Testing an electric fan?

It appears more or less a simple mechanism: a plastic fan screwed to
the metal BBQ grid, a sensor in line in the top rad hose (ie the hose
coming from the rad has been cut and the sensor fitted between the two
halves) and some wires sourcing power and ground somewhere.

The fan was in place when I bought the LR (IIA 88 2.25 diesel).

How can I test that it works? If I wanted to check a viscous fan I'd
look at it! If I wanted to check the thermostat was working I'd remove
it and drop it in a pot of hot water to see if it opened/closed, but
these new-fangled (!) electric fans are beyond me and I'd prefer not to
dismantle it.

The LR's temp guage sits above the midway point but the vehicle does
not appear to overheat - I'm used to guages which remain stubbornly at
the bottom end of their travel. After sitting in traffic for a while
the guage climbs higher but the fan doesn't seem to kick in (i listened
for it, then climbed out for a look-see).

Maybe I shouldn't fret about it but I'd like to know the thing was
working before undertaking long journeys. Engine runs beautifully BTW
and fuel consumption is unbelievable after coming from petrol Landies!

Jerry wrote:
> It appears more or less a simple mechanism: a plastic fan screwed to
> the metal BBQ grid, a sensor in line in the top rad hose (ie the hose
> coming from the rad has been cut and the sensor fitted between the two
> halves) and some wires sourcing power and ground somewhere.
>
> The fan was in place when I bought the LR (IIA 88 2.25 diesel).
>
> How can I test that it works? If I wanted to check a viscous fan I'd
> look at it! If I wanted to check the thermostat was working I'd remove
> it and drop it in a pot of hot water to see if it opened/closed, but
> these new-fangled (!) electric fans are beyond me and I'd prefer not to
> dismantle it.
>
> The LR's temp guage sits above the midway point but the vehicle does
> not appear to overheat - I'm used to guages which remain stubbornly at
> the bottom end of their travel. After sitting in traffic for a while
> the guage climbs higher but the fan doesn't seem to kick in (i listened
> for it, then climbed out for a look-see).
>
> Maybe I shouldn't fret about it but I'd like to know the thing was
> working before undertaking long journeys. Engine runs beautifully BTW
> and fuel consumption is unbelievable after coming from petrol Landies!
>
Mine is only set to come on at 90°C - below that it never comes on. It only gets
that hot when I'm using the Series stationary driving a PTO driven pump. It's a
Kenlowe unit with a thermostat that I installed just beside the radiator.

Depending on where in the world you live, the use you put your LR to, and the
condition of the cooling system, you may find it's entirely unnecessary to your
needs. I'm in the sub tropics (Brisbane), & it gets rather warm in summer ...

--
Karen

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.'
Catherine Aird

Jerry wrote:
> It appears more or less a simple mechanism: a plastic fan screwed to
> the metal BBQ grid, a sensor in line in the top rad hose (ie the hose
> coming from the rad has been cut and the sensor fitted between the two
> halves) and some wires sourcing power and ground somewhere.
>
> The fan was in place when I bought the LR (IIA 88 2.25 diesel).
>
> How can I test that it works? If I wanted to check a viscous fan I'd
> look at it! If I wanted to check the thermostat was working I'd remove
> it and drop it in a pot of hot water to see if it opened/closed, but
> these new-fangled (!) electric fans are beyond me and I'd prefer not to
> dismantle it.
>
You've answered your own question!

It it were mine I would remove the sensor from the top hose and dump it
in a pot of very hot water and see if the fan started.

It's also usual (but not mandatory) to have a twiddle knob somewhere
that sets the temperature it kicks in at, if you can find it, it may be
worth twiddling that as well.

Cheers

Peter

1990 110 2.5TD "Reggie the Veggie"

> How can I test that it works? If I wanted to check a viscous fan I'd
> look at it! If I wanted to check the thermostat was working I'd remove
> it and drop it in a pot of hot water to see if it opened/closed, but
> these new-fangled (!) electric fans are beyond me and I'd prefer not to
> dismantle it.

Disconnect the fan & connect the wires straight across the battery to
check the fan. Test the thermostat with an multimeter. If there are 3
terminals you need to determine which is the common & which are
normally closed and normally open.

Cheers,
Chrisall.

