Nearly didn't have a Wedge.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...I knew i should of stayed in bed this morning...First i went to the post office where i left a bag containing 50 of these little cases that i have been making for the last month..
..Worth £150.

Then on the way home from the Sausage meet i noticed the temp was still rising with the fan switched on..It go to within a couple of mm at the top of the red so pulled over...Popped the bonnet and saw this smouldering....FFS

I guess its better that it happened now rather then next week while on my way to Wroxall....

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

What is that thing? A scotchlok cigarette lighter?

Well spotted.

Hi Adam...No its the fuse holder for the rad fan...Will have a closer look tomorrow...The O/S headlight won't pop up..Although they were okay this morning..Bit weird as the two are not connected...Literally.

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks Paul...Thats what has been suggested by Chris...I will have to investigate in the morning...I really hope its not the fan as i would be stuck....

[mrzigazaga]

jon haines said:

Zig I had the same with my fan and I took months to find out the fault. Checked wiring, earths and even fuses but it kept happening. It turned out that the fan was not turning as freely as it should and was pulling more current and kept blowinb or melting fuses.

Thanks Jon...I think i do remember that...Ill have a good look in the morning...Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

phillpot said:

Could be nothing wrong with fan motor, maybe just a cheap fuse, loose in the holder, causing a hot spot

Possibly...I did change the holder and fuse last year as the previous one blew..It was firmly taped together ..That big yellow thing is in the sky so I'm just having some brekkie and then I'm going to have a look....Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Well i went out there this morning to try to resolve this but the wind nearly ripped the bonnet off so decided to leave it..My rad fan has a manual override fitted and goes into a 30amp relay...Would i need a 25amp fuse holder?...I have a feeling the previous one may of been 30amp..I was going to bridge the wires to check the fan but didn't want to burn it out or blow the relay as i don't have a spare..
A trip to Howlfrauds is needed but thats miles away and i didn't want to risk it.



The red wire going in on top left is the fuse holder.

Cheers...Ziga

(Sorry but I'm still an electrical dimwit )

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks Paul...I was struggling to stop the bonnet being ripped off by the wind and so i didn't want to put my hand in the gap between the body and bonnet..I can't get to the fan blades without having the car up in the air...Again i didn't want it on axle stands in the wind...Im going to order a 30amp good quality fuse holder and go from there..I believe the fan is the ones fitted originally..Spal??...Cheers..Ziga

Whoops meant to say that the fuse was orange = 30amp

Edited by mrzigazaga on Sunday 7th February 17:46

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers mate...I will try to get a spin on it and test...

[mrzigazaga]

ukdj said:

fuse rating for the fans is usually higher than you would expect due to the high inrush current drawn during initial startup.

Check the fans 1st as if you need to replace it/them as your new fan may have a different current draw etc

if you need a hand just drop me a line

P

Cheers matey....

[mrzigazaga]

Thats what I'm dreading mate...There is no way i can access the fan to replace it on the street....I have an appointment to visit the venue for this years BBWF on Thursday so can do without the hassle...I have a feeling that i should of bought a new fan when we did the rad replacement...Best time to of done it ...

[mrzigazaga]

SLB said:

It must have been 2 years ago I thought my single Davies Craig fan was on the way out as it started squeaking and was stiffer to turn. Knowing you can get new ones for something like £100 without the shroud and no amount of WD40 did anything I took it right apart. I think I had to cut some nuts off so it wasn't easy but eventually I found a load of rust stopping it from spinning properly. After a good service etc it now works great spinning that little bit faster.

On a previous car I had the melted fuse issue on the main fuse block which turned out to be a poor wire to crimp contact on the back of the fuse block. I had to fit a replacement in-line fuse like the melted here and it worked well although it was footwell out of the way of any engine heat.

Thanks for that mate...The fan is as you say a Davies Craig...Couldn't remember the name...SPAL was in the 280i...I shouldn't have any rust as i use the car a fair bit...Mind you saying that she has sat for two weeks due to the shyte weather...Just waiting for the wind to calm it a bit so i can do some investigating...Apparently the 2nd storm is still yet to hit...FFS!!....Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers for all the help...I think it was just a bit of dodgy DIY.....

("Note to self - Temporary does not mean permanent")

The ring connector end that was attached to the battery had got disturbed when i had the master cylinder replaced a couple of weeks ago and unknowingly the wire got cable tied to the MC which put a strain on the fittings so was probably shorting out.

I have soldered the end fittings that will be needed..(Should of done it in the beginning).. whilst waiting for the heavy duty 30amp fuse holders to turn up...Which i will solder together instead of using bullet connectors..

I did check the fan for play in the bearing which seemed okay.

Fingers crossed the holders will turn up and everything goes back to normal...Whatever that is....

[mrzigazaga]

Before:
I realised the wire i had used was only 17amp



Here are the pieces i soldered up..With 30amp wire.


Makes much more sense to solder it.

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks Andy...Some of my wiring is silver going on black...Id love to get all that done...Would need a body off though..Maybe one day.....

[mrzigazaga]

Well panic over...Normal service resumed after i fitted the holder this morning..The fan actually feel a bit more powerful so was definitely shorting out me thinks..

Might of put a bit too much solder on one join but doesn't have loads of flux on it..For flux sake...

I might wrap it in some heatproof tape for good measure...Cheers for all the help....Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

Don't wrap it Zig, it needs to dissipate heat. Looks nice and neat.

Okay...Thanks mate...