Cooling fans.

[sheriff464]

Hello all, noticed today-when the temperature gauge reached 3/4, only one fan kicked in. Is this normal? or should both start running together at the same time! Could it be fuse related and does the electric system for the fans have a relay(s). Could it simply be a dry joint on a connector, maybe?
Anyone had this happen on their S2? Any advice very welcome. Cheers from Clive.

[Rambo]

Both should start together Clive. I suspect one of the fans has a faulty connection or has possible seized?

[sheriff464]

Both should start together Clive. I suspect one of the fans has a faulty connection or has possible seized?

Thankyou Mark, will check the wiring and connectors with a spray of contact cleaner, later! Cheers.

[HJ2]

Take a close look of the bond strap that is secured to the mid - top radiator support. You will be able to see it from below, but fasten it.... That's a whole different league.
I had the same problem,seized fan, and replaced both fans and are now good to go again!

[roy666]

Hi all - just tagging on the end of this trail looking for some advice please. Both coolant fans won't work: checked all the fuses (even the 30A maxi one, changed relays), checked the earth strap on the rad mounting, fans are both free and quite new (2 yrs old); but have been off sitting on a shelf for about 3 months. Happy that they are both on the rad mounting correctly. Tried the short wire trick from the CTS to the engine to earth expecting both fans to kick in..... nothing!; although there is a clicking sound coming from the dash binnacle area every time I touch the wire to the engine block. How does one check that there is power getting to the fans; don't really want to start pulling them off before I'm really certain they are both dead. I can do most things...but elecky stuff is not really my forte. any thoughts most welcome. cheers Mike

[FunElan]

Hi all - just tagging on the end of this trail looking for some advice please. Both coolant fans won't work: checked all the fuses (even the 30A maxi one, changed relays), checked the earth strap on the rad mounting, fans are both free and quite new (2 yrs old); but have been off sitting on a shelf for about 3 months. Happy that they are both on the rad mounting correctly. Tried the short wire trick from the CTS to the engine to earth expecting both fans to kick in..... nothing!; although there is a clicking sound coming from the dash binnacle area every time I touch the wire to the engine block. How does one check that there is power getting to the fans; don't really want to start pulling them off before I'm really certain they are both dead. I can do most things...but elecky stuff is not really my forte. any thoughts most welcome. cheers Mike

Clicking sound might indicate a relay is going bad. Check this thread: viewtopic.php?f=37&t=9619

OR, unplug fans at their junction, then get a multimeter and use it to test the loom that the fans would plug into. What may be a good thing to rule out is just fan operation - I keep a small lead acid battery in the garage with some alligator clips. Connecting everything up can help drive electric motors to confirm operation.

[roy666]

Thanks Fun.. will do. Multi-meter set to ..what?..12V....I've swapped relays.. fingers crossed.. at M

[Saltire]

Thanks Fun.. will do. Multi-meter set to ..what?..12V....

12v would be fine, Roy, although you could manage without a multimeter if you have a test lamp. Unplug the connector near the fans, and stick one lead from the test lamp into each of the pins of the connector on the car side - I.e. not the wire that leads on to the fans. Then try your short wire trick again.

If the test lamp lights, you have power and earth to the fan harness, so your problem is with the wire down to the fans, or the fans themselves. If it doesn’t light, your problem is between the fuse/relay and the connector.

Hope this helps,

[Motocompo]

I have the same problem!

Only one fan kicks in! The old one was changed together with the cooler, now a new one is in but it doesn´t start.

Fuses seem to be OK. Elan S2.

Hany help would be great.

[Tuga2112]

the fans grounding point is a little eyelet bolted into the chassis near the top right in the middle of the fans.
its an absolute bitch to get to, and therefore its possible it was intentionally missed.

the connector to each fan is found near the bottom. those are very easy to access to clean up as required.

if one fan works and the other doesnt, your grounding wire *SHOULD* be ok. because they both use the same ground wire at the top.

Clicking sound might indicate a relay is going bad.

relays are meant to click when functioning. im not sure why you say that?

simplest way to check if there is power going to the fans is to unplug them. do the CTS short trick.
with a voltage meter (multimeter checking voltage) check if the connectors to the ran have the expected 11-12v
IF they dont. try each of the terminal ends against a known good ground.

another alternative is to connect a 12v battery directly to each Fan.

when it comes to electric stuff like this, its a lot easier for me to do it, or show it than explaining.

[GeoffSmith]

The fans are separately fused so an easy test is to swap fuses B3 and B4.

http://wikilec.com/images/e/e0/MJ25-18_Cooling_Fans.gif

[KenCarson]

Regarding the original post, I had only one fan working. Sprayed it, pushed it round a few times still nothing. Checked the fuses in the binnacle and one had blown, I assume because the fan was seized. New fuse, all good. Fuses by the way were the wrong way round compared to the wiring diagrams, left was right and vice versa.

[Motocompo]

The fans are separately fused so an easy test is to swap fuses B3 and B4.

http://wikilec.com/images/e/e0/MJ25-18_Cooling_Fans.gif

Thank you, changed one fuse, now both vents are working as they should.