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Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:53 pm

Oddness has occurred. Any ideas why the radiator fan won't turn off? I replaced the switch behind the headlight about 2 months ago and the temperature sensor that plugs into the radiator at the same time. It was working fine and then today when i started the van the fan came on....it was cold. Now every time I turn the key the fan comes on.

Curious

Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:06 pm

is your AC left on?
this will happen if the switch is left bumped on on some years,.

Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:09 pm

danfromsyr wrote: is your AC left on?
this will happen if the switch is left bumped on on some years,.

That was it. The wife drove yesterday and didn't get it all the way off.

Thanks!
:D

Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:12 pm

better than won't turn on

Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:41 am

debbiej wrote: better than won't turn on

True, I felt so much better and so did my van when I replaced parts to get it working properly.

Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:59 pm

Ok so I was driving home today and the radiator fan kicked on high and ran on high the rest of the way home and when I turned off the ignition, the fan remained on. I checked the AC to make sure that it is off an it is. Any ideas?

Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:41 pm

Memphalia wrote: Ok so I was driving home today and the radiator fan kicked on high and ran on high the rest of the way home and when I turned off the ignition, the fan remained on. I checked the AC to make sure that it is off an it is. Any ideas?

It's normal for them to stay on for a few minutes after turning off the vehicle when it's hot.

Fri Dec 30, 2011 2:42 pm

Yes, I am aware of this, but it will not shut off. I had to disconnect the battery to turn it off and 2 hours later when I reconnected the fan came back on. Possibly relay or fan switch? HELP

Fri Dec 30, 2011 2:59 pm

Pull fuse #1, on left end of fuses. Does this stop the fan running?

What year?

Mark

Memphalia wrote: Yes, I am aware of this, but it will not shut off. I had to disconnect the battery to turn it off and 2 hours later when I reconnected the fan came back on. Possibly relay or fan switch? HELP

Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:10 pm

Yep, pulled the fuse and still running. I also unplugged the radiator fan switch and still running.

Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:51 pm

Ok, pull the relay from relay socket #5. Count from top left of main relay panel. That is the medium speed fan relay for the A/C. If that stops it, there is a problem in the back, in the A/C wiring or A/C relays back there.

If it doesn't stop it, could be the highest speed relay hidden up above the main relay panel, or it could be a weird wiring problem from the back A/C as a wire from the A/C connects to the control line for the high speed relay.

Mark

Memphalia wrote: Yep, pulled the fuse and still running. I also unplugged the radiator fan switch and still running.

Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:26 pm

THere is no relay in the 5 spot, and i have been driving daily for 2 years like this (with everything working properly). The fan is stuck on high mode. How can I identify the highest speed relay hidden up above the main relay panel and test it? Where is it available for replacement? I ordered this

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_1436/relay.html

Is this what should be in the 5 spot?

Oh, by the way it is an 89 Westy Full camper

Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:34 pm

All 89 vans should have the relay in position 5 unless they are Syncros without A/C. That relay you linked to is not the right one for position 5, as far as I know.

In any case the missing position 5 relay isn't causing this problem. The high speed relay is up inside the dash area at the left end. It is hard to see without removing something. Look at Bentley page 87.5 and the drawing on the upper right shows the relay behind the left dash vent. That is the highest speed rad fan relay, 3rd stage.

(on left of same page shows relay panel with arrow to position 5 for 2nd speed fan relay)

I can't find the right relays on VanCafe site so here is another source.

This is the highest speed 3rd stage fan relay-
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=...an%20Relay

This one will work in a pinch for 3rd stage-
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=...3604@Relay

This (upper) one is what I would expect in position 5-
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=t0h4evvhuh0ojx45zqn0e345&partnumber=141951253B

It sounds like your 3rd stage fan relay stuck in the on position. If so, I wonder why it was coming on at all this time of year, unless the low speed isn't working and that is a common failure that should be checked after you get past this constant fan problem.

Mark

Memphalia wrote: THere is no relay in the 5 spot, and i have been driving daily for 2 years like this (with everything working properly). The fan is stuck on high mode. How can I identify the highest speed relay hidden up above the main relay panel and test it? Where is it available for replacement? I ordered this

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_1436/relay.html

Is this what should be in the 5 spot?

Oh, by the way it is an 89 Westy Full camper

Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:35 pm

Thank you sir, I have ordered and will try!

Mon May 05, 2014 12:35 pm

Just FYI and a bump. My fan had been running as soon as I started the Bus for about a week and kept meaning to search here to figure out why...and did today, and first result was this thread...and went out and checked and indeed the AC knob was half-way 'on'...
(which is odd cause my AC hasn't been charged in years and I never use it - probably one of the kids messing around)...

So thanks for the thread and replies. Turning off knob stopped the fan startup. Phew! Love the easy fixes, so rarely the result on this old gal...
KM

Mon May 05, 2014 12:45 pm

WOW, blast from the past.

and to note that this can be a benefit as well.
those whose AC works this way can turn the Rad fan ON to help after a long hard or hot hill/mtn/traffic
just make sure you turn it back OFF once things are evened out.
*note I've heard at least 1 story of a burned out rad fan or AC clutch from prolonged power demand. food for thought.

Sun Sep 25, 2016 5:47 am

@memphalia I have the exact same problem, did you find a solve in the end?

Thu Nov 21, 2019 8:21 am

Just came across this post and hoping someone will see this. I am having the same problem that a previous poster described with their radiator fan staying on even after the van is turned off. However, when I pull the fuse for the fan it turns off. Would anyone happen to know what that would mean the problem is?

Thu Nov 21, 2019 9:16 am

First step would be to unplug the radiator fan temp switch and see if the fan shuts off. You need to remove the upper grill. If you haven’t done this, you need to learn. Report back.

Sun Jun 21, 2020 7:56 am

I am having the same problem. 1990 automatic. I was climbing a steep grade outside Buffalo, Wyoming and the fan came on at high speed as usual when the temp went up, however it stayed on even after I turned the van off. Had to disconnect the battery. I tried pulling fuse #1, relay #5 (the grey one labeled 53), and the plug on the radiator behind the lower grill. Nothing made it stop. I drove about 20 miles like this and now I fear it may have burned up my alternator as voltage kept dropping. What should I try next?