T4 2.5TDi replacement cooling fan?

[Seano]

The Valeo cooling fan on the right side of the engine bay (the one for the air con & heater that always comes on when you flick the fan switch inside) is approaching its expiry date with an almost constant squeal when the cabin fan is on.

I think the part number is 7D1959455J but I'm not certain given that there are two possibilities. VW Heritage has this part for around $100.

While replacing it with a VW part is laudable...I suspect it'd also be laughably expensive. So I'm far more tempted to get a Davies Craig fan or similar from the local Bursons. Or even the VW Heritage unit

Anyone got any leads on what might fit as a replacement fan or am I better off going with the VW part?

[Umai Naa!!]

I'd probably go the VWH one on price alone. Their service is pretty good too.

Otherwise you'll probably have to mess about with wiring, adapting something else.

[farmsyncro]

Repair it!
You may find, as I have, that the poor installation of the air conditioning leaves the fan running whenever the heater fan is on (even when the a/c is off) This is incorrect. The cooling fans should come on when the radiator is hot and/or some systems run 1 fan whenever the a/c is on to provide some air flow over the condensor. The result of this is the cooling fans run excessively and wear out.
Our car had a very annoying squeak/whine which took a while to find out it was the cooling fans. I removed them, took them apart to find they are highly repairable. I have done this and the whine has gone.
I am yet to fix the cause of the problem by getting involved with the wiring to correctly switch the cooling fans.

Good luck
FarmSyncro

[jets]

Repair it!
I removed them, took them apart to find they are highly repairable. I have done this and the whine has gone.

Would you care to expand on this with some details. Did you think to take any pictures at the time?
Is your van still running well since the cambelt change we did?

[farmsyncro]

Hi Jets.

No photos of fan repair. Sorry. But I remember there was so much black carbon dust in the fan that I was too dirty to pick up a camera.

Our van is going great guns after the cambelt change. THANK YOU for your help, advice & practical assistance - it was not possible without this.
Van now may have engine mount problem but that is for another thread...

Cheers,
Farmsyncro

[Seano]

I'll give the repair a shot. I've already ordered a replacement from VWH which cost me nearly $180 delivered.

Yes, the fan does come on with the interior fan...probably because of the local air con fitment (fan should've been wired into air con switch for power via a relay with the interior fan switch acting as the switch - that way (if I understand auto electrics properly) it would only come on if the A/C was powered AND active. Maybe

[farmsyncro]

You are right. The fans are "cooling fans" NOT a "slow the engine warm up and come on when the heater is on" fans. Thanks to the Australian a/c designers and fitters.

While on the subject, I discovered that in order to fit the evaporator under the dash they have cut the original heater box. In our van this left half the original duct for the LHS demister open, wasting that air flow. A simple blanking plate or plug would have and will fix it. Now we get all the air flow through the vents not wasted cooling under the dash.

As I recall repairing the fans was pretty easy. The hardest bit I think was undoing the twist crimp on the rear cover. You may find that a good blast with an air gun (ours were very dusty with carbon brush dust) and careful drops of oil into the bearings will be enough without taking them apart.

Cheers,

FarmSyncro