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"Name Brand" versus "fleabay Chinese" Cooling Fan Resistor.
So, a few months ago, I hit a raccoon on my way home from work. The impact cracked my front bumper, radiator support, damaged the fog light, and inner fender well liner. I have since been trying to get together the parts that I need (used pre-painted bumper, etc). I decided that, while the front end was apart I would replace the cooling fan resistor, as they are a known fail. So I purchased a used "URO" brand resistor thru the market place. When it arrived, I noticed that the wires were starting to come away from the solder on the contacts. After searching the interweb, I found a Chinese item on fleabay that looks identical to the URO resistor. The URO resistor is listed on Amazon for $27.26, free shipping, and I purchased the fleabay resistor for $11, free shipping. The only differences that I can find are the URO name being screen printed on the resistor, and the packaging. Otherwise they look identical, even to the injection mold identification molded into the plastic. Now I'm fully aware that parts are made en masse in China, and repackaged under brand names. Just trying to make members aware, and to share my experience with these parts.
On the bumper, I found one in Chili Red complete with everything (black trim, indicators, etc), including the radiator support for $550, shipped. Good deal?
Given the typical lifespan of the genuine MINI
resistor, either of these should be at least as good.
Better yet would to be to get a proper 0.33 ohm
100W power resistor with metal base and fins and
splice it in to the harness to bypass the oem
design, as many have done.
A raccoon did all that?! One tough raccoon or our cars are even more cheaply built than I realized. I’d hate to see what happens if you hit a large dog!
Sucks to hear about the damn raccoon! I haven't had any experience with the particular relay, but I have had some good experiences buying from THIS site for used parts.
This is still the best one out there. https://www.detroittuned.com/dorman-fan-relay-kit/ The green ceramic cracks and falls off, then the metal rusts and breaks (and fails again). Then they fan stops working. This one is Stainless Steel!!
Anyone ever figure out what the other component is?
My guess is a diode to short out back emf spikes.
I'm going to say it's a diode to isolate the low speed from the high speed.....otherwise the fan would run at the same speed all the time when the computer was telling it to run at low or high
That's just my guess.......I could be wrong.....usually am
Thanks for all of the input. When I start the rebuild, I will probably go with the Detroit Tuned item. Good people supplying good parts (had work done there before).
The last time I hit a raccoon, it hit dead center. Took out bumper cover, rad support, radiator, ac condenser, etc. Cost well over $2000.
As you can see, the bumper is cracked, and the fog light is gone. Fog light is pushed back at an angle into the cracked rad support. At least I will be able to fit the lower Aero grill during the rebuild.