"Jerry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It appears more or less a simple mechanism: a plastic fan screwed to
> the metal BBQ grid, a sensor in line in the top rad hose (ie the hose
> coming from the rad has been cut and the sensor fitted between the two
> halves) and some wires sourcing power and ground somewhere.
>
> The fan was in place when I bought the LR (IIA 88 2.25 diesel).
>
> How can I test that it works? If I wanted to check a viscous fan I'd
> look at it! If I wanted to check the thermostat was working I'd remove
> it and drop it in a pot of hot water to see if it opened/closed, but
> these new-fangled (!) electric fans are beyond me and I'd prefer not to
> dismantle it.
>
> The LR's temp guage sits above the midway point but the vehicle does
> not appear to overheat - I'm used to guages which remain stubbornly at
> the bottom end of their travel. After sitting in traffic for a while
> the guage climbs higher but the fan doesn't seem to kick in (i listened
> for it, then climbed out for a look-see).
>
> Maybe I shouldn't fret about it but I'd like to know the thing was
> working before undertaking long journeys. Engine runs beautifully BTW
> and fuel consumption is unbelievable after coming from petrol Landies!

If you want to check the fan has a feed and will run just bridge the wires
from the the thermostat it should spin like a mad spinning thing to check
the thermostat pop it in boiling water and run an Ohmeter across the
terminal it is after all a simple elctrical switch.
Derek

As always, thanks for the help chaps...

Jerry wrote:
> It appears more or less a simple mechanism: a plastic fan screwed to
> the metal BBQ grid, a sensor in line in the top rad hose (ie the hose
> coming from the rad has been cut and the sensor fitted between the two
> halves) and some wires sourcing power and ground somewhere.
>
> The fan was in place when I bought the LR (IIA 88 2.25 diesel).
>
> How can I test that it works? If I wanted to check a viscous fan I'd
> look at it! If I wanted to check the thermostat was working I'd remove
> it and drop it in a pot of hot water to see if it opened/closed, but
> these new-fangled (!) electric fans are beyond me and I'd prefer not to
> dismantle it.
>
> The LR's temp guage sits above the midway point but the vehicle does
> not appear to overheat - I'm used to guages which remain stubbornly at
> the bottom end of their travel. After sitting in traffic for a while
> the guage climbs higher but the fan doesn't seem to kick in (i listened
> for it, then climbed out for a look-see).
>
> Maybe I shouldn't fret about it but I'd like to know the thing was
> working before undertaking long journeys. Engine runs beautifully BTW
> and fuel consumption is unbelievable after coming from petrol Landies!
>

Jerry,

Does the in-line sensor have a black plastic
cover that is oblong shaped? If it does then
underneath it is an adjuster to set the
temperature at which the fan comes on. To
test warm up the engine and move the adjuster
so that the fan operates - then move it back!

Regards

RichardB

> Jerry,
>
> Does the in-line sensor have a black plastic
> cover that is oblong shaped? If it does then
> underneath it is an adjuster to set the
> temperature at which the fan comes on. To
> test warm up the engine and move the adjuster
> so that the fan operates - then move it back!
>
> Regards
>
> RichardB

I'll have a look and try it if there is. I was wondering if there was
an adjuster somewhere but couldn't see one.

Richard, weird question but: do you drive a SWB truck cab and live
on/close to Denbigh Road in Norwich?

>
> Richard, weird question but: do you drive a SWB truck cab and live
> on/close to Denbigh Road in Norwich?
>


Not me! I live in Banham which is about 18
miles west of Norwich. My landie is an ex RAF
90 truck cab in fetching military green.

You can see it here:-

http://home.btconnect.com/Richard-Bush/

It has been to Norwich but not for a while.

Regards

RichardB

>
> You can see it here:-
>
> http://home.btconnect.com/Richard-Bush/
>

That's a very fetching beast... The chequer plate and the Hi-Lift look
the business!

Jerry wrote:
>
>> You can see it here:-
>>
>> http://home.btconnect.com/Richard-Bush/
>>
>
> That's a very fetching beast... The chequer plate and the Hi-Lift look
> the business!
>

The plating was a bit of a necessity really.
The rear tub was full of holes of various
shapes and sizes so it was the easy option to
sort it. It was quite straight forward to
install and not as expensive as you might think.

RichardB