Joe F

I am removing the radiator in my '83 Euro S. (Leaky tanks) As I get more things out of the way, (fan, hoses, etc,) I can see better into the space around the bottom of the radiator. aside from needing a wrench larger than any in my collection, I noticed on the bottom of the tank on the drivers side is something screwed into the tank with a couple of wires attached. So my questions are about that.
1. What is it?
2 How do I remove it?
3. Do I remove the wires from it first?
4. If so, how? (They don't appear to have push-on spade type connectors.)
5. Is there a connector further up the line I should disconnect?
6. Does any one know of, or have a page like Tony H. has the the s4 mocel with photos and descriptions of "What is it" ??? That would be cool

Thanks in advance for you help.

Jim_H

Tony's TP/WP page is under construction. I think this is a pic of what you are looking at. You can see the wire that holds the connector on. Hope it's the same on yours. HTH

Also look under timing belt on this link http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/svc.html
and it helps you do it in 175 easy steps

drnick

if it dosent look like the above picture it might be the switch for the auxillary electric fan.

GlenL

James has the right analysis but wrong plug.

1) Radiator fan switch
2) Don't need to remove it
3) Just remove the wires
4) Pull off the rubber boot and you'll see the connections. A pliers will help.
5) No.
6) No. The early cars seem to have less enthusiastic web authors.

Joe F

Jim,
I think mine must look different than the later model cars. Thanks for sending the photo. Makes it easy to see that was not it.

Drnick and GlenL,
Thanks for the ID. I will take pliers to the wire connectors and see if I can get them to separate. Glen, once the radiator is out, shouldn't that switch be removed before sending the unit to a radiator shop for repairs? I see on the new tank there is an opening for the unit to screw into. Do I leave that for the shop when they are servicing the rad?

Too bad about item number 6. Something like that would sure be handy.

Thanks to all who looked and helped with this. I sure appreciate it.

GlenL

You'll need the switch again. I'd think the shop would want it when they pressure-test the final product.

Wondering about the repair. The seals between the tanks and core do fail. Some get it fixed by putting in new seals alone but the tabs on the end tanks tend to break. So you're replacing both tanks and keeping the cores?

Joe F

Glen,
What you say about the shop needing the switch makes sense. I hadn't thought about it, but it makes sense that they will test it.

Regarding the repair. Coolant was leaking and I could not locate the leak. It appeared to be coming from the right side (pass side US) of radiator somewhere. It would manifest itself in the form of steam while ascending a parking structure after the commute to work. Not lots of steam, but I could see it when I shut off the car. After work it would take about 1 to 1.5 liters of water to top up the system. I called 928 Intl and Tom said it's probably the tank, that the rt side one usually fails first and the best fix it to replace it. So I ordered tank. It arrived a few days ago and when I started removing parts, I noticed the oil cooler is in the tank on the drivers side, but the tank Tom sent was supposed to be for the pass side (ie no cooler holes) The new tank I have is the one with the holes for the cooler. So, rather than send this one back I thought I would just order the pass side again so I have a set and since the rad is going into the shop to get cleaned out and restored, I might as well do both tanks at the same time. If this is not a good idea, please tell me. My thought was since I was doing all this parts removal, while I was in there I might as well do a little preventative maint on the drivers side tank. What do you think?

Thanks.

drnick

i dont know about radiator repair but my fan switch failed and the fan ran continuously. i had it replaced with a new part but didnt go for the lower temp setting. it seems popular to replace this switch with one that cuts in at 75 deg vs the 83 deg stock but it think my car runs just fine without the fans cutting in all the time.

GlenL

I'd check out those tanks. They're definately left/right parts. Right side has drain plug and maybe the auto tranny cooler. Left side has oil cooler (if any) and fan temp switch. Check the part you've received to make sure it will work as you plan. If it's the worng part, I know they'll do the correct thing.

Replacing them both is good preventative maintenance once you need to pull the radiator. Check out the hoses while you're in there.