V6 4Motion Radiator fan fault.

[clarkyWRX]

My 2001 V6 4Motion has a fault with the radiator fans. When auto is pressed on the Climatronic just one fan runs flat out for a few seconds then goes off, it just repeats this constantly coming on for a few seconds then going off.

With the Climatronic switched off and the car left to idle, when it gets upto temp the same thing happens, the one fan comes on and off but the other does nothing.

I've read different things about the fan faults, what could be the cause of my problem and what needs replacing ?

[Crasher]

It is extremely common for the fans on the 150PD TDI, 2.3 V5, 2.8 V6 4M and Mk4 R32 to fail, they all use the same fan set. This fault is often characterised by the strip fuse on top of the battery failing. Unfortunately the fans are very expensive to buy and only available from VW and to add insult to injury to fit them you have to completely strip the front of the car down.

[clarkyWRX]

Thanks for replying. I've just jumped on a set of fans on ebay that were ending cheap, just said MK4 twin fan set, are all the twin fan sets the same as they do look the same ?

Is there any guides that you know of that explain how to replace the fans ?

[Crasher]

No they are not all the same, the 150PD, V5 and V6 set are completely different to all the other Golf 4 platform fans.

[clarkyWRX]

No they are not all the same, the 150PD, V5 and V6 set are completely different to all the other Golf 4 platform fans.

Oh well, I just jumped on these quick as they were cheap, just says they are for MK4. I take it if these are from any other model other than what you've mentioned that I can't use them ?

Is it just the fans that I need to replace as I've just been reading about the fan control module aswell ?

[Crasher]

In my experience on the V6 it is only the fans that fail and the ones from the lesser models will not fit at all.

[clarkyWRX]

Well just a quick update on my fan situation. After doing some more research I found out about the fan resistor mod that can get the fans working again as it's the resistor in the fans themselves that breaks.

Bought all the bits and pieces needed to do the mod and was just taking bits off the car to make room to work on and noticed one of the plugs for the fans was unplugged :aargh4:

I thought it would be too good to be true that just plugging it back in would get them working again but it surely has !

It looks like the radiator has been replaced recently so I'm guessing whoever did that didn't put the plug back together properly !

If anyone needs the RS resistors and aluminium plate required for the diy mod then let me know as I don't need them now ;)

[Tattiesnmince]

Hello clarky,
I've had the same problems with my fans but unfortunately my fans are broke.
Do you still have the resistor repair kit for sale? If not, where can I get one?
Thanks.

[clarkyWRX]

Hi, Yes I've still got the resistors and plate needed to do the mod. Let me know if you want them and we'll sort something out ?