Auxiliary fan quit working??

[e30loverSC]

On my 1987 325is the electric fan has kicked on whenever you turn the key on. It ran at all times. The other day I noticed it was not running and the fuses and relay seemed fine as i swapped the relay. Should I replace the whole fan or what?

[bimmerteck]

If it ran all the time you likely had a bad thermo switch in the radiator, or left the A/C button pressed.

Since it has now stopped it likely has the above and a bad fan or bad low speed resistor.
The fan can be tested by providing 12v to it's high speed pins and seeing if it spins. The resistor has a resistance value it should be close to printed on it and can be easily tested with a multimeter.

[browntown]

i Have one for you, you're talking about the elec fan in front of the a/c condensor right? Mine is from an 89i. PM me if you want me to throw it in the mail for you. How does $35 shipped sound?

[e30loverSC]

If it ran all the time you likely had a bad thermo switch in the radiator, or left the A/C button pressed.

Since it has now stopped it likely has the above and a bad fan or bad low speed resistor.
The fan can be tested by providing 12v to it's high speed pins and seeing if it spins. The resistor has a resistance value it should be close to printed on it and can be easily tested with a multimeter.

Yea it ran all the time. And the a/c hasnt worked since last summer. And even then I never used it. It just runs with the key on. And which pins are you talking about?

[bimmerteck]

Behind the driver's side headlight there is a three pin connector for your aux fan. one pin will be ground, one will be the low speed, and the last will be high speed.


Photo by systemdelete, on Flickr

[e30loverSC]

OK Ill check it out man appreciate it.

[MTechnikII]

there is a resistor on the side of the fan shroud, sometimes that thing burns out and stops the fan from running, check it out too.
Henry

[e30rapidic]

I believe there is also a test procedure in the bentley.