Radiator cooling fans

350Z
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Buzzed
Posts: 8

Radiator cooling fans

Post by Buzzed » Sat May 09, 2020 7:49 pm

I have an '07 Fairlady Z which I've had for two years and I'm wanting to know just how and when the radiator fans should operate. With the engine warmed up the temp gauge needle sits at pretty much horizontal or a shade under (approx half way between H and C), and sitting idling appears to stay the same. Idling with the A/C on, the driver's side fan will kick in and out fairly frequently (makes sense) With the A/C off it takes several minutes before the driver's side fan eventually kicks in, however I'm yet to see the passenger's side fan working at all. Does the passenger's side only operate as well in more extreme heat? Tried googling but got fed up with conflicting info regarding this. Would just like a conclusive answer to know whether everything is as it ought to be. Cheers!

BRONZEE
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Post by BRONZEE » Tue May 19, 2020 8:23 pm

Sorry for the slow reply. On my 350z, DE both fans kick in when the engine needs cooling, and usually kick in straight off. If yours is HR maybe slightly different.

Hopefully one of the others will chime in.
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Buzzed
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Post by Buzzed » Tue May 19, 2020 10:22 pm

Thanks Bronzee, yep, it is an HR. I wonder whether there is a difference between this a previous models? If not, obviously there's an issue. If anyone else has some experience of this it'd be good to know and also to know what the usual culprit is. Fuse appears intact. Do the fan motors have a habit of dying?

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netrover
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Location: Christchurch

Post by netrover » Sat May 23, 2020 8:35 am

A few years ago my aircon wasn’t working well so took the car to a specialist to diagnose the problem. Can’t recall the detail but I think it was the fans going flat out all the time. He said the entire fan assembly should be replaced but suggested I ask on this forum if a good deal could be had on the replacement assembly. I believe Bronzee sent me a detailed parts schematic (or link to it) which I took into the aircon shop. He identified the specific parts required, so rather than replacing the entire assembly I ordered each part. Aircon still working perfectly now.

Have a few other issues to be sorted - fuel level gauge all over the place, hatch struts struggling to hold up, drivers heated seat intermittent.
35th Anniversary Ultra Yellow 350Z

BRONZEE
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Post by BRONZEE » Wed May 27, 2020 11:44 am

With the DE's sometimes cleaning the bushes helps for a bit, but always best to replace the parts and get it working properly so you don't risk your engine.
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Buzzed
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Post by Buzzed » Fri Jun 12, 2020 1:15 pm

Thanks guys, I guess I'd better get an auto sparky to have a look at it. What I've found out so far from another member is that they're supposed to come on at 82 C

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agecage
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Post by agecage » Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:23 pm

Ive replaced both fan motors on my VQ35de Stagea. Went to pick apart and got some from a maxima if i remmber.

BRONZEE
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Post by BRONZEE » Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:36 pm

If you want a detailed schematic with part numbers etc, you can usually pull that off the Courtesy Nissan site in the US of A.

https://www.courtesyparts.com/
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Post by BRONZEE » Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:37 pm

And yes, the fans are a weak link and do give out at varying mileage.
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Buzzed
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Post by Buzzed » Fri Jun 26, 2020 8:50 pm

Just replaced both fan motors with new ones as the sparky told me the one still working wasn't working as it ought anyway. Super stoked that when I checked it was (surprisingly!) covered by an extra warranty I bought when I got the car through a dealer a couple of years back. Money well spent for a change. Certainly not the cheapest items to replace if you had to fork out the whole amount.

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