Electric fan issues

[Simon Wallwork]

My early FL S8 sometimes makes a right racket shortly after start up.

I isolated the racket as coming from the electric fan.

First query: Why does this fan run on startup? The engine is plainly stone cold.

I found that the racket went away after 10-20 secs most times. Also noticed that it was rarely a problem if I was in the car alone but it was a lot worse with pass seat occupied. Also, slamming a door or lowering the bonnet would start it. Or stop it!

Anyways, last night it got worse and eventually did it most of the time.

Solution: Today, when it was constant, I noticed that the leccy fan shroud was in less than perfect register with the part of the front panel that it's mounted on. If I squeezed it with my fingers, I could stop the noise.

I got a cable tie through the gap between the blade tips and the shroud and tied it off against the ally piece that forms the landing panel for the bonnet.

This brought the fan shroud in to the front panel much more tightly and stopped the racket.

I could've changed the fan assy, and might yet have to. Cheap fix tho.

[Conan_the_Librarian]

The fan is linked with the AC. When the compressor starts to run at engine start the system can get hot very quickly o the fan starts cooling the AC radiator straight away.

There should be 2 x M6x20mm bolts at the top. The cowl is a bayonet type fitting. 2 lugs at the bottom engage in the shroud and you rotate the cowl 10 degs or so and line up the bolt holes. I suspect something hasn't engaged properly misaligning the cowl.

[Simon Wallwork]

Thanks Conan. I just noticed 3x10mm AF bolts, which I checked for tightness.

I'll have a closer look tomorrow.

[Simon Wallwork]

Done more work on it today as per my post on the other fan thread.

There's a pin, very low down between the a/c fan and the engine driven fan.

Why they put this pin where they put it, I know not.

Anyway, if you loosen the fan but still can/t get it off, have a feel around for this locating pin. The fan won't come off until you get the pin out.

[Simon Wallwork]

Well, I thought I'd log the outcome in case it helps another member

Took the fan off. It ran smoothly off the car.

Lubed it to death with spray grease, WD-40 and anything else I could find in the garage.
Put it back on and fixed the shroud to the cast ally landing panel with a few rivits.

Still noisy.

Drove the car 200 miles following which the noise stopped completely and a/c fan now as smooth as silk.

Methinks that heavy lubing followed by mucho vibration allowed lube to do it's work.

Another (very) low cost repair.

[graynada]

I hope the spray grease was the last stuff you used on it and not the WD-40.

From my experience WD-40 is very good at dispersing grease and other lubricants. It initially provides an improvement but soon itself disperses and you get problems worse than you had before. It is very good for easing something back into life but after that I find you need to apply proper long term lubrication and protection.

[Simon Wallwork]

Well Graynada, maybe you was right.

Fan went very noisy again and it was plainly goosed as the hub was really wobbling on the motor.

Got a s/h one from A8 parts. It's a little tricky to fit as you have to take the undertray off to reach the connector. Anyway, job done!

[johnny_quattro]

Opening up an age-old thread here but my old girl seems to suffer from the exact same symptoms.

I was able to make the noise go away by either a) opening the bonnet and holding the fan shroud or b) simply opening and then shutting the bonnet which seemed to eradicate the noise. For a while...

It has become progressively worse since then so I am going to take a nose at it this coming week when I am off work. If all else fails, I'll be looking at replacement of the part judging by your comments.

Thanks for the detailed write-up!

John G