Low Speed Fan Resistor - we need solution
#651
So, After completing other repairs and getting my '02 running again, the cooling fan fails, high speed won't stop. Being a cooling fan replacement expert (I've done two) and after reading all this thread again, I punted and purchased the Dorman Assembly from RockAuto for the reasonable price of $78 shipped to the house. That didn't take long and I installed it last weekend.
Doesn't run. Nadda. The MINI just sits there at temperature and never climbs above it. Even on a ride down the road, nadda. A fast ride down the expressway, nothing. Also did the A/C test setting it on LO and let it run for awhile. Nothing. No low, no high. I didn't do that long as the condenser/rad got kinda hot and I didn't want to ruin the A/C compressor. I just replaced nearly everything running on the serpentine belt except the compressor.
Checked the fuse, the relay in the fuse box, even plugged in the old unit which of course, just ran on high as long as I let sit there doing it. It's the 3-wire set up and the plugs all matched up, no prongs bent.
My next step is to find a meter and try to determine if the new unit is just bad. I'm just overjoyed about taking that MINI apart again.
Has anyone else bought the Dorman unit from RockAuto only to have it not work?
Doesn't run. Nadda. The MINI just sits there at temperature and never climbs above it. Even on a ride down the road, nadda. A fast ride down the expressway, nothing. Also did the A/C test setting it on LO and let it run for awhile. Nothing. No low, no high. I didn't do that long as the condenser/rad got kinda hot and I didn't want to ruin the A/C compressor. I just replaced nearly everything running on the serpentine belt except the compressor.
Checked the fuse, the relay in the fuse box, even plugged in the old unit which of course, just ran on high as long as I let sit there doing it. It's the 3-wire set up and the plugs all matched up, no prongs bent.
My next step is to find a meter and try to determine if the new unit is just bad. I'm just overjoyed about taking that MINI apart again.
Has anyone else bought the Dorman unit from RockAuto only to have it not work?
#652
So, After completing other repairs and getting my '02 running again, the cooling fan fails, high speed won't stop. Being a cooling fan replacement expert (I've done two) and after reading all this thread again, I punted and purchased the Dorman Assembly from RockAuto for the reasonable price of $78 shipped to the house. That didn't take long and I installed it last weekend.
Doesn't run. Nadda. The MINI just sits there at temperature and never climbs above it. Even on a ride down the road, nadda. A fast ride down the expressway, nothing. Also did the A/C test setting it on LO and let it run for awhile. Nothing. No low, no high. I didn't do that long as the condenser/rad got kinda hot and I didn't want to ruin the A/C compressor. I just replaced nearly everything running on the serpentine belt except the compressor.
Checked the fuse, the relay in the fuse box, even plugged in the old unit which of course, just ran on high as long as I let sit there doing it. It's the 3-wire set up and the plugs all matched up, no prongs bent.
My next step is to find a meter and try to determine if the new unit is just bad. I'm just overjoyed about taking that MINI apart again.
Has anyone else bought the Dorman unit from RockAuto only to have it not work?
Doesn't run. Nadda. The MINI just sits there at temperature and never climbs above it. Even on a ride down the road, nadda. A fast ride down the expressway, nothing. Also did the A/C test setting it on LO and let it run for awhile. Nothing. No low, no high. I didn't do that long as the condenser/rad got kinda hot and I didn't want to ruin the A/C compressor. I just replaced nearly everything running on the serpentine belt except the compressor.
Checked the fuse, the relay in the fuse box, even plugged in the old unit which of course, just ran on high as long as I let sit there doing it. It's the 3-wire set up and the plugs all matched up, no prongs bent.
My next step is to find a meter and try to determine if the new unit is just bad. I'm just overjoyed about taking that MINI apart again.
Has anyone else bought the Dorman unit from RockAuto only to have it not work?
You wired it wrong my bet, there's not much to go wrong there. Check to make sure you have power and goins getting to the connector on the drivers side rail.
#653
Hard to wire it wrong when it comes with matching/mating plugs. It has power coming to it at the plug, but I still need to confirm the cooling fan wiring.
I'm thinking a tall, pilot lit, toggle on the dashboard and the old cooling fan with high speed only reinstalled, go NASCAR. Hit the fan, hit the ignition, and let her rip. I'd never hear it whining anyway.
Wait, I'm sorry, I lost myself for a second. I'll just keep fiddling with it or the old unit.
I'm thinking a tall, pilot lit, toggle on the dashboard and the old cooling fan with high speed only reinstalled, go NASCAR. Hit the fan, hit the ignition, and let her rip. I'd never hear it whining anyway.
Wait, I'm sorry, I lost myself for a second. I'll just keep fiddling with it or the old unit.
#654
It looks my car may be the latest victim of this design flaw. Ive only had the bugger for 2 weeks now, too… I noticed i want getting cold air from the A/C, so i started trouble shooting that. While checking the fuses i noticed that while A/C is on, my fan isn't spinning. It was replaced last year at a mini dealer by the previous owner, so to my knowledge it should still be under warranty, hopefully...
#655
I had my fan relay replaced a week ago with the version sold by Chad at Detroit Tuned.com. Part was $53, not bad at all. My independent mechanic installed it (You still have to remove the radiator fan assembly off the car) and took about an hour to get done.
Works like a charm and the coil seems to be a different design from the defective/crappola coil used in the stock version.
BTW, I had replaced the fan assembly just 3 years ago. The stock fan relay doesn't seem to last more than a couple of year. Pure junk.
Here I am hoping the new replacement relay will last a little longer than the OEM version.
Works like a charm and the coil seems to be a different design from the defective/crappola coil used in the stock version.
