For a while now my car has been making noise like its the belt, but new water pump, belt tentioner, belt, ect. I just found out today it was the power steering fan, wasn't even moving at all. I removed it, and sound went away. Is the power steering fan really needed?

Also car overheated a few times, and found out the radiator fan fuse blew, and both radiator fan, and power steering fan run on same fuse. Stupid of mini to do that.

 

Knowing how great power steering pumps are on our cars, I wouldn't take the chance to run it without the fan, it will most likely shorten the life of the pump. About the fuse, unless the fuse blows because of the PS fan, which can end up making the car overheat, it's not that big of a problem (circuit wise). Since they are on the same circuit, you can actually check if the PS fan is working by engaging the A/C.

 

I engaged the a/c, and just heard more noise coming from the fan, and didn't see it moving. Does the fan really make a difference? I mean most cars don't have a power steering fan.

I doubt the fan has been working for a long time, and when I tried spinning the blades with my fingers they scraped the sides. I do know that 5 months ago the fan worked, but I know its been about 2-3 that it hasn't been working. I removed it about 5 months ago to access other parts, and it did spin freely when I tried.

 

You might be fine....
BUT you are chancing shortening the life of a $600 part to save a few $$ on a fan...
Pennywise-pond foolish as the saying goes....or the more modern saying tripping over a dollar to pick up a penny....
The wiring was changed to split the fuses in PRODUCTION year 2005 cars....
I knoe when i bought my last fan from waymotorworks a few yewrs ago, they included the directions on how to split the fan wiring (mine was done by the dealer at my first oil change to update my car to matcuh 2005 year production cars).

 

I understand, but $100 for a fan. I could rig something up for a lot less.

 

Some people used computer fans, don't know how well they hold up outside tho.

 

Most cars don't have a PS pump that requires cooling. As others have said, you can do without, but you're risking $$$ to save $. You should be able to find one at a wrecker's for less.

 

Should be fine. I'm sure it was just over designed and none of the failed pumps were due to the ps fan not working.

Might be ok for a short time, but I wouldn't chance it.

Nik

 

I'll try that, i have computer fans

 

PS = $160.00
PS Pump + Installation = $1,100.00

I would say in this case being "penny wise" is not a good move long term.

The PS fan is on same circuit so the driver knows when it is not working. Lets face it, we don't often get our faces down there when the engine is running and when fan is spinning. It is designed to activate and cool a small circuit board buried beneath the pumps casing. If the board over heats a circuit line in the board could be separated from a heat sink fracture creating a short in the board.

Low speed cooling fan is critical to cooling the water temps when in traffic or at stand still so also necessary and both these issues are common with the MINI usually around 80K miles.

Get the new updated fan PS Fan from MINI and not the aftersales motors from other vendors. The MINI one will last longer having a stronger motor to push thru any gunk built up from road dirt and debris.

You can test the PS fan and low speed fans by engaging the A/C. Within a minute or so both fans will come on automatically. And just checking/spinning the PS fan during oil changes to be sure it's free, is not a bad idea too.

There is a company in Mass who remanufactures them...or at least, they purport that they do. Unfortunately it would seem these only last about 6 months since all they do is check the board, use high pressure air to clean it out, and paint the exterior...IMO not a rebuild.....

 

If it were 6 months from now I'd say you might be ok through the winter, but not this time of year, I've had my P/S fail from the pump overheating when my fan was out, just got lucky it wasn't gone completely.

As a side note
The only way I know to extend the life of a P/S fan would be to hook it up hot with the key or ECU, (like the electric w/p for the Sprintex kit) the reason I say this is that a major % of P/S Fan failures come from when the fan isn't running, grit & grime are allowed to accumulate on the motor, if it's running it doesn't allow it to happen as easily, and as far as alternative fans this will be your major problem too, at least the OEM fan was made to be under there & handle it somewhat. The grit & grime is probably what caused your failure & extra drag on the motor which in turn blew your fuse, or possibly the otherway around, fuse blew, fan didn't work, grime accumulated. Still the same result.

My suggestion, if you are looking for a project, would be to buy the right replacement and see if you can clean & rebuild your old one yourself for future replacement.

Don't forger it's also on the same fuse as the backup warning beeper, if you don't hear that, check your fuse, just makes for another early warning signal.

**Also**
Everyone remember, when you wash your car, esp. in a D.I.Y. pressure wash bay, spray the P/S fan best you can, the water won't hurt it, the dirt will!

 

How powerful is that power steering fan? I just rigged up an 80mm computer fan. I would've gone bigger, but thats what sux about living with parents, can't find my tools. The 80mm fan isn't blowing much, and its blowing on the power steering pump. How do I wire the fan hot to the ignition? I had to rewire it cause for some reason I wasn't getting power at fan connection. I have the power going to the 5 amp fuse for the radiator cause not sure where else to put it at the moment, and the ground is going to the battery.

 

Just bought a replacement fan for $45.00. I typed in spal fan online, and its a 4" fan for an atv tranny. Just got to cut off the connector, and put the old connector on.

 

Just for the record, I drove through puddles, spun around in stones, drove fast over pot wholes, and the cheaply made 80mm computer fan is still spinning just fine. Who would've ever guessed a cheap fan could withstand all that? By cheap I mean like $15-$20 for the fan. Cheap cause its cheaper then the $100 mini fan.

 

Am I the only one here that finds everything under the sun stuck up in my PS fan?? Strange thing is I only drive on paved roads ha ha .. lol.. Just the other day I found a rock wedged up in the blades.. So I just check my fan regulary..

 

so what's the general consensus on how to know when the P/S fan turns on? I took the fan out today and cleaned it the best I can. I did notice some scraping resistance when I tried to turn it by hand. Put everything back together, checked all the fuses (all good), turned on the A/C and waited until the radiator fan turned on. The P/S fan still did not turn on. Is my P/S fan a goner for sure? or is there a more sure fire way to test it?

thanks

 

If the 5amp fuse is not blown, then yes the fan is kaput if not coming on with A/C. It's best to get a visual though since it's not easy to hear with the Aux fan running.

Newer fan has stronger motor to push through crud, but if you have any
oil leaks/seeps under there it tends to get into the fan assemblies leading to an untimely demise.

 

I have been reading some info on this and I think I can save myself some time by posting my current problem on my 2005 Mini Works Convertible as I can't seem to get the fan to run and don't want to drive it till I do.
My power steering goes away after driving a few miles, parking the car then returning, like entering a store. After I restart the car I have no power steering for a very short time, less than a parking lot, then it works again. It has happened twice and I quit driving it. I looked underneath and the power steering fan is not running when the a/c is on. My cooling fan cycles high speed on then off repeatedly whenever the a/c is on but it has done that for a couple of years, maybe since I bought the car used 3 years ago. I put in a new p/s fan but no difference. Testing 12V directly to the old one it ran which means I just threw away $180.
Which fuse is the 5A on you mention as looking in the manual I thought it feeds off the interior fan fuse?
I am open to all info as I am baffled and would prefer not to burn up the P/S motor. The extended warranty applies to all 2005 models built till Feb. 2005. Mine was April.