Cooling Fans

[jvernon]

Hi everyone,

 

After reading a topic on here recently I discovered that only one of my two cooling fans actually work because I only have one working when the air conditioning is on. I've checked that there's power to the other one and there is, so I know it's a new fan I need. Is there a way of just unbolting it from the shroud and taking it out? But what concerns me more is that the air conditioning has recently started making a hissing noise from behind the glove box, which I believe is a sign it requires a re-gas? So I havn't been using the aircon, I've been using the 'ECON' mode instead. I've noticed that when the car is stationary for a while with the engine running without the air conditioning on (therefore no cooling fan), the coolant temperature creeps up and the cooling fans don't come on, not even the one that actually works :( I've checked for power to them and they're getting no power at all not even when the temperature gauge is just before the red area and VAG-COM is showing 105.5 degrees celsius. What controls the fans? I also think that the coolant run-on pump has stopped working!!! Could these be related?

 

This is quite important as we go to France in 3 weeks!

 

Thanks,

James

[NikpV]

sounds like a temp sensor has gone out of spec

[NikpV]

for hissing sound look here

 

I think you may have two separate problems

[jvernon]

Thanks for your replies NikpV. Yup I'm aware of the problem with the hissing and about to have it re-gassed and leak checked etc. I don't think it has got a leak though because my car has never been re-gassed as far as I know and it's 6 years old so if they lose gas at a rate of 10% per year (I read it somewhere) I must be 60% down already. I had thought perhaps there was a dodgy temperature sensor but as I understand it theres only one? so if the temperature guage and VAG-COM say it's 105 degrees then the fans should be on I think. Please correct me if I'm wrong that's just my understanding at the moment. I just need to find out what controls the fans and the run on pump and if they are the same thing I would say that has to be the faulty component. Any help appreciated :)

 

Thanks,

James

[Guest 3.5bullet]

there is a a set of relays/speed controllers mounted on the slam panel, check these are all functioning ok? have you tried swapping the plugs round on the fans? just to be 100% sure it's a duff fan?

[jvernon]

Yup tried swapping the plugs over 3.5bullet, definately a broken fan thanks for the suggestion though :wub: The slam panel? What's that? Is that just a technical name for the central junction box where all the fuses and things are?? :)

 

Thanks,

James

[Masked Marauder]

The slam panel is the bit the bonnet slams shut into.

[jvernon]

Oh right, I see. Thanks for that Masked Marauder :wub: I think I know what you're talking about, I'll try and post a picture about what I think it is tomorrow when it's light. Is there any way I can check if it's working? I would expect VAG-COM to show a fault at this point to be honest but I've tryed it several times and there's no faults found. What's the coolant run-on pump controlled by? Does anyone know? I'd like to get that fixed I don't want anything getting warped due to hot spots.

 

Thanks again,

James