Fan Relay help needed!

[GriffLynn]

Hi to all, I am new to this after being recommended by a friend! On my Griff when i turn the ignition key, (even when cold), the fans come on and the relay is buzzing. I have had the relay changed, but it still has the same problem. Could it be a bad earth to the fuse and relay box? If so, whereabouts would i start looking??!! Thanks Lynn

[Ballistic Banana]

If its not the relay then i would hazard a guess that the otter switch is faulty. That is on side at the bottom of the expansion tank. Ignition off and Pull one of the wires off and then turn the ignition on see if the fans come on?

BB

[GriffLynn]

Does this mean dirty ladys hands??!! So if i pull off one of the wires and it continues to do the problem it means? and if it stops that means i will then need to do??
Sorry dim wit lady tvr driver here!!!!

[GreenV8S]

If the fans come on when the engine is cold, the otter switch may have failed. If that's OK, it could be a sticky relay or a short in the wiring. A faulty otter switch would be the simplest explanation though.

[spend]

Do you have a fan over ride switch?

Pull the relay and try another one - it should not buzz.

Dave

[jeffsy]

Hi Lynn

As a newbie make sure that you read the thread above about the Griff Growl. Its a real must do in the calender where we are expecting in excess of 150 Griffs this year plus at least 50 other 'lesser' TVrs

Its not just about tyre kicking either as there will be the Friday night curry run and saturday night BBQ and live band. We will have one or two competitions plus organised drives out. And there is also a Rolling Road too! the hotel is really good as well with some great facilities for when cars are too much (or hangovers on Sunday)

Go on - you know you wanna....oh and it wont be all anorak-ed blokes as well as loads of other halves come too (at the risk of being non PC!! )

[simon.b]

Hi Lynn,

There are a few issues with TVR cooling and the system has been changed over the years. This means that some older cars have been modified by there owners and these problems can get quite tricky to solve.

Yours being a 4.0 suggests it may be an older model which originally would have had a single relay and a very large fuse. Later models have two relays and two smaller fuses.

I assume both fans are on, find the fuse and pull it, that should confirm a single relay/fuse setup if both fans stop. If not then you have two relays/fuses and probably a faulty otter switch.

A lot of cars have a Fan override switch to manually control the fan for heavy traffic track days etc. this could be the case and you’ll just have to find the switch which could be anywhere, mine is hidden from view.

If you pull the wires of the otter switch (bottom of the swirl tank with the brass plug on top) it should stop, which again suggests the otter switch. If not, then the relay or the wiring is the problem (the override switch is normally wired across the two terminals of the otter switch).

However the relay should not be making a noise so as previously mentioned that would be my first guess.

Hope this hasn’t confused things any further and welcome to the mad house.

Cheers,

Simon.

[grifflynn]

Hi, and thanks very much for all your help, i shall try taking off wires etc this weekend when i have a bit of daylight to work with!. I do have a fan over-ride switch, which was put in a couple of years ago (but i have never needed to use it!!)
If it is the 'otter' switch where can i get one of these from? Do i need to go directly to TVR or could i get one from a general car shop?
Thanks again for all your help and views it is greatly appreciated.
Lynn

[mf68]

hello lynn

here is one place you could start

www.racetechdirect.co.uk/product-subsection.asp?MakeID=8&ModelID=3&CATID=6&SUBCATID=42&offset=5&PageID=2

martin

[spend]

Most local motor factors stock the generic Interpart models, in a variety of operating temps. I kept a list at
http://tvr3.dspen.com/Otter_Switches.

Dave