scavenger fan

[phatgit]

not wanting to sound a numpty, but whats it for and whats it do? does it cut in automatically? and i assume its the one you see when the passenger seat is lifted

[francophile1947]

Cools the engine compartment - yes - yes I've only ever had mine on once and that was after I'd stopped at a motorway service area

[Darkstar]

not wanting to be a bigger numpty,
but where is it, i see the two fans behide the radiators, but i dont see any others?

[daveblueozzie]

The fans are at the bottom/underneath the engine, it cools the air around the hot engine when the vehicle isnt moving, like franco said, you may only hear it after a long run when you stop .

[widdowson2008]

To see it, you need to lift the engine cover and look toward the front of the engine, low down.


dbo beat me to it

[Darkstar]

Ok found it thanks, tested by shorting plug beside h/brake,as per other posts. lets hope sensor works.

[Tripewriter]

I am not sure it is there to cool, I think it is there to prevent any build up of gasses whilst sitting in the Tokyo traffic. (I understand they have a lot of traffic).

[widdowson2008]

I am not sure it is there to cool, I think it is there to prevent any build up of gasses whilst sitting in the Tokyo traffic. (I understand they have a lot of traffic).

Whilst the gas/fume removal is a valid point, I think you may find it is primarily for heat removal because the fan is triggered by the ECU receiving a signal from a sensor in the engine bay. This sensor is a temperature sensor, not a gas sensor. It is my belief that the fan is activated when the temperature in the engine bay reaches a level where it threatens the integrity of the electronics/wiring stuff in the bay.

[Tripewriter]

Thats interesting where is the sensor that triggers it?

[jaylee]

Thats interesting where is the sensor that triggers it?

By the handbrake i believe..

[jaylee]

Ok found it thanks, tested by shorting plug beside h/brake,as per other posts. lets hope sensor works.

I do declare it is!!

[Northern Bongolow]

as jaylee says its the black plastic looking probe that is mounted behind the handbrake, facing down to the rocker cover.

[Doone]

but whats it for and whats it do? does it cut in automatically?

It cut in automatically when the cylinder head failed on ours a couple of years ago.

[fivepints]

er, is this the big fan that cuts in with a tick - sounds like an intercooler fan? Mine comes on all the time! Is this bad??

[widdowson2008]

er, is this the big fan that cuts in with a tick - sounds like an intercooler fan? Mine comes on all the time! Is this bad??

On mine (and I think others too) I get the front fans cutting in with a tick when the aircon is switched on. More noticeable when engine is running, aircon switched on, and vehicle not moving - fans switch on and off and on and off and......
I thought it was to compensate for a lack of air flow present when moving, to prevent any heat radiating from the main rad to the aircon rad (thingy)