[E-Type] Repeated Fan failures - Any alternatives?

Over the last few years, it seems like I routinely have an issue
with my fans failing. First the fans were basically old, so I
replaced both (74’ etype). Several months go by, the relay fails,
replace it. Later the otter switch fails, replace that also and
then yesterday evening, the fuse blew (may have been self imposed
after spraying down the engine over the weekend). I’ve been luckly
because each time this has happened, I’ve noticed the temp gauge
quickly heading in the wrong direction.
Looking for suggestions on what additional things that could be
done to help safeguard against this failure. Maybe rig up some sort
of warning light or mount an additional fan on the front of the
radiator (using a seperate circuit). Any ideas, suggestions? Thanks,
Jeff Smith
Atlanta, GA
74’ etype–
Jeff Smith
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Jeff Smith sent Wed 9 May 2007:

Sounds like you’ve replaced everything that is trouble prone.
Jsut make sure you have good connections and good wirring and
grounds would be my advice.

If the fans motors continue to give you trouble there are
aftermarket replacements. I think coolcat markets a Series III
replacement motor and I know that there is an Audi fan that blows
more air than stock that is a bolt in replacment. I posted the
make and model Audi a few years ago.–
John Walker, 1969 2+2 - ‘Lola’
La Porte, Tex, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

No, we don’t. The S3 motor/blade is pretty good, and seems to be
infinitely rebuildable. But I will be posting DIY instructions for
the VW/Audi replacement as soon as I get a round tuit.

Mike Frank

At 01:16 PM 5/9/2007, you wrote:

I think coolcat markets a Series III
replacement motor and I know that there is an Audi fan that blows
more air than stock that is a bolt in replacment. I posted the
make and model Audi a few years ago.

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Jeff Smith sent Wed 9 May 2007:

A Jag technician recommended to my father that he add a
second (backup?) relay for the fan (it’s in his phone
conversation notes). I don’t understand the car well enough
yet to know whether he did that or how it would help.–
'72 SIII OTS
Valley Forge, PA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Jeff Smith sent Wed 9 May 2007:

I have aftermarket fans on my 74 OTS. I also wired into the
circuit a manual single pole switch that allows me to turn the fans
on should the relay fail.

Regards,

Dan Sieel
74 OTS–
DAN SIEGEL
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Jeff Smith sent Wed 9 May 2007:

Just making sure the standard parts are in good condition and the
connections are clean esp. the earth should be good enough.

However, an alternative is to use a second otter switch, relay and
fuse. This enables the 2 fans to have seperate control systems. It
is unlikly that both would fail. I you do so you will need to
solder a second boss into the radiator top tank for the extra otter
switch. By using an otter switch with a slightly higher switching
temperature one fan will start after the other. This will reduce
the peek start up load.

I have had fan problems on modern cars. Esp. cars without aircon.
The problems arise because they are rarely required as I do little
town driving. When I do my monthly check and wash I let the car
idle on the drive untill the fan clicks on. With aircon the fan
comes on more often in normal use so I don’t find this check so
important.–
V12 David
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Jeff Smith sent Wed 9 May 2007:

Jeff,
What you’re seeing is typical of old systems. When one part
fails, you replace it, and another part now becomes the ‘‘weak link’’
and soon fails. When you have a failure, the smart thing to do is
go through the whole system at once, and fix/replace everything.
IF you have a master cylinder problem, don’t just rebuild that one
piece, rebuild all the master cylinders, slave cylinders and
calipers, and flush the whole system. This is just a fact of life
when dealing with these old machines.
In your case, when the fan motor failed, if you had
rebuilt/replaced both motors, cleaned/replaced the relay,
cleaned/tightened all connections, you likely wouldn’t have had
another problem. For the Otter switch, your best bet is to carry a
spare, as the replacements seem to be infreior quality, or get a
more reliable modern switch as a replacement.–
Ray Livingston - '64 OTS Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Ray Livingston sent Thu 10 May 2007:

