Jamie,

I recently replaced my fan switch, located on the lower front driver's side
or the radiator.  I, too have an 84 1.9l.  It was an easy test to see if my
fan worked on either speed.  I removed the lower grill, unplugged the
connector on the switch.  One wire was +12v all the time, I can't remember
now-use a test light to find out which, it wasn't the middle. :)  Anyway I
used a jumper between the +12v and the other two terminals and listened for
the fan, low speed on one, high on another.  I heard my fan for the first
time!  No way to miss it.  I suppose if you can't get your fan to come on
like this, after making sure you have 12v at the connector, you fan may be
at fault.  If jumping it kicks on your fan at both speeds then your fan
switch is faulty.  Cheap from van-cafe.com and it comes with cookies. Quick
replacement, too.  I had my cooling system drained for other reasons, but I
bet you could swap it out with a quick hand if the radiator was full.  Hope
this helps.

Brendan Slevin
84 GL Totoro
Bend, Oregon

On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 7:28 AM, Jamie Fitterer <fittdog8848@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> I am goin to try one more time asking this question about my front Radiator
> fan that seems to never come on.> Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:30:28 +0000>
> From: fittdog8848@HOTMAIL.COM> Subject: Front Cooling Fan on 84 westy
> 1.9L> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > I have never heard my cooling van
> come on since owning my van. It does seem to run hot after being on the road
> and does not cool very well at stand still. It is not overheating by any
> means I am just referring to the steady rise in the temp and never a fan. >
> > Is it possible there is a switch that is not hooked up? Is it possible the
> fan is bad? Or is it possible I have not needed the fan yet so it has not
> kicked on and I am just being overly paranoid?