Hello all
I have a couple of issues with my fans that I believe I've traced back to the cooling module. Does anyone have any advice as to how to best access it? I have a 1999 XK8 4.0 coupe.
It looks like I will need to take the left hand wing off, unless anyone knows a better way to pull it, swap it for the new one and then put back?
thank you
Ash

 

Hi,
It's under the front of the car adjacent to the LHS horn, held by a single bolt:

 

Hello, thanks very much for your reply.
I've got where it is ok - it's more a case of how I actually get to it - are you looking up from laying on the ground on your photo? Does the wheel arch liner need to come out?
Any guidance you can give as to how to get to lay my hands on it would be great.
Cheers
Ash

 

Yes, looking up from under the front of the car.

It's slightly forward of the radiator, hence there's no easy route to it from the wheel well. Not much room to get to the bolt as there's the bumper beam in front of it, but you should be able to get a 1/4" drive in. I *think* the bolt is 8mm.

Might be easier just to pull the connector for testing.

They don't seem to give much trouble - what issue are you having?

 

Thanks very much for your help with this. I noticed the fans weren't working the other day. Fuse 14 had blown, so I replaced it but only the right hand side fan is coming on. The fuse has remained un-blown since replacing it.

From looking at other forum posts, other people's experience seemed to suggest the control module was the likely cause - it was easy to pick up a 2nd hand one (couldn't find a new one) for £9 so am starting there.

Now I know how to access it I can do some more robust tests as well as simply sticking the new module in to see if that solves the issue. If it doesn't I'll start by sending some volts down the wire (Orange Yellow I believe) to the left hand fan and see if it comes on.
If it doesn't, it can only be a dodgy wire, dropped earth or the fan has failed.

From dealing with similar things in the past gut feel suggests either something in the module or the fan failed and caused fuse 14 to blow when it went.

Any further advice would be gratefully received - I'll let you know the outcome, it will be the weekend before I can get it jacked up and head under the front of the car.

cheers, Ash

 

Try pulling the plug from engine temperature sensor and place resistor shown in plug contacts.
As far as removing the module just lay on your back and reach up, it's tight environment but not too bad to access. As l recall the module can be pulled free of bracket without tools.

resistor needed to simulate hot motor.

 

Also check F12 (30A) in the same fusebox if you haven't already. The fans are fused separately when running in parallel (high speed mode).

 

Be careful here if its like my 97 its controlled by the ECU and you can easily bugger the switching transistors which provide an earth when switching. The "control module" is only the 3 relays used for switching series/parallel the coils taking earths from the ECU
I have my fans running in series mode with ign on by earthing the wire coming out the ECU, A search will find my write up.
the fact you have only one fan running could indicate you have a problem with one of the fan motors, One fan cannot run alone in series mode.
I would disconnect the fans ( to protect the ECU) and give each individually 12v to check they both work. the whole unit is only held by two bolts.

 

Thanks everyone, I will be having a look this weekend and will post the results

 

After changing the control module the right hand fan comes on when the car gets up to temperature, but neither fan turn on at lower temperatures whilst AC is running and left hand fan doesn't come on at all, ever.

I sent 12v down the wire that feeds the left hand fan and nothing, so it does seem like that fan has failed.

have ordered a 2nd hand fan pack from eBay that I'll test and then clear up before installing next weekend, weather permitting.

Thank you to everyone for their thoughts and contributions on this one.

Ash

 

As well as 12v + it needs an earth .......

 

Looking at diagram, 2 ground points, LH side and RH side of engine bay shown as ground for fans. It looks like a bad LH ground will stop both fans running in series (low) and only RH fan can run parallel (high). LH fan can't run at all with that ground gone, even when feeding that fan 12+ volts as OP did.
Well worth a look.

 

Thanks Baxtor, that does sound like something worth investigating. I didn't get a diagram with your post - are you able to re-send or explain in more detail where the LH ground point is?

 

Ground point reference attached.
I had another look to confirm what l posted but must have misread diagram. Both grounds are listed as being on same ground stud, LF2 on a tandem eyelet so it is still possible for module ground to be OK but LH fan ground broken. If LH fan ground is bad that fan will not run.

 

To report that the fan issue is now resolved - the new fan pack fixed the problem as the left hand fan had indeed failed; I gave it some volts and it's as dead as disco...
Thanks everyone for your help and assistance, another issue crossed off the list
Ash