BTW - Going crazy putting in ‘‘redundant’’ systems, like relays and
switches, is not really a good idea, as you basically end up
doubling the number of potential failures as well. The original
hardware worked fine for 40 years. All it needs is a little TLC,
and it’ll work fine for another 40 years.–
Ray Livingston - '64 OTS Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

Mark,
It won’t hurt anything but I’d say that was a little over the top.
Relay’s rarely fail, think I may have had one or two in my entire life
and not even sure about that. I propose a better idea would be to add
a manual sw (inside the cockpit) so if the relay fails the fans can be
turned on manually. That sw would bypass the relay and the otter sw,
an additional relay will only bypass a bad relay.
pauls 67ots

In reply to a message from Jeff Smith sent Wed 9 May 2007:

A Jag technician recommended to my father that he add a
second (backup?) relay for the fan (it’s in his phone
conversation notes). I don’t understand the car well enough
yet to know whether he did that or how it would help.


'72 SIII OTS
<<<<<<<<<

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.phpFrom: “beanmf” mark.f.bean@gsk.com
Subject: Re: [E-Type] Repeated Fan failures - Any alternatives?

In reply to a message from Ray Livingston sent Thu 10 May 2007:

I totally agree with Ray’s suggestion - very sound advice for
linked systems like electronics and hydraulics. I have found
enough bad rubber on my car that I have decided to replace ALL
rubber (that’s a lot of stuff!)–
'72 SIII OTS
Valley Forge, PA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

I guess I’m just really lazy/electrically challenged but I just carry
a small brass strip in the ash tray that allows me to jump the two
leads on the otter switch if it goes belly up.
Cheers,
LynnOn May 10, 2007, at 8:31 AM, paul spurlock wrote:

I propose a better idea would be to add
a manual sw (inside the cockpit) so if the relay fails the fans can be
turned on manually. That sw would bypass the relay and the otter sw,
an additional relay will only bypass a bad relay.
pauls 67ots

Lynn G
73 2+2 (Pearle)
68 OTS (Emmy)
Boise, ID USA

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

In reply to a message from Lynn Gardner sent Thu 10 May 2007:

On my 3.8, the switch has two terminals, the important one in
the middle, and a ground lug under one of the mounting screws. So,
if the switch fails, all I have to do is switch the two wires, and
the fan wire is grounded, so the fan comes on. No need for a
switch. This doesn’t work on S2s, but a paper clip in the
connector will do the same job. I’d guess the S3 is basically the
same as the S2, right?–
Ray Livingston - '64 OTS Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

Actuall, it does work on S2’s. Only S3’s have an isolated switch.

Mike Frank

At 12:17 AM 5/11/2007, you wrote:

This doesn’t work on S2s, but a paper clip in the
connector will do the same job. I’d guess the S3 is basically the
same as the S2, right?

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

Lynn,
But, but, but it takes more energy to put that brass thingie on the
otter than to flip a sw :slight_smile: Also his original concern was bypassing a
defective relay which a sw could be wired to bypass the otter and the
relay.
pauls 67ots

I guess I’m just really lazy/electrically challenged but I just carry
a small brass strip in the ash tray that allows me to jump the two
leads on the otter switch if it goes belly up.
Cheers,
Lynn
<<<<<<<

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.phpFrom: Lynn Gardner lgardner28@cableone.net
Subject: Re: [E-Type] Repeated Fan failures - Any alternatives?

Gotcha,
Cheers,
LynnOn May 11, 2007, at 8:41 AM, paul spurlock wrote:

Lynn,
But, but, but it takes more energy to put that brass thingie on the
otter than to flip a sw :slight_smile: Also his original concern was bypassing a
defective relay which a sw could be wired to bypass the otter and the
relay.
pauls 67ots

From: Lynn Gardner <@Lynn_Gardner>
Subject: Re: [E-Type] Repeated Fan failures - Any alternatives?

I guess I’m just really lazy/electrically challenged but I just carry
a small brass strip in the ash tray that allows me to jump the two
leads on the otter switch if it goes belly up.
Cheers,
Lynn

Lynn G
73 2+2 (Pearle)
68 OTS (Emmy)
Boise, ID USA

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php