Hello !

I have another problem with my 1990 XJ40. The engine fan is rubbing the radiator, causing noise and removing radiator paint :




The problem was not present until a few month. The car did not had an accident on the front since I have it, and the fan was not touching the radiator until a few month.

I have removed the radiator to clean it, but I've checked : the 2 radiator's foots are in the silentblocs in the holes under the car, and on the top the silentblocs are in the metal holder.

Did anyone have an idea ?

On French forum, some people told about transmision support beeing old and pushing the engine towards front, but I put a jack under the transmission to lift it up a little and the fan was still rubbing the radiator ...

Any help or thoughts are welcome

 

If I remember correctly, the radiator is positioned in an orange foam/metal bushing. The foam deteriorates and cracks away in the same manner as the OE upper shock mounts. Perhaps the radiator is not sitting in the support correctly?

Does the fan pulley have any play?

Is it possible to start the car and watch for interference while revving the engine, perhaps?

 

Hello Nick,

I thought maybe it could come from the radiator's bushings. They were totally shot, so I changed all the 4, but the problem is still here.
I read it could come from engine mounts and transmission mount. I will change it.

 

Fix it quick...i picked my car up when i bought it, had had a knock to front, I didnt know, fan was just striking radiator....half hour into trip back fan disintegrated and pieces went through radiator. Trailer home new fan new radiator. Still close but not hitting, have replaced front engine mounts probably should do rear.

 

Thanks @mickvic ! Indeed, I don't run the car anymore until it's fixed !
I have ordered front engine mounts, and rear too. It should arrive next week.
(It's winter here, and the XJ40 is not running : the road are salted, this is really bad for corrosion)

 

No salt here in australia but sun kills the paint and doesnt do the interior any good. Could you please advise me what parts and part numbers you are buying to do the rear mount? Looks like inner out springs foam mount and six little rubber grommets.

 

Here is what I ordered :

 

@mickvic Are you sure that the engine mounts were responsibles of the fan striking radiator ? How did you know it was that mounts causing the issue ?

 

Sorry if my reply was misleading i didnt mean to infer that the engine mounts were causing the fan hitting the radiator. It was due to the previous wowner driving it round a paddock, hitting a low stump, driving the radiator back towards the fan.
I mentioned id replaced the front engine mounts as ive replaced every bush or mount in the front of the car. Didnt do it to stop the fan hitting. Didnt do any harm though.

 

Okay, thanks for the precision.
I hope my engine mounts, ou transmission mount are the root of my problem.
The fan is touching radiator only since a few days, and no shock on the car.

 

Hello !

I took 1 hour to change the transmission mount. Operation rather easy, but be careful the springs are strong.

The rubber part was damaged, and with the new fan is not rubbing radiator anymore

I found in previous owner documentation the bill for the replacement of this transmission mount, the car has run through 20 000 Km only ...