One Rad Fan Down (Fuse & Relay Question)

[Chimpafrolic]

Hi folks,

My nearside rad fan has decided to go on strike, offside one is having to work overtime in traffic.

Can anyone tell me if each radiator fan has its own relay & fuse? (Late 1996 face-lift Chim)

Many thanks in advance, Dave.

[Harrytsg]

According to the Bible, 95/96 had 1relay, but goes onto say "several hundred" TVRs made around 97/98 were made with 2 relays and identified as the layout of relays being 6+5, but always caveats as saying there are variations.

[Ribol]

Mine (2000 X reg) has a relay for each fan.

Have you checked the connectors under the rad are ok?

[Timja]

This happened to mine and the connectors were really corroded. Cleaned up and worked fine since. Connectors sit very exposed to water!

[Chimpafrolic]

Thanks Chaps, its my Sunday fun.

Connections are my first port off call, think I've seen them sitting under the rad in the front valance area, which looks a bit exposed to me.

Plan is to swap the n/s fan connection with the o/s one & see if the fault swaps to the currently working fan.

[paulathome]

Dave,
As Timja said. Check the two fan connectors just behind the radiator. They are pretty cheap and cheerful and rot away quite quickly. Try disconnecting them and then using a fine screw driver push the retaining barbs in from the back of each connector which will allow you to remove each crimp from the plug shell. If they haven't completely disintegrated, clean them up with some emery paper and then refit to the plug shell.
Then I use a little RTV sealant (don't use bath sealant it's very acidic) on the back of the plug shell where the wires go in and at the connector joint to keep out moisture.
Before you do this though check the fan hasn't seized up by using another small screw driver through the guard to spin the fan blades. If the fan is hard to turn or solid it might have blown a fuse.
Paul.

[Harrytsg]

paulathome said:

Dave,
As Timja said. Check the two fan connectors just behind the radiator. They are pretty cheap and cheerful and rot away quite quickly. Try disconnecting them and then using a fine screw driver push the retaining barbs in from the back of each connector which will allow you to remove each crimp from the plug shell. If they haven't completely disintegrated, clean them up with some emery paper and then refit to the plug shell.
Then I use a little RTV sealant (don't use bath sealant it's very acidic) on the back of the plug shell where the wires go in and at the connector joint to keep out moisture.
Before you do this though check the fan hasn't seized up by using another small screw driver through the guard to spin the fan blades. If the fan is hard to turn or solid it might have blown a fuse.
Paul.

+1

[Simon says]

After you have cleaned said connectors and packed them with vaseline just cable tie then to the fan blade protection grilles,this keeps them up higher and dryer and stops them from dropping back down into the lower part of the tub/gulley area that gets wet/damp

[TJC46]

Chimpafrolic said:

Thanks Chaps, its my Sunday fun.

Connections are my first port off call, think I've seen them sitting under the rad in the front valance area, which looks a bit exposed to me.

Plan is to swap the n/s fan connection with the o/s one & see if the fault swaps to the currently working fan.

Very good chance its the connectors.A simple way for testing the fans is to pull the 2 wires off the fan switch in the swirl pot, and then "bridge" these 2 wires together. You now have a closed loop. Turn the the ignition key to the first point and your fans [or fan!]should come on. good luck Tom.

[Ribol]

Has anyone mentioned the connectors?

[Harrytsg]

Ribol said:

Has anyone mentioned the connectors?

I think you may be the first.

[Chimpafrolic]

Well, I will check tomorrow.

My money is on the connectors

How I will laugh if its something else

Seriously though thanks for all your comments, even if most of them are saying the same thing

[myph]

Hi, I had similar problem a couple of years ago and it turned out to be the fuse, easy way to check is to try the horn as its on the same fuse.

[spend]

The horn fuse is only on the otter switch part of the circuit not the power fuse(s) for the fan, so there are always at least 2 fuses that can affect the fans on all cars.

[Chimpafrolic]

Ok chaps, all sorted.

I was amazed to find the problem was corroded connectors.

[Ribol]

Chimpafrolic said:

How I will laugh if its something else