Fans

[Skyedriver]

Questions questions questions...
I can see where my 8 year old gets it from now..
The cooling fans any the "new" car are on all the time as the previous owner has bypassed the switch.
Where is the switch and would I be better off with a manual over ride anyway? Where on the dash is the favourite place for one?
thanks again

[jojackson4]

Steering column

[zed4]

There is an otter switch to control the fan. It's either in the swirl pot or in the radiator in post 99 cars.

[tonys]

If you can't find the switch, assuming it has actually been fitted with one, it might be worth having a look at the Otter switch (on the swirl pot or rad.)to see if the feed has been taken from there.

It might be that a faulty Otter switch means that they are on permanently.
zed 4's post wasn't there when i started typing

[swallet]

If the otter switch malfunctions the fans will not come on. A common quick fix is to pull the connecting plug and short the terminals with a paper clip. This results in the fans being permanently on.

Could a previous owner have done this?

As said it is on the swirl pot on earlier cars and on the top passenger side of the rad on later (approx post '98)

[zed4]

I always keep a few short pieces of wires in the boot with either male or female spade connectors fitted, allowing me to short out switches and test electrical devices easily and safely.

[Toolbox200]

Mine has a fan override switch which utilises the button on the opposite side of the steering column to the boot release.....was this the instrument light switch originally?

Could be you have a similar setup and it's in override....
Pete

[Toolbox200]

Mine has a fan override switch which utilises the button on the opposite side of the steering column to the boot release.....was this the instrument light switch originally?

Could be you have a similar setup and it's in override....
Pete

[Skyedriver]

swallet said:

If the otter switch malfunctions the fans will not come on. A common quick fix is to pull the connecting plug and short the terminals with a paper clip. This results in the fans being permanently on.

Could a previous owner have done this?

As said it is on the swirl pot on earlier cars and on the top passenger side of the rad on later (approx post '98)

A previous owner has has a "more profesional" job done with a bit of wire and two spade terminals....
I'll have a look at the swirl pot. Think a manual switch may be the best option if I cannot get a decent original
Thanks all

[s p a c e m a n]

I like the idea of using the rear wiper switch on the windscreen wiper stalk

[Goaty Bill]

Not too clear on why any of this should be necessary.
The original system worked just fine for me for years.
Never overheated, never lost water, fans came on when needed, off when not needed.
From sub-zero to +40c it's always worked (failed radiator incident aside).
Hmm, still does work.
How strange is that?

[davelittlewood]

I have a fan over-ride switch as the image below:



S3 = otter switch
S2 = manual over-ride switch

Mine is wired in to the fan relay. You might be able to find a suitable point in the relay to put the extra wires.
The switch is a latching switch, an early Chimaera/Griff hazard light switch, same size as the dash light switch so it fits into the same hole under the steering column.

http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/tvr-car-part-m0478...

This has two parallel switches so just use one.

The LED is currently stuck above the steering column but I've bought an LED holder so it'll go into the steering column surround.