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How to Replace Radiator Fan assembly?

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  #1  
Old 05-22-2009 | 06:36 PM
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How to Replace Radiator Fan assembly?

Hello everyone,

I have been holding on to this issue until the weather got so damn hot here.
Well, the low speed on my fan has been dead for a long time and I just received my replacement thru mail today.

I have looked around and figured that bumper skin & aluminum bumper do have to come off. Okay, I can probably do that without any fuss. however, after everything is off, some say you have to disconnect the radiator hose to be able to access the fan assembly, but some say there is no need..

I really prefer 'not popping the radiator hose' way. Can anyone clarify on how to perform fan assembly replacement? so i don't be sweatin my @ss off?

thank you in advance!
 
  #2  
Old 05-23-2009 | 06:10 AM
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Found this link in our DIY section. Hope it helps.
 
  #3  
Old 05-23-2009 | 06:43 AM
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Pull the two pins that secure the top of the radiator, number 18 in this illustration...



...then pull the radiator forward a little, slide the fan assembly up and out.
 
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Old 05-23-2009 | 07:45 PM
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Great! Thank you so much all!
 
  #5  
Old 07-08-2009 | 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Partsman
Pull the two pins that secure the top of the radiator, number 18 in this illustration...
...then pull the radiator forward a little, slide the fan assembly up and out.
Just to confirm. The fan assembly can be changed without removing the bumper? If done this way by someone with experience, how long should it take?

My fans have not shut off for two days (I have been pulling the connector) and I am dreading this fix.

Rich
 
  #6  
Old 07-08-2009 | 11:46 PM
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I just got a fan too so I hope it's just that.
 
  #7  
Old 07-09-2009 | 05:40 AM
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not as I understand it

Originally Posted by Rich.Wolfson
Just to confirm. The fan assembly can be changed without removing the bumper? If done this way by someone with experience, how long should it take?

My fans have not shut off for two days (I have been pulling the connector) and I am dreading this fix.

Rich
No - a believe they are saying you can avoid actually removing the radiator which requires draining and refilling the cooling system. BUT

You need to pull the bumper to get any access to the rad - but then you can get enuf access to pull the fan off by carefully pulling the rad out 'just a little'

I'm sure I'll be corrected if reading this wrong tho ...
 
  #8  
Old 07-09-2009 | 06:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Rich.Wolfson
Just to confirm. The fan assembly can be changed without removing the bumper? If done this way by someone with experience, how long should it take?

My fans have not shut off for two days (I have been pulling the connector) and I am dreading this fix.

Rich
Is your fan running on stage 1(low speed,radiator cooling only) or stage 2(high speed,a/c on)?

Originally Posted by Capt_bj
No - a believe they are saying you can avoid actually removing the radiator which requires draining and refilling the cooling system. BUT
Right.
Originally Posted by Capt_bj
You need to pull the bumper to get any access to the rad - but then you can get enuf access to pull the fan off by carefully pulling the rad out 'just a little'
Correct.
 
  #9  
Old 07-09-2009 | 07:27 AM
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Is it still true that the failure-prone item (part # 9 in the above diagram) is not separately available?
 
  #10  
Old 07-09-2009 | 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by J A Blazer
Is it still true that the failure-prone item (part # 9 in the above diagram) is not separately available?
Number 9 is a relay that is readily available...I think you may have that confused with the resistor that normally goes bad, which is only available with the fan assembly.
 
  #11  
Old 07-09-2009 | 08:37 AM
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Partsman: You would know more than I; thanks for the clarification.
 
  #12  
Old 07-09-2009 | 09:24 AM
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You're welcome...anytime.
 
  #13  
Old 07-11-2009 | 06:43 PM
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I pulled the fan out today. You have to unhook the radiator hose on top so some coolant does drip but not a lot.

Bumper does need to come off for sure but it's not too bad to remove.

You take out those 2 things as pointed out and you can pop out the radiator more on the passenger side but not as much on the driver's side due to the condenser hoses.

The only thing that sucked was the Deka fan I got from Rock Auto didn't have the matching wiring harnesses like my 03 has. I think I must have an earlier model or something as I have 2 connectors so in went back the original.
 
  #14  
Old 07-12-2009 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Partsman
Number 9 is a relay that is readily available...I think you may have that confused with the resistor that normally goes bad, which is only available with the fan assembly.
My high speed fans continue running and I pulled the connector for a few days then all of a sudden it started working correctly. This has happened before.

So I am assuming that since resistor packs blow and don’t self-repair, that in my case the problem is likely the relay? And were is that relay located and what does it take to change it?

Thanks for all your valuable help on this and other matters.

Rich
 
  #15  
Old 07-14-2009 | 10:41 AM
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Where is everyone purchasing the fan? Mine just went so I need to replace it soon.
 
