New Chim Owner!
New Chim Owner!
Author
Discussion

GarryGT6

Original Poster:

32 posts

175 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Been lurking for a while on these forums, thought i would say hi! Picked up my Chim 400 last week. Already done 600 miles of relatively trouble free driving (touch wood!)

[url]

|http://thumbsnap.com/gQluqtdd[/url][url]

|http://thumbsnap.com/OodcDrH7[/url]


Dont worry, the V8 badge has been removed!

Only real issue i have had with the car is its hot running in traffic, only 1 fan is kicking in around 90, engine reaches just shy of 100'c and still no second fan.. its been a classic case of pull over and wait for her to cool! Not ideal but im guessing from other threads this may just be a faulty otter switch?

Garry

Rebelmatic

136 posts

284 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
might seem an odd idea, but see if the horn works... if it doesn't then its just a fuse, smile on mine the horn and one fan share a fuse!!

s p a c e m a n

12,100 posts

178 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Both fans should kick in together unless someones fitted an aftermarket 2 stage switch, if they have it will normally be a box on the wing near the radiator possibly with dials on it. If not, check out the connector plug for the fan underneath the radiator.

JWzed

185 posts

155 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Welcome Gary. As a recent (6 months) owner of a 400 Chim, I know the great time you are going to have with yours. Like the colour as well.
With regard to your fan problem. Don't think it will be the Otter switch. If it was faulty then neither fan would work. As a starter, check the fan wiring connectors situated at the bottom of the radiator. They are known to corrode. You could also swap them around to check that the other fan actually works. Also there should be two fan relays on your model. Again check they are both working by swapping them around etc. Best of luck. smile

phazed

22,491 posts

234 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Defo the fan multi pin connector hanging down from the fan.

Separate, spray with contact cleaner and refit.

l6rth

452 posts

193 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Welcome garrygt6, sorry I have no advice regarding your problem and I am relatively new owner also and have found this forum invaluable for advice etc. also if you are on Facebook try the chimaera club on there to.

QBee

22,483 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Last summer I hit 110 degrees in traffic on a hot day.
No fans at all.
Eased back the wires on the otter switch a little, with the engine running at 100 degrees, put a screwdriver blade across the terminals (so shorting out the switch) and yay! One fan.
Did what the others advised with the loose cables and connectors under the rad and yay! Two fans.

Sunday I sat in loads of traffic around London, engine (a 500, which produces more heat than the 400) never got above 93 degrees and never missed a beat.

Welcome GT6, you have a great car, sort those connectors and enjoy.

Edited by QBee on Tuesday 24th June 11:27

GarryGT6

Original Poster:

32 posts

175 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the responses and the warm welcome, before i start to clean the contact points - is this the said 2 pin connector?


Thanks
Garry

QBee

22,483 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Not sure. Feel under the fans from inside the engine bay, and in the tray under the radiator will be a couple of yards each of two loose thinnish cables with a connector in the middle of each. Them's the culprits.

The otter switch, for future reference, was under the bottom of the swirl pot on earlier cars, but at the bottom of the rad, passenger side, on the later cars. Brass, about a 27-30 mm spanner, two wires. If you need to replace it, its a standard Ford part available from any motor factor and you want one that comes on at round 88 degrees and goes off at around 82.

shake n bake

2,221 posts

237 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Enjoy the car!

swallet

453 posts

173 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
that's the connector.
needs a good clean.
If it still doesn't work try putting 12v across those pins.If still nothing it's the fan , if they go the problem is more proximal.
they sit in a bit of a sump so prone to corrosion.

JWzed

185 posts

155 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Yes if the wire from the connector you are holding (or the other half) goes to the back of a fan unit. There are two connectors, one for each fan.smile

madmarsie

123 posts

181 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Very nice. I had the same trouble with the fan and that was the connector smile . Nice GT6 too beer
Paul

Pinx

188 posts

150 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Nice looking Chim, Welcome to the Forum smile

GarryGT6

Original Poster:

32 posts

175 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the help guys, just went and tried a few things. I have shorted the circuit and only one fan comes on, I swapped the connectors and still one fired up (at least it's not mechanical!).

So that tells me it's the fuse? I have left the owners manual at my other place, have you got a fuse box diagram I can have a look at to hopefully find and replace the culprit?

Thanks in advance
Garry

GarryGT6

Original Poster:

32 posts

175 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
madmarsie said:
Very nice. I had the same trouble with the fan and that was the connector smile . Nice GT6 too beer
Paul
Lovely! 'H' plate too!

QBee

22,483 posts

174 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
The relay and fuse both seem to control both fans.

Top left relay and left hand most fuse (if 40 amp), but can be bottom left relay and number 3 fuse (from left, 25 amp) on some cars.

I would recheck your connectors and the wiring to the fans - was it the same one working both before and after swapping connectors?

GarryGT6

Original Poster:

32 posts

175 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
Thanks Qbee,

Yes, when the connectors were swapped the other fan came on (that had originally failed).. will give the connector a good clean up before i start to play around with fuses.

G

QBee

22,483 posts

174 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
Yes, correctly deduced! The wiring from fan to connector is fine. The most likely issue is the connectors themselves. I suppose it could be the wire that takes the power to the connector, but my 50p would be on the connectors themselves. The fault is well known. Bon chance!

GarryGT6

Original Poster:

32 posts

175 months

Saturday 28th June 2014
quotequote all
Issue solved!

Bizzarly, when checking the fuse box, the relay for the second fan was in the completely wrong part of the relay panel! Put it back into 7 and hey presto second fan!