westija

928 S4 1989 5 Speed

Hi all,

I've been messing around with my Cooling Fans, replaced the bearing in one of them, fixed the connectors, etc.
When I removed the entire assembly (the two Fans plus the support where they are mounted), it took me quite a while fiddling and moving it around to have just the room to take it out. By the way I have the Power Steering reservoir clamp removed to provide some extra space as some here recommend.

Now, I just cannot find a way to put it back on.

It seems that the distributor caps might be one thing to remover to give it more space.

Question for the experienced ones:
What do you recommend to remove to give more space?
Do I need to remove the Radiator/Coolers? Any tips or things to look after in when doing it?
Should I remove the distributor caps? Any risks?

Thanks in advance

StratfordShark

Hi Jose

Should drop straight down vertically - at what point is it hanging up?

The distributor caps shouldn't hold it up. I always find removing shroud much easier with top hose removed (drain radiator first). Also make sure air pump hose (which connects to filter on fan shroud) is tucked out of the way

westija

As I start dropping it down vertically, it comes to a point where the shroud gets to its largest dimension (right at the middle of it due to the diameter of the fans) and then it interferes with the cooler neck (?) on the upper left (driver) side of the radiator, while on the right (passenger) side it interferes with the cooling hose you mention. I flushed the radiator, so I was hoping to not have to drain it again, but will go for removing the hose and see.

Thanks

Mrmerlin

Normally you would remove both top oil cooler lines to remove the fans.

Since you have a 5 speed you dont have a trans cooler in the radiator.


For now I would recommend that you remove the oil cooler line at the top connection to the radiator.
this is just infront of the PS reservoir, and it also helps if the PS reservoir is move back.
The dist caps can stay where they are

NOTE the top coolant hose can stay where it is so you shouldn't have to drain the coolant.

NOTE there should not be much if any oil that comes out of the top cooler line.

westija

Guys,

Thanks for the help. I removed the Top Radiator Hose (passenger side) and with the Power Steering Reservoir loose but still in place, it worked great. Shroud is back in place.
I collected the Coolant and am reusing it. Mr Merlin, thanks for the tip regarding the Cooler line, I was a bit concerned touching that right now.

Thank you for the help

westija

After re-installing everything , after testing I found out that the right fan starts but does not work. So, tomorrow I will work on the troubleshooting. Looked at Wally's tips and will be swapping connectors from one fan to the other to see if anything changes and depending on the results check the control box with a multimeter.
Sometimes it is one thing after the other. The worst part is that I don't recall if they were both working fine before I started to mess with them.

FiveElements

You can just run a wire from the 12v post on the driver side of the engine bay and any ground and test each fan directly while it's installed. If the fans runs strong, then you may have a bad fan amplifier. More likely the fan is bad. I was lucky to find 2 on eBay from a low mile car. New fans are pricey. On my 89, all I need to do was pull the top oil line on the driver side radiator and move aside the power steering reservoir and the fan assembly came out an back in easy.

westija

Five Elements,
That certainly sounds like a quick and easy test. Thanks for the help.
I couldn't work on the car yesterday (spent Sunday with the kids), but the little time I had, I found that I cannot simply swap the wires, since the shorter wire (passenger side fan motor) will not reach the motor on the driver's side.
Will give it a try with your test once I have a chance this week.

Thanks

westija

Still need some help here. As always, your thoughts are needed, thanks.

I tested the Fans and this is what I found (turn the key to accessories and turned A/C button ON):

1. Left Fan works with its own harness AND with the Right Fan harness. It will always go to Maximum Speed, except for a few seconds when it cycles to lower speed to try to get the Right Fan to work (see below). So, I think it is good and so are the harnesses.
2. The Right Fan will try to start (works for very few turns) every couple of minutes when the Left cycles back from Maximum but will NOT continue to work (will turn off again). This happens with its own harness or with the Left Fan harness.

So, it seems that I need a new Right Fan Motor.

But before I go looking for that, can anyone explain if it is bad why it starts and does not continue? I just want to double check I am not going to buy a new Fan for nothing.

I am afraid I messed the Motors up when I replaced the Fan Motor bearings.

Thanks in adavance

fraggle

That's the default fail mode the non-failed fan is ran at full speed.

I have a fan motor I can sell you, PM me. $125 + shipping.

http://www.mailordercentral.com/928i...624%20145%2000

SeanR

I suppose this is a good example of what your time is worth. Is all the pain, aggravation and time spent on this worth saving a few bucks over just buying a new one?

westija

Fraggle,
PM sent. Thanks

Sean,
Yes I know it now, but seeing the threads about the bearing replacement , it looked so affordable and attractive......

Thanks guys

928Myles

Hi,
A bit late for you now, but it always a good idea to test the fan motor (or any motor) before you put it back in the shroud so you can be sure that you haven't mucked anything up.

This is the only way I have found to be sure. Of course, in my case, it doesn't mean I don't muck up anything else on the re-install process...........


It is not easy to kill these motor's just by replacing the bearing with a bit of care. If the motor was running before it should not be an issue now and the solution to fix should be relatively straigh forward - don't throw the old motor away - you (or someone else) may need it one day.

Myles

SeanR

Trust me, I've been there and done that. I even saved up a dozen or so fans so I could put new bearings in and rebuild them. After they took up space and time I tossed them in the trash. Some days it seems like a good idea to save a few bucks and it works, sometimes it doesn't.

69gaugeman

I had a seized fan and just took it apart and lubricated the bearing. I reinstalled it and it worked fine except that I didn't realize that the fan was spinning the wrong direction. I think it finally killed the fan (will need to check) there are new fans on ebay for 200$. I also found that the fan motor is the same as one used on the 86 - 98 SAAB 9000's . It uses a different connection, but the motor is the same. I am going to order one to see if it is compatible....