Engine cooling fan not working?

[ENZ91]

Hi all. I have an 89 w124 230 CE. The cooling fan appears to have given up. It just spins by hand. Is this clutch activated and if so is there a temp switch somewere that activates the clutch or does it work by some other means? Any help would be appreciated.
Oh and any ideas were I would get a good cheap used one.

Thanks, Stuart

 

[clive williams]

Hi all. I have an 89 w124 230 CE. The cooling fan appears to have given up. It just spins by hand. Is this clutch activated and if so is there a temp switch somewere that activates the clutch or does it work by some other means? Any help would be appreciated.
Oh and any ideas were I would get a good cheap used one.

Thanks, Stuart

Stuart,

I assume you mean that the fan spins by hand when the engine is switched off? If that is the case then you probably have a viscous fan unit, which will progressively locks up as the temperature rises. There are no clutches. This allows the engine to heat up quicker from cold and improve the cold running economy by not having to spin the fan under load.

Please don't try to test that the fan is locked up when hot whilst the engine is running as I saw someone attempt once!!!!!!!!! The way to test if the fan viscous drive is working is to monitor the engine temp at idle when hot. It will rocket up quickly when the fans not working properly but will creep up at best when it is.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[television]

If there are no wires coming out of the right hand side when looking at the front, then as Clive says it is a viscous fan, that cuts in at 85c. if you have wires coming out its controlled by one of the sensors just on top front of engine.

malcolm

 

[ENZ91]

Thanks guys, it's the viscous type. I think it's knackered. I've put a tack weld on it, so it'll be on all the time until I get a new one. I'm sure that will do wonders for power sap and mpg :roll:

 

[anyweb]

i think my c220 has the same problem, whenever im stuck in traffic (or idle) after travelling quite a bit the temp jumps up to nearly 100 and this worries me so i usually turn on the heating to full. very unpleasant but drops the temp quite a bit when i do so, also as i usually stuck in traffic when this happens its a bit hard to pop open the bonnet to check things out

i have seen the fan spinning but not fast at all.... i've also heard a horror story of some guy on this forum that had his raidiator tank blow up (and the resulting damage to his bonnet) due to not been cooled sufficiently...

how much would this cost to fix approx or can i do it myself bearing in mind i'm no mechanic and dont have much free time

cheers
anyweb

 

[television]

i think my c220 has the same problem, whenever im stuck in traffic (or idle) after travelling quite a bit the temp jumps up to nearly 100 and this worries me so i usually turn on the heating to full. very unpleasant but drops the temp quite a bit when i do so, also as i usually stuck in traffic when this happens its a bit hard to pop open the bonnet to check things out

i have seen the fan spinning but not fast at all.... i've also heard a horror story of some guy on this forum that had his raidiator tank blow up (and the resulting damage to his bonnet) due to not been cooled sufficiently...

how much would this cost to fix approx or can i do it myself bearing in mind i'm no mechanic and dont have much free time

cheers
anyweb

Have a look on yours to see if there are any wires coming out of the side.

Malcolm

 

[C220GJS]

Thanks guys, it's the viscous type. I think it's knackered. I've put a tack weld on it, so it'll be on all the time until I get a new one. I'm sure that will do wonders for power sap and mpg :roll:

And noise, it will sound like a jet taking off !!
Just don't rev it too hard unless you want to see the fan exiting through the bonnet, they're not meant to turn that fast.

 

[Jay Kilby]

why dont you put on an electric fan conversion. i have a 1981 500sl this has a viscus unit on it took it off put on the kenlow electric fan kit and it works a treat. car runs better more powerful and better mpg. try them it only cost me £135 and took 30 mins to fit. www.kenlow.com

 

[television]

why dont you put on an electric fan conversion. i have a 1981 500sl this has a viscus unit on it took it off put on the kenlow electric fan kit and it works a treat. car runs better more powerful and better mpg. try them it only cost me £135 and took 30 mins to fit. www.kenlow.com

I agree with the kenlow fan as a replacement very easy to fit and have had them on many cars in the past. My SL has 3 fans, one visc and two electric.


Malcolm

 

[anyweb]

Have a look on yours to see if there are any wires coming out of the side.

Malcolm

no wires coming out of it

cheers
anyweb

 

[C220GJS]

Anyweb,
Your's is a viscous coupled fan, it's not a difficult job to do ,about 1-2 hrs max. and costs about £70 for the coupling from ECP.
Do a search for viscous coupling , i'm sure it's been covered before , if not PM me and I'll go through it for you.
Cheers, Geo.
See here; http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26149&highlight=viscous+fan+coupling .