COOLING FAN MOTOR BURNING OUT??

[captainsparkledotcom]

Hi there, have been visiting the forum for a while, getting some worthy info and tips. Now i have a problem, tonight. stopping at a junction i was greeted with a burning smell, then smoke rising from the front! On closer investigation the smoke was coming from behind the radiator grill, and, after removing the grill it looks like the wiring to the motor has gotten rather hot!! Anybody have any experience of a similar fault?
It happened in the dark, so, now i'm home i'll get the torch out and have another look. Is it easy to get to the fan motor, I>E> regarding loosening/taking off radiator?
Its an HDI 90 S model estate 2003.
cheers folks!

[steve_earwig]

Greetings I've had a quick look in Haynes (BoL) and it doesn't look anything like the pig it is on a D8 - grille off, 4 bolts to take the outer shroud off, then 3 bolts to release the fan motor, then "maneuver" the thing out. My only experience of fans is the brushes wearing out so they stop working but that sounds like it's seized.

[Welly]

Yeah my fan crapped out too, although I caught it quite early (it was bringing the 'check engine' light on).

Replacement is pretty easy and if you pop down to GSF or somewhere they're about £120.00 (merry christmas).

Check this 40A fuse you see here with the white blob on it as this gets hot and could do with replacing (high current draw from the rad fan motor)...

[steve_earwig]

Don't they have them in breakers? For 120 quid ( ) I'd be taking it apart to find out why it went wrong and if I could fix it. Anyway, hold fire on that 'til he's got it off and has a better idea why he had a late Guy Fawkes night...

Btw have they banned fireworks over there yet?

[captainsparkledotcom]

Btw have they banned fireworks over there yet?

No, they haven't , thankfully (have you seen my website, then? http://www.captainsparkle.com

Anyway, just been outside, definitely fan motor, touch it and smell the burn!, stuff been dripping out of the bottom too!(like molten grease),
something springs to mind after searching t'interweb..........The great recall of 2003 (mines 2003, will have to check exact date) for seemingly the same fault, i know its over 5 years old, but its only done 60k (f.s.h.), maybe i'll get in touch with the pugmeisters themselves tomorrow, only problem being, time is money, and if they're going to parp around and procrastinate it may be better to just get it sorted a.s.a.p.!

[steve_earwig]

BE AMAZED AT HIS TOTAL LACK OF FEAR AS POWERFUL ROCKETS ARE LAUNCHED - OFF HIS HEAD!!

I think you'll be a welcome addition to these here forums Oooh, another biker too!

I think your first port of call would be Peugeot with your chassis number, they should be able to tell you if the work was done. I'm not sure what happens if it wasn't. Time for some Googling...

Dozens of fires involving 2002/3 model year 406 HDIs in 2003. Wiring went Multiplex. The control module for the front mounted engine cooling/air-con fan can start burning after being parked for several hours, though has also occurred while being driven. See recalls.

Recalls:...May 2003 TSB recalling HDIs because water can enter the electrics of the cooling fan. 13-5-2003: Safety recall for 2002/3 406 HDIs with Multiplex wiring as water may enter the under bonnet cooling fan control module, cause a short circuit and start and engine fire. Modified cooling fan assembly to be fitted.

VOSA

1 13/05/2003 R/2003/047 PEUGEOT 406 water may enter cooling fan - risk of fire. 81434787 81588580 01/12/2001 31/03/2003
2 13/05/2003 R/2003/047 PEUGEOT 406 water may enter cooling fan - risk of fire. VF38B4HXF81434787 VF38FRHZF81588580 01/12/2001 31/03/2003
3 13/05/2003 R/2003/047 PEUGEOT 406 water may enter cooling fan - risk of fire.

Yes, all very nice, what happens next guys?

[captainsparkledotcom]

cheers,
I think my vin is just outside the recall numbers!?!?!, but,
I'll ring them tomorrow and keep you posted
errr, keep posting,
or something.

[Welly]

I missed the fact it was a 2003 'plexer' - maybe a different scenario to mine above?

Keep up the good work Cap'n

[captainsparkledotcom]

Phoned up the great pugmeisters this morn, who said "phone the dealers", who said " phone peugeot", who said its not on the database for a recall - goodbyeeee!
seems strange to me,
anybody familiar with the actual fault on the fan motor in 2003?,
the circuitry on mine has burnt out, the actual wire coil on the motor seems ok. Anyway, cant find one at any breakers, or GSF (who were very good, gave them a number off the fan/motor, then rang back with the actual part number, but they couldnt find it on their system),
peugeot themselves want £207 !! so, i've taken it off, fan and motor, isolated the wiring and intend to run it like that over winter/till i can find one at a beakers........ that is, unless someone gives me a reason not to that i haven't thought of.

2nd 406 i've had in a row, t'other clocking about 170k, before i decided to buy one of the last ones made.
I shouldnt have watched that french film, taxi, with its 406 supertaxi machine!! i have this fantasy, you see.......enough, enough.......

[steve_earwig]

If your car has air con you should knobble it forthwith - the condenser'll get rather hot. I hope it's just a simple case of yanking the wire on the compressor (anyone?) 'cos that worked on my D8.

"Nah, why put the control unit somewhere else? Stick it on the fan, that way when it goes bang they'll have to buy the fan too!"

[steve_earwig]

Not sure if you're looking in Service Box but if the fan you're looking for is 1253E1 it's been superseded by 1253E4, which is the same fan my 2004 HDI 110's got. Might widen your search...

[captainsparkledotcom]

If your car has air con you should knobble it forthwith - the condenser'll get rather hot. I hope it's just a simple case of yanking the wire on the compressor (anyone?) 'cos that worked on my D8.

"Nah, why put the control unit somewhere else? Stick it on the fan, that way when it goes bang they'll have to buy the fan too!"

Are you meaning to switch aircon off every time, or to temporarily permanently disconnect it, by yanking the wire off? I didn't realise the aircon was connected to the cooling fan.
The idea is to run it until i can find a reasonably priced fan, so buying another fan, the same dimensions, is not an option, i presume?
please pardon my ignorance of such issues!

[steve_earwig]

The air con uses the fan to cool the condensor, it also has an annoying habit of turning itself on all the time, I'm not sure how much stress you'll put on it if you forget. When the fans (yes, two off, count your blessings) on my D8 both went west at the same time, the first thing I knew about it was the big red STOP sign came up, presumably because the air con overheated (it was a cold day and the engine didn't).

I don't think you have the option to fit a similar fan because of that damn control box, unless you can find a way of switching it on and off (thermo switch etc.) in time honoured (and less potentially hazardous) fashion. Kenlowe springs to mind but they ain't cheap either.

[captainsparkledotcom]

thanks steve,
i'll (try to) remember to switch aircon off everytime, guess i'd better hunt a new fan down quicker than i anticipated,
didnt like the idea of being forced into a corner over buying a new o.e. one, so i think i've got a bit of breathing space now.