Engine fan - '69 E-Type

[jjbunn]

With the ignition key turned to on, the front fan in the engine compartment of my '69 E-Type is powered up. Is this normal? I have some extra wiring in that area that I haven't traced yet, but appears to be connected with a switch under the dash (shown below, with blue wires):

(the switch doesn't apparently do anything, and has no volts on either side of it). I'm wondering whether this is an addition a PO made so that the engine fan could be overridden? Any ideas? (Also, am I missing some sort of under-dash cover that would conceal all these wires?)

Thanks!

 

[jessebogan]

The fan is supposed to operate off of a temp switch, in the lower hose I think. However, as etypes are known to run warm on occasion (usually due to something needing to be fixed) people set them up so that the fans run all the time. Some patient work w/ the wiring diagram should sort the fans out. At least you know they work... There should be a "hardura" (cardboard) cover under the dash. They are available as repro parts, and can be vexing to fit... Easy enough, but finding the original screw holes will test your vocabulary.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

There should only be two fans that are fitted to your shroud that "suck" air through the matrix. They are controlled via the Otter switch located on the top header tank of your radiator. After warm up, with the ignition "on", the fans should be functioning.
This must explain all of the extra wiring that I enquired about in a previous post. Seems that the keeper before you added an extra fan at the front and the extra wiring. I would be extra sure that the front fan is wired with a fuse and relay...fans draw tonnes of current. From your pictures, you still have the square cased fan motors...they maybe tired. The re-placement units are not the same shape, so do not bin them...you may want them at a later date. With the Otter switch, both fan motors, relays, etc. all working properly, you will not need the fan at the front.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

As mentioned above, PO's can add/change wiring to fans. When I built my 68, I added parallel wiring circuit to the fans so I could control them manually if I wanted. You don't need fans on the highway moving. I also like a idiot light to tell me when the fans are on.

Marv

 

[Grantura_MKI]

+1 on Marv!!

 

[DrEntropy]

We've wired up a number of S-2 and S-3 cars with a switch in the dash to manually control that pair of fans, relay'd and fused. Unfortunately we no longer can find the switch with an indicator light built in. Somebody likely still has such a thing. A very close match with the originals.

 

[Andy Blackley]

Check out "Cool Cat" for some neat replacement fans, among other goodies.

Cool Cat

 

[jjbunn]

Thanks all.

It was a poor wiring setup: they'd been routed in such a way that they'd been crimped by the bonnet, the insulation had failed and shorted against the frame rails. The fuse was blown. Here's a photo of the damaged area:

I removed the wires up to near the fan, plus the fuse, and pulled out the switch. I don't know if the fan works or not, but I'm going to leave it unconnected for now.

Trouble is, after that, the twin fans at the front still come on when the ignition is turned on.

 

[DrEntropy]

"Triple Redundant Fan" circuitry!!!! BRILLIANT!

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Yep! Rip out all of the shyte! Love the "scotch" clip. Is that after the engine is warmed? Is the Otter switch still fitted? Please, Julian purchase a "Bentley" manual. It will make all of the wiring, etc seem like a day at the park.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Sorry, just noticed in your piccy that the relay's are present on the front splash panel. Check them. I have several here if you need them.

 

[DrEntropy]

ScotchLoks... Take a piece of aluminum, pierce copper wiring with it, then "insulate" it with a plastic cover... Can you say "electrolysis"?!?!

EeEEEEeeEEEEEEEeeeee!!!!

 

[jjbunn]

Yep! Rip out all of the shyte! Love the "scotch" clip. Is that after the engine is warmed? Is the Otter switch still fitted? Please, Julian purchase a "Bentley" manual. It will make all of the wiring, etc seem like a day at the park.

Yup, ordered the Bentley manual a couple of days ago - not here yet.

I wondered what those relays are! There seem to be a couple of ground wires hanging off nearby them. I'll check the relays on the bench.

Thanks all.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Julian, you have the only E ever produced that does not need earths...so it seems? Geez, you are going to have fun sorting the electrics out. You might find that once all earths have been cleaned, most of the electical problems will be solved?

 

[jjbunn]

Julian, you have the only E ever produced that does not need earths...so it seems? Geez, you are going to have fun sorting the electrics out. You might find that once all earths have been cleaned, most of the electical problems will be solved?

Perhaps a PO had heard the term "virtual earth", and decided to take it literally?

Yes, the electrics are proving interesting. Fortunately electrics are one thing I know a bit about. Fuse 8 was blowing ... traced that (I think) to the indicator/turn signal stalk. There's a wire earth braid just hanging loose from that! Also, the stalk seems very flimsy.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Tis' the season for giving!