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Subject:Re: Radiator fan resistor
From:kenneth wilford (Van-Again)
Date:Sat, 27 Jul 2013 07:37:47 -0400

Dennis,

We have them.  Not sure why you didn't contact us about it.

I think the failure on these is related to air flow (or lack thereof) more
than anything.  They aren't in a good air stream like all of the other
resistors that VW used in their fan systems.  Usually they mount them right
in the air stream and they last forever.  This one is mounted behind the
headlight so you get extra heat from that.  If you aren't going down the
road there is no air flow at all.  So here is the worst case for these,
idling, with the AC on, and the headlights on.  Some people run their
headlights in the day time when on trips.  That would make it even worse in
the summer.  If we could move the location to behind the fan, above the
spare tire area, I think you would find that they would live a lot longer.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

On Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 10:56 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Last week the fan resistor in Fun Bus failed on the way to see my son in
> the
> hospital. As many of us know the Vanagon resistor is no longer available
> and
> we have been using the Eurovan version part # 701959263D. The dealer list
> for this is now $103 so I tried to order from a number of list vendors with
> no luck. So reluctantly I ordered one form the dealer. I picked it up today
> and guess what! It has been redesigned. It will still fit in the original
> bracket but it is oval in shape and the resistance wire is considerably
> larger. It appears they finally realized the original design just couldn't
> handle the load. Anyway, it look like it is worth the cost if it reduces
> the
> failure rate. Unfortunately for us Vanagon folk we still have to adapt the
> wiring.
>
>
>
> Dennis
>

--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com