I've got a puzzling noise and vibration, and could use some help tracking it down. Thought it was the PS fan intially, but upon investigation it doesn't seem to be that. The noise is a low pitched grumbling, like a bad bearing somewhere, accompanied by a vibration that can be felt int he floor of the car.

It comes and goes. What I did figure out is that my noise & vibration are in time with the high speed radiator fan - but out of phase. So, when the main fan is on high the noise and vibration are not there, but when the main fan slows to regular speed the rumbling noise and vibration kick in.

What do people think of that? Could the main cooling fan bearings be going bad or something, and only vibrate at the lower speed? Replacing that sounds like an expensive job.

 

Jeff,
I have the same problem with my 09 Mini S. The dealer claims there is no problem. Did you find a solution?

 

After reading your post it sound like the same problem as my daughters car. Replace the radiator fan motor. On the posts I have read it sounds not to hard. She has a 03 and it should take about hour to do. Around 8 bolts and pull the radiator forward and after unhook the wires it slides out and the new one slides in. The dealer wanted $500 for the fan I found it on line from 79-109 plus freight. There is a forum on install on this site just read through it. Good luck.

 

What makes you think it's not the PS fan? I've got a noise that sounds like the one you are describing that I'm pretty sure is the PS fan. It comes on a few seconds after I turn on the A/C and stays on even after I turn the A/C off (at least for quite awhile). It's definitely a fan noise, since it doesn't vary with RPM. The sound can vary in pitch and intensity and seems to go away at highway speed (might just be masked by road noise!). My low speed fan is also out (going in for a fix next week). When my A/C is on, my high speed fan cycles on and off (actually stays cooler with the A/C on than off because the low speed isn't working). This high speed fan is a pretty good drain on the electrical and when I'm stopped at a light and the fan goes on, the noise that I believe is the PS fan changes pitch, or sometimes goes away. I have attributed that to slowing down as the high speed fan saps some of the electrical power at idle. So, could it be the PS fan is just changing speed, and with that, noise, when the high speed fan is off or on?

 

The fan goes on when the ac is on to force the air through the front end. If you are going down the road without the ac on there is enough air movement to cool the engine. When you come to a stop the engine heats up causing the fan thermal switch to tell the fan to come on to cool the engine. Probable the low speed windings are gone. Look up radiator fan replacement it is only around 8 bolts and hour to 2 hours work. You can find the fan for $500 at the dealer or on line for $79 to $109. I don't know about the 09 I have a 03.