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I'm pulling the motor on my 2006 R53 and the YouTube vids all show a fan for the power steering. I belive I know the answer, but just checking - was this an option or not needed in 2006 models? Assuming it's missing and what comes with buying an older used car, but thought I'd check before spending the money. And for the record, I have no issues with the PS as is.
Wasn’t there a change partway through production that added a grille to the fan because it would sometimes suck up debris, get jammed, and then eventually kill the pump? I seem to remember that someone sold a stainless grille for the early fans.
That, plus the propensity for pumps to die anyway makes me think you’d want it, but I’m no expert.
yeah, just found a used one on ebay. Thinking used $50 OEM is better than new $100 Dorman, so I'll going that route. And what's a few more dollars (said dozens of times)? haha
ddegrey - you are correct. My 2003 S has on grill on the original P.S. fan. I noticed this the first I got under it. I said to myself - NOT GOOD. There were some aftermarket grills made but no longer in production. One more thing to do.
yeah, just found a used one on ebay. Thinking used $50 OEM is better than new $100 Dorman, so I'll going that route. And what's a few more dollars (said dozens of times)? haha
Glad you decided to go with getting a fan.
I'm no expert either.
But I've spent a lot of time, the past few years, scouring the salvage yards for anything 1st gen and every (1st gen), Mini that I've seen that hadn't been cannibalized, all had PS cooling fans with (plastic) grilles.
I'm convinced that these fans weren't an option but indeed necessary.
On a side note: I fashioned an additional metal stone and gravel diverter from a household AC vent - facing backwards over the fan. The plastic grilles will crack and break apart over time.
Thanks! Just found this wedged behind the PS pump - mystery solved.
on another note - with the lower mount, ps connectors and leads to the starter now removed I BELIEVE I have everything removed to pull the block. I'll test the tensile strength of any thing missed in short order...
The power steering cooling fan was standard on all 1st gens AFAIK. What was different were the facelift S’s with the Aisin auto had a duct to channel the air from the undertray between the bumper and radiator support. Prices for these parts are really expensive now, or possibly NLA. They would be something to look for at a junkyard since you’ll probably be able to get them for really cheap. Not sure if the undertray is actually needed, or if you could make it work by drilling a bunch of holes to make a vent in your existing tray, but I would just get both parts if it doesn’t add much to the cost.
The only hitch I can think of is the motor on the auto S’s is about an inch closer to the passenger side, but I’m not sure if that would affect the location and fitment of the fan duct on a manual trans car.
Fan is standard on all of these to provide cooling to the PS pump. Honestly, I would encourage you to buy new as these have all experienced a ton of use and you have no idea how long a used one was used, abused, etc. Shop around as prices differ. I just check and the SPAL fan from ECS is $79. (They offer lifetime warranty like FCP as well) For a few dollars more than the used one, you get some peace of mind.
