Emily,
     Does your van have A/C?  Even of the belt is off the compressor, the fan
in the grill will come on once power is applied to the ignition system.
 Someone correct me if I am wrong.  This is what my '84 Westphalia does.

Cordially,
Jason M. Yasment
-----Original Message-----
From:   Emily Goodin [SMTP:emilyg@ONEIMAGE.COM]
Sent:   Monday, March 15, 1999 3:40 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Radiator fan question

Greetings,

I hope this is an easy diagnosis - my radiator fan comes on as soon as I
start up the van or even just turn the key to the 'accessory'
position....  If someone can diagnose this little problem I would
appreciate it very much!  Then, of course, I'd like to hear opinions on
whether I can fix it myself - I have very little mechanical experience
(I've changed oil, replaced a leaky radiator hose (*not* a Vanagon's!)
but that's about it) but I'm eager to learn....  If this is something I
can try to fix, I'd love to know where in the Bentley it's
described....

Thanks much!
  Emily Goodin
  Boulder, Colo.  (the land of the Vanagon - I see at least 5 every day)
  '89 Westy, "Blauevogel" (bluebird)

P.S. In case anyone remembers that I wrote a while back asking about
idle seeking & bucking, here's an update - my hubby did the capacitor
fix but we haven't driven it enough to test the result, and our mechanic
adjusted the CO (noticed it had never been adjusted) and I don't know if
it's related to the adjustment but the idle is better.