Really noisy radiator fan.

[dstyrrell 0]

Hi all,

As you can probably gather from the name of the thread i have got a really noisey rad fan, it really isn't doing my street cred any good, when the fan kicks in at traffic lights it sounds like a plane waiting to take off!!! I was wondering if there is any way that you can re-lube the motor or is it gonna be a new fan job.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

thanks

Dave

[dstyrrell 0]

Just incase anyone is interested or is having the same problem. The fan appears to only be working on the highest speed which would account for the noise, apparently if you have air con the fan should be on when the air con is turned on, which mine isn't!! all i get is full speed fan now and then, this could also account for the air con flashing a fault code. I think i'm right in saying VR's have a 3 speed fan.

Anyway spoke to a mate that works for VW and he's asked a tech and he's said that it could be the FCU (fan control unit) that has gone up the spout.

I'll post when tried new FCU.

I hope this help anyone that maybe having same probs.

[dellert 0]

Or maybe the temperature sensors on the thermostat housing? or just dodgy connectionss?

[dstyrrell 0]

i'll try those mate, i tried the FCU tonight but did't help. the fan seems to only run on full speed what ever.when its on its on full. bloody thing!!!

[dstyrrell 0]

when you click on the air-con should the fan come on straight away?

[girlvr6 0]

My car was having the same prob

Had no idea what it was but I was really embarassed, my car sounded like a giant hoover or something. :$ +o(

The head gasket went the week after and I replaced the thermostat and got the head done and it hasnt happened since, although it is still leaking a bit of water from somewhere!! :-(

[dellert 0]

Scare the poor bloke why dont you!!!! I dont know this for fact but i would imagine there are relays for the fan somewhere, as those sensors are not gonna take that kind of load, so the relay/s would also be worth checking.

[raphael46 0]

Sorry, this is going to be no help whatsoever but I can sympathise with the racket made by the fans on full-speed. Mine came on full speed in a traffic jam in the heat on Tuesday night for, I guess, the first time since I've owned it. Thought the air-con compressor was to blame and about to seize, the whole car was buzzing when it cut in and it sounded like I should have been on the tarmac at Heathrow. Pulled to the side of the road with pound signs flashing before my eyes. Opened the bonnet and realised it was the fans. Should they really be that noisy on full speed? They don't make anything like that amount of row normally.

[FishWick 21]

GirlVR6 is right to mention the HG could blow. Speed 3 comes on at 120 degrees i.e. an unhealthy temperature. It should never come on during normal driving, inc sitting in traffic in 31 degree summers for an hour. Speeds 1 and 2 should do all that's required. If they don't, you have a problem and VRs hate running too hot, the first thing to go is the HG - if the rad top hose doesn't firt.

Check the 2 pole sender in the radiator. It controls speeds 1 and 2. 1 is a direct relayed feed off the battery. Speeds 2 and 3 are controlled by the big box on the nearside chassis turret.

Speed 1 - 90 deg

Speed 2 - 100 deg

Speed 3 - 120 deg

The OE fans are woefully inefficient anyway, personally I'd bin them and fit a couple of SPAL fans, which are a 1/4 of the weight and a third of the size and almost silent. Just hook up em to speed one and the engine will never need the remaining redudant speeds. Keep those VRs cool ;-)

[dstyrrell 0]

Thank you all for your input on this issue. Whilst scouring the internet trying to find a solution to this and i came accross a mk4 site, can't remember the exact site but anyway apparently this is a very common problem on mk4's and after speaking to other people it appears to be problem with vw fans full stop. alot of people have this problem and don't know about it until its too late i.e Head Gasket. or apparently it can damage the air conditioning, as it doesn't get sufficiently cooled.

Kev could you post details of the SPAL fans that you were talking about as i think my bad boys are heading in the direction of the bin!!!!

I have been driving my VR in this state since i bought it and like most people i didn't realise it was potentionally a realy bad problem. The only reason i investigated is because the noise was really pissing me off!!!

MY ADVICE TO EVERYONE IS TO CHECK YOUR FANS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!!!

Maybe this should be a sticky?

could save people alot of cash if they check.

[spindat45 0]

Hmmm...

Ive had my VR since November and had my air con regassed yesterday as it was not constantly blowing cold air. On my way back home after sitting in traffic I heard this loud hovercraft noise which turned out to be my fans runing at take off speed. I've never had this happen before but then my air con has never worked properly until yesterday. The fans returned to normal running speed with the air con still on after a short time. I guess this was after the temperature had returned to a sensible temperature. Seeing as they did not run continuously I hope that they were just doing their job.