My car has an electric fan mounted in the left wing that makes a HELL of a racket when it switches on... they're not supposed to be really loud are they? I checked (another NAM-er was there as well) and it looks as if the fan blades have a nick on them, suggesting that they're rubbing along the outer edge, but before I start dissassembling stuff I'm wondering what they're supposed to sound like?

Thanks!

 

Well there is an electric fan on my Vtec one and it is not audible over the sound of the motor, and when it runs after I stop the car it's pretty quiet. I'd say there may be an issue with what you describe.

 

Yeah, it definitely sounds too loud to me, as in embarassingly so. Guess I need to start taking stuff apart. Wheee!

I wonder of my Haynes manual covers the add-on radiator fan? Hmmmmm... I'm not even sure how to adjust ot, shy of shaving off the tips of the fan blades - guess I'll just have to see where it's hitting. Thanks!

 

original rover fans have a nice metal mounting bracket. Add-on fans are slim and made plastic along with teh mounting harware, stuff usually wears out or becomes loose. You've probably been driving the car too hard which is ok since it's your new toy.

 

Good to know... Yeah, it's been hot here lately and sitting at stoplights elevates the engine temp to the point where the fan comes on. When I'm actually rolling, the temp comes down thanks to the mechanical fan that's always running off the fan belt.

 

Watch out for unbalancing the blades if you shorten them too much. It is a rather precsie set up and may end up making even more noise.

 

Good point... I was hoping to see where on the housing it's rubbing first and hopfully fix THAT as opposed to shortening one or more blades.

 

i think a set of washers and/or spacers should solve the problem.

 

Washers/Spacers where? Around the fan shaft, I assume? I'll check to see where its hitting after work - hopefully this is all that it will need. Thanks!

 

Like he says ^

EDIT... The fan could come apart if it's out of balance.

Another reason for the noise could be a worn bearing on the fan motor. With the car off & battery disconnected give it a feel. Smooth or wobbly?

Find where it's hitting & adjust the clearance. I big hammer would work for that. It's a special service tool.

 

BFH... "Big... erm... FRIENDLY Hammer"...

 

is it a scratching noise or a whine?

 

It's like a raspberry noise... a very LOUD raspberry. At first I thought it was a bearing going out or something, then I peered in at the fan and there's a chafe mark on the outside edge of at least one of the blades. I'll need to remove the radiator to properly see it though, as the fan is nestled inside the LH wing peice...

HA!

 

I bet you already have all of those special service tools. The term to use is, youn have to ruckle the bloody fan!

 

I think you can reposition the fan so as to not be beating on your car with a hammer. I would put the washers between the fans mounts and the car.

 

Well, I looked in there and I can see where it's hitting - on the front edge of the circular hole in the left wing. Problem is, it's so bloody tight in there that I can't get a tool inside to either hammer OR unbolt the plastic fan. Looks like I'll need to pull out the radiator entirely to get in to work on it.

Seeing as how I'm still waiting for my Haynes manual, can anyone point me to an illustrated How-to on pulling the radiator out? I started unbolting stuff but it was looking like I'd need to disconnect hoses to get it out of position, and I wasn't sure of the drainage procedure, or if anything needed to be bled afterwards...

Thanks!

 

When you have the rad out flush the cooling system. Make sure all the hoses are up to snuff. If not, now is the time to replace them. At the very least flush & fill with nice new coolant. As far as I know there is no bleeder on your engine, at least I've never seen on on an A series engine & I've seen my fair share. Fill it up with the proper mix of coolant water & idle it with the rad cap off & the heater on. It will take a bit of time, but it will burp the air out. After the first time you drive her she may well need a top off of coolant. Very normal.

Be careful with antifreeze around your pets. For some reason they are prone to drink it.

 

It's because antifreze is sweet. Kids drink it for the same reason (that, and it looks like Kool-Aid).

Disconnecting the hoses scares me - Paul says that the lower radiator hose is a biotch and a half...

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of classic cars.

Don't be afraid, you're a smart fella & can do what's needed.