Interesting enough you don't see a lot fans being replaced? At least
I haven't seen it on the list or with friends here in the NE.

JFF.

On Jan 22, 2008, at 1:10 PM, neil N wrote:

Thanks for the heads up.

I've pulled almost all the electrical stuff off my 85 parts van. I'll
double check condition of things before swapping it over.

With a Vanagon that *may* have a poorly maintained cooling system,
that rad fan motor would see a lot of action. (poor cooling could be
one reason why those poor vans ended up in the yard? --- ;^)

Neil.

On 1/22/08, Joe Federici <joefederici@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Recently I added AC to my van and in the process changed over the
> wiring harness from a non-AC to one used on the AC so I could pick up
> the med speed fan relay in the fuse panel. What I found interesting
> was the tiny ground it use by the fuse panel, I added a second at the
> fan.
>
> I also noticed on most of the vans (I looked at 3 in the junk yard in
> PA) that the larger female spade connector that connects from the
> harness to the high speed fan relay was cracked on most of the
> harness. This is the relay that is up behind the fuse panel. The
> power going to it was fine. Not sure if it was due to the angle or
> what but if your in there I'd take a look.
>
> JFF
>
>
> On Jan 22, 2008, at 12:14 PM, neil N wrote:
>
> Thanks Mark. The help is appreciated, and as a side note, I must say I
> have learned a lot being on this list.
>
> I'll stick with the stock design though I *may* install an LED that
> would indicate when fan is on.
>
> Interesting to note what can happen with over useage of the high speed
> part of the rad fan circuit. When doing electrical work on my Westy
> last year, I was surprised to see one of the heavier gauge female
> spade connectors to one of the fuses was starting to melt. Of course i
> replaced the connector, but you'd think the original design wouldn't
> allow that to happen. Anyway.....
>
> Thanks again. I'll do my best to think things through before posting
> such strange ideas to this list. --- :^)
>
> "Now wheres my drawings for that new oblong wheel I was
> designing....." --- ;^)
>
>
> Neil.
>
> On Jan 22, 2008 6:07 AM, Mark Drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>> Neil, the high speed fan relay is seldom triggered and thus
>> unlikely to
>> fail. On a few vans I have put a manual switch in to activate high
>> speed
>> for special circumstances, using the manual switch to turn on the
>> relay.
>>
>> One thing I would point out is that the older wiring may not really
>> withstand heavy use of high speed and I have seen overheating and
>> melting at the fan fuse holder at S7 on pre 86 models wired to use
>> high
>> speed more often than stock.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> neil N wrote:
>>> Hi Mark.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>>> Use the relay for sure and make certain to fuse things properly.
>>>
>>> For sure I will. I have the fuse panel and relays from the 85. I was
>>> just "wondering out loud" about making things simpler. --- :^)
>>>
>>> In my rambling thoughts, I figured that relays do fail, so why not
>>> make it so that the only other major part (aside from the fan!) that
>>> could fail would be the thermo switche(s) or fuse. But this thinking
>>> is based on a lack of knowledge. i.e. obviously I don't fully
>>> understand why the relay is in the circuit in the first place.
>>>
>>>> ...........
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>
> Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/