as that was the one pelican had listed and took out a broken stock high temp switch and now my fans never switch off one it is warmed up

 

I agree with Andy. My lower temp (not the lowest, but lower) switch ran the fans a lot. Ended up replacing the left fan shortly after installing the lower temp switch. And the switch only lasted a couple of years.

However, I did drain my coolant. I don't like to spill antifreeze. Its toxic and messy.