Hi All-

I just had what sounds like this problem on my Canadian 91 Vanagon (fully
loaded).
I keep this van in Europe for occasional 30 day trips.; all of a sudden it
sounded like the radiator fan was "too loud".

I took it to several VW dealers in Germany & Benelux, all of whom just said
the fan needed replacing; none of whom could get the part expeditiously.

Well, 4 weeks ago Fleischauer, a huge dealer in Koln, replaced the fan (900
DM) ; when we returned to them a few days later, saying it was still loud,
they said that it should be that loud, & that they had replaced the old "300
watt" fan with a more powerful ( & louder) "450 watt" fan.

From reading these posts, I deduce that what I was hearing was the fan
failing to come on at the lower (less loud) speed. When this lower speed
circuit fails,  I read that the higher speed kicks in, at a higher
temperature ? Since we seldom heard the higher fan previously, we assumed
that the fan was failing. Apparently most VW service centers make this
assumption as well. I suspect there was nothing wrong with the original fan.

My questions:

1) is it the fan, or a circuit outside the fan, that has the 2 speeds? IOW,
if I replace this resistor, will the new fan kick in at the lower speed ?

2) would the resistor value be the same with a fan differently rated ?
 since they did not replace the fan with an identical substitute).

3) can I replace this resistor myself, if I bring it over from Canada ? (I
have the service manual - over there - I'm back in Canada now). Is there any
other part I should bring, just to be covered ?  I'm not sure I want to
trust a VW dealer.

4) Is it OK to run the van , as long as the high-speed fan kicks in when it
is supposed to ?

Thanks,

Frank ( who just discovered this list, unfortunately, yesterday).

(Camper Collection: 91 Vanagon; 95 Winnebago Eurovan.)

-----Original Message-----
From: Timothy O. Crooks <anc1cde@INJERSEY.INFI.NET>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, August 08, 1998 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: LOUD! cooling fan

>Agreed.  On my 90 GL last summer the fan sounded like a C-5 taking off.  It
>was a series resistor.  Be sure to take in the old one when re-ordering.
>The part number is not legible, but there is a visible difference.  I would
>give my part number but it may not apply to your 86.  Mine is copper green
>in colour, and has 3 wires.  You will know if it is bad, it will crumble in
>your hands to touch.  Good luck
>Tim
>
>Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
>> The low speed is not working.  Possibly a bad resistor.  The resistor is
>> located behind the drivers side head lamp assembly.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Terry Ziniewicz <terryz@OLYWA.NET>
>> To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
>> Date: Wednesday, August 05, 1998 12:42 PM
>> Subject: LOUD! cooling fan
>>
>> >The cooling fan on my 91' Westfalia is driving me nuts. When the fan
>> >comes on it shakes the whole van. When I checked the motor and fan
>> >everything looked fine. Has anyone else had this prob?
>> >
>> >Terry Z
>> >http://www.olywa.net/terryz/vw.html
>