Changed the Cooling Fan

[Kape]

Hey guys,

Went to the mechanic this morning to change my cooling fan (got it for $331 off of ebay) and almost ended in a disaster.

When I get there, at 8am, there is a 21 year old as manager and a older guy thats worked with the company for 31 years. Naturally I told the experience guy to work on my car. With a little bit of hassel, tight squeeze around the fan, he was able to get it out. By this time the shop is getting more busy and the older guy has to cut and weld mufflers.

He gives the kid some instructions on what to do to my car and walks away. Within 3 mins the kid push the t-mount radiator hose a wrong way and bust it. After trying to hold my temper, its declared part will be replaced free of charge but the only place that has it is nearly an hour away.

I had to work at 11am so this burned into my time. I couldnt leave cause they are closed when I get off as well as tomorrow. I almost blew it when the kid suggested that I pay now and he will leave my car parked outside with the keys inside so I can pick it over when Im free.

Long story short, the older guy pulled out my hose and showed me that it was my lucky day because that unit was clogged up and barely letting any coolant flow. I saved some of the parts if anyone wants me to post picks

 

[RigsLS]

I would continue to build relations with that older chap.
Sounds like he's the man that should be working on your LS in your area.

 

[Kape]

i definitely will. He gave me a couple of pointers and even told me to get my part from anywhere but the shop to avoid crazy mark up prices.

 

[RigsLS]

A wise man once said.

 

[oddball]

-edit- nevermind, forgot you have a Gen 2.
$331 for just the fan? I usually pick them up for $50.....
The Gen 1 hydraulic fans demand that much, but not the electric ones.

 

[Kape]

I wish it was just $50 lol I have the gen 1, 2000 LS. Sad to report that the get noise is back. I was cruising for a while to test it out and it lasted a hour before I realized it was doing it.

Once I realized that, I also saw that my overheating problem tagged along with it Im not sure whats going on. I'm hoping its because I havent changed the thermostat yet. But then again, if the thermostat was messed up, wouldnt have been overheated?

 

[oddball]

Oh, OK. I could've sworn in another thread you were talking about a Gen 2....

Yes, the hydraulic fan is not cheap. Unfortunately, it's usually not the fan that fails unless it has locked up hard.

The current symptoms sound like an air lock in the cooling system. A bubble blocks proper flow, so the engine overheats. The fan kicks into high to try to cool it down, but the problem is that coolant isn't moving - not that you need more airflow. You have to do the full bleed procedure precisely as written.

The other common failure with the Gen 1 cooling is the fan *never* speeds up. In that case, it's usually the actuator on the pump gums up.

If there was a bunch of "gunk" in the radiator hose, then it's probably in the engine and the radiator, further limiting coolant flow. Sounds like it might need a complete flush.

 

[Kape]

Thanks for the info. There was a bunch of gunk that leaked onto the plastic around my old cooling fan. The radiator was recently replace right before the cooling fan. I hope it has nothing to do with the engine. I'll set up a complete flush as soon as possible.

 

[BlackLS06]

The entire cooling system needs to be replaced. Unfortunately these cars have pressurized cooling systems that fail due to the plastic failing from repeated hot and cold cycles.

You've got the radiator and fan out if the way, now replace the degas, thermostat, housing and all the pipes. Then it needs to be filled and bled multiple times to get rid of any air.

 

[Kape]

NNNOOO!!!! hahahaha I was hoping I would be able to have the problem solved before the pipes having to be change would be a possible problem factor. I guess this is the price that comes with owning a beast haha.

I also had the degas and housing changed. Like you said, glad those are already out of the way. I seen a post a while ago with the piping parts and prices, anyone know if its still up here? Ive been trying to find it.