  #16  
Old 07-15-2009 | 11:24 PM
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1st one was rockauto.com

2nd one was ebay.
 
  #17  
Old 09-06-2009 | 08:29 AM
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just got my fan out!

with all the info here- 45 minutes and the fan is out, mine is seized so a new assembly is the only way out.

this forum rocks.


jr
 
  #18  
Old 11-10-2009 | 11:13 AM
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I'm replacing mine soon. Hopefully it's as easy as it sounds!
 

Last edited by 3cch.com; 11-10-2009 at 11:20 AM.
  #19  
Old 11-10-2009 | 11:54 AM
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On an S it is a bit of a pain..... I removed the bumper and the bumper-cover.....and still so tight I had to unbolt the A/C radiator (left it fully connected, but supported), to get the radiator tilted back enough to drop the fan in. Maybe there is an easier way...but it appears I did it the same way as a few others folks from the posts I've
One note-----
Even if you do get the right fan, you may still have a spare plug....mine did,the reason is because my power-steering fan was modified by my dealer to put it on a separate fuse in the cabin, thus the extra, unused plug on my new fan.
I got the Rock-Auto fan...was a Delco branded part, very good for 79.00, was delivered by standard shopping in 2 days. It appears to be a quality copy of the OEM....going on 6+ months...no complaints!!
 

Last edited by ZippyNH; 11-10-2009 at 11:56 AM. Reason: added shipping time
  #20  
Old 04-19-2010 | 11:25 AM
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Was happy to find this thread -- ON IT!
 
  #21  
Old 04-22-2010 | 06:20 PM
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Is any different on a 2003 non-S version? I still have to pull the front end off correct?
 

Last edited by dinnertime; 04-22-2010 at 07:01 PM.
  #22  
Old 08-14-2010 | 10:44 AM
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I just swapped out my cooling fan assembly on my 03 Mini non-S. This was super easy. It took like 1.5 hours.
The bumper cover comes off easy With a few screws at the top and bottom and push-pins inside the wheel well. Just be careful disconnecting some cables when pulling the cover off.
The bumper just un-bolts and comes right off. It's super light.
Pop the two push-pins at each top corner of the radiator. I used a small flat tip screwdriver and pulled the center pin out, then the rest off the pin came out easy. Undo the top hose and the radiator tilts out. Make sure you unplug the wires and cut the cable ties holding it to the shroud. The fan assembly has a catch on each of the two bottom cradles. Release those and it slides right out.
Reverse this and you are done.
 
  #23  
Old 07-11-2011 | 11:00 AM
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2004 Mini Cooper radiator fan replacement

I have a 2004 Automatic non S. I had to remove the bumper cover and bumper. Not really as bad as it sounds. In the image of the front with the colored ellipses, the green are the two pins discussed, and the red are all the bolt and nuts holding the bumper on. There are a couple of nutted studs not shown in the photo on the more outer reaches of the bumper.

I recommend not to take off the radiator hose at the radiator but at the aft of the hose. Then lean out from the top of the radiator bending the hose down. Then the fan pulls right out.
 
Attached Thumbnails How to Replace Radiator Fan assembly?-268514_10150697571165597_794385596_19423756_1661851_n2.jpg   How to Replace Radiator Fan assembly?-269641_10150697576820597_794385596_19423804_6466730_n.jpg   How to Replace Radiator Fan assembly?-264206_10150697579530597_794385596_19423831_3714300_n.jpg  
  #24  
Old 07-19-2011 | 05:53 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnSBrown52
I have a 2004 Automatic non S. I had to remove the bumper cover and bumper. Not really as bad as it sounds. In the image of the front with the colored ellipses, the green are the two pins discussed, and the red are all the bolt and nuts holding the bumper on. There are a couple of nutted studs not shown in the photo on the more outer reaches of the bumper.

I recommend not to take off the radiator hose at the radiator but at the aft of the hose. Then lean out from the top of the radiator bending the hose down. Then the fan pulls right out.
This is my first post. I just replaced my fan yesterday thanks to this wonderful post by johnsbrown52. Thank you so much. Very easy to replace as stated. My mini no longer overheats.
 
  #25  
Old 07-19-2011 | 06:09 AM
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Originally Posted by rcantu
The only thing that sucked was the Deka fan I got from Rock Auto didn't have the matching wiring harnesses like my 03 has. I think I must have an earlier model or something as I have 2 connectors so in went back the original.
Yep, there are two different fan models (1 connector and 2 connector), and the change from the early 2 connector to the
later 1 connector fan assembly was supposedly in March 2003 - but it's better to go by a visual inspection than the VIN number,
as the VIN will sometimes steer you to the wrong part as happened with my 2/2003 MC (VIN and build date said early part,
but mine was built with the later part).
 


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