BTW, I had replaced the fan assembly just 3 years ago. The stock fan relay doesn't seem to last more than a couple of year. Pure junk.
Here I am hoping the new replacement relay will last a little longer than the OEM version.
#656
It looks my car may be the latest victim of this design flaw. Ive only had the bugger for 2 weeks now, too… I noticed i want getting cold air from the A/C, so i started trouble shooting that. While checking the fuses i noticed that while A/C is on, my fan isn't spinning. It was replaced last year at a mini dealer by the previous owner, so to my knowledge it should still be under warranty, hopefully...
Get the fan relay replaced as soon as possible. With the summer now upon us, the lack of low fan speed will raise temperatures in there and eventually take/destroy your A/C compressor. Trust me, it happened to me 3 years ago and had to fork out $1600 to replace the compressor. A/C high line and the radiator fan assembly. Amazing the amount of damage a defective $50 part can make.
The stock fan relay is a terrible design that doesn't last more than a couple of years.
#657
#658
The main design flaw seems to be a lack of cooling for the resistor. Even the DT kit looks to be the same basic design with perhaps a better resistor - but that resistor is still going to get very hot, and does not have a heat sink of any kind.
I think the most elegant solution is the one posted by Vito on page 20 on this thread. When stage 1 dies on my current fan, that's what I'll be doing.
#659
Rich
#660
Unfortunately, there seems to be an inherent suicide pack in the design too. If the fan stops spinning, the resistor dies. If the resistor dies, the fan stops spinning.
#661
http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...9176.svg?m=r50
You would know better than I how practical this would be (apparently not!) having actually seen the fan though...
You could still reuse your current fan though and just install the DT relay kit. Any reason for buying a brand new one when your current relay/resistor goes out?
#662
I do wish the external resister would have worked on mine. But alas...
Last edited by Rich.Wolfson; 05-30-2012 at 08:41 PM.
#663
In reply to Rich Wolfson's post WAY back on Page 20: "You have an '03 (like my Artoo) which means that you cannot use an external resister. So, your only choice is which fan to get when you replace the whole assembly. OEM or aftermarket. And who will do the install?"
That just doesn't sound right. You may not be able to do it without pulling the fan, but why couldn't you cut out the bad resistor and wire in a new one with really long wire leads and put it where you want?
That just doesn't sound right. You may not be able to do it without pulling the fan, but why couldn't you cut out the bad resistor and wire in a new one with really long wire leads and put it where you want?
#664
In reply to Rich Wolfson's post WAY back on Page 20: "You have an '03 (like my Artoo) which means that you cannot use an external resister. So, your only choice is which fan to get when you replace the whole assembly. OEM or aftermarket. And who will do the install?"
That just doesn't sound right. You may not be able to do it without pulling the fan, but why couldn't you cut out the bad resistor and wire in a new one with really long wire leads and put it where you want?
That just doesn't sound right. You may not be able to do it without pulling the fan, but why couldn't you cut out the bad resistor and wire in a new one with really long wire leads and put it where you want?
For me it is the labor time to change the fan and not necessary the cost of the part.
Rich
#665
I had my fan relay replaced a week ago with the version sold by Chad at Detroit Tuned.com. Part was $53, not bad at all. My independent mechanic installed it (You still have to remove the radiator fan assembly off the car) and took about an hour to get done.
Works like a charm and the coil seems to be a different design from the defective/crappola coil used in the stock version.
BTW, I had replaced the fan assembly just 3 years ago. The stock fan relay doesn't seem to last more than a couple of year. Pure junk.
Here I am hoping the new replacement relay will last a little longer than the OEM version.
Works like a charm and the coil seems to be a different design from the defective/crappola coil used in the stock version.
BTW, I had replaced the fan assembly just 3 years ago. The stock fan relay doesn't seem to last more than a couple of year. Pure junk.
Here I am hoping the new replacement relay will last a little longer than the OEM version.
i had a guy that did this and he stopped by the shop the otherday...after his car caught fire. not sure if it was installed right or not, but be careful.
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#666
Ouch. That's the only mention of a fire I've seen, so I'm guessing it must have been installation error - maybe a shorted wire or he used too thin of a gauge of wire for the resistor.
#668
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...olution-5.html
Good to hear
How hot does your resistor get?
#669
I know little about electronics, my 2003 MCS has a relay installed in the fan housing and a corroded resistor. I wired 2 long wires from the old resistor terminal to accommodate a remote install of a heat sink resistor. My question is there a polarity that needs to be observe on my install? The low fan is turning on at around 209 degree f. No issue here so far but I just don't want any problem because I connected the resistor backwards as far as polarity.
#670
For any just coming to this thread, ^ this solution is on page 5:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...olution-5.html
Good to hear
How hot does your resistor get?
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...olution-5.html
Good to hear
How hot does your resistor get?
#671
#672
Do you know where the resistor was installed? Bumper or Engine Support?
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#673
#674
I wonder how hot the original design gets. Circuits is circuits - it's gotta be getting very hot too.
Maybe this mod needs a component that adds water cooling too...
#675
You'd think a .47 would run about 40% cooler (.47/.33 = 1.424...) at first glance, but since a .47 in series
with a fan will flow less current but have a higher voltage drop across it than a .33, things even out somewhat
and the .47 will actually dissapate only about 10 - 15% less than the .33 resistor.
You have to plug in a value for the fan's resistance under load to get an exact number.
with a fan will flow less current but have a higher voltage drop across it than a .33, things even out somewhat
and the .47 will actually dissapate only about 10 - 15% less than the .33 resistor.
You have to plug in a value for the fan's resistance under load to get an exact number.