Having overheating problems but only in traffic. I don't hear the rad fan start up. I don't think it's running. Used to run OK. Fuses on top of the battery are fine. What else should I check? Does the thermoswitch act directly on the fan or does it signal to a controller that temperature is over a limit and the 'controller' then activates the fan or switches a relay which activates the fan?

1.4 16 valve.

Edited 14 August, 20187 yr by LB123

If you have aircon, fan(s) should start up at low speed shortly after switching on (if A/C is working). If low speed has failed it'll probably cycle in and out of high speed operation regularly, on a warm day.

 

Unplug the fan at the 3-way connector near the bottom of the rad, and measure resistance of the fan motor between the pin the brown wire goes to, and each of the others.

 

No aircon.

Oops. My three way connector, despite having three wires in the male, only has two pins on the rad side. Flat fuse F5 on the battery top is fine. Motor appears open circuit. Direct supply to the motor with flying leads gets no response. I guess the fan motor is caput.

Can I just change the motor? It seems to be fixed through the radiator fins and not screwed/bolted to the car body or rad plastic. There is no fan shroud.

Edited 15 August, 20187 yr by LB123

I haven't come across that arrangement, so not sure if it's a factory variant or a later 'DIY'.

 

Is there any sign of a VW group part number on the fan?

Looks like this. Might not be the correct rad but it is the fan, complete with its socket also fixed through the fins.

Ooh, not as Skoda intended!

Yet it looks a lot like item 4 here: https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/fabia/fab/2000-225/9/959-959050/

 

There are a couple of digits missing off the front of the part numbers on that page, not too sure how to fill in the blanks, should be something somewhere on the fan/motor.

 

What year is the car?

Edited 15 August, 20187 yr by Wino

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-FABIA-6Y-1-4-Radiator-Fan-99-to-08-Cooling-6Q0959455AF-6Q0959455E-Nissens/332474729210?hash=item4d6909c2fa:g:pCQAAOSwzRlaJsY9?

 

Seems rather pricey, but sticking 6Q on the front of the part number seems to give the right sort of thing.

Probably is as skoda intended

for vehicles with manually regulated heater
for vehicles without trailers
for vehicle use in cold and moderate climates
for vehicles without A/C

 

6Q0959455AF looks to be the right part number. Just wondering if they can be removed without destroying the radiator.

Also not keen in stripping the radiator out. Did a polo classic rad yesterday which was one of the most difficult and awkward jobs I've done on a car in ages.

14 hours ago, LB123 said:

6Q0959455AF looks to be the right part number

Yep, that number superseded the suffix-E in 2001.

Can't see why it wouldn't be removable without destruction of the rad, it would be a terrible design otherwise.  Can't you see the fixings down the front side of the rad, with the bonnet open?

You're right. Access to front and back fairly easy. 10 minute job. Only two pins in the plug and they still don't fire up the fan on the bench when connected to 12v.

Donald Ducked then...

Wonderful thing ebay. A new rad with fan £44. New fan £56 plus £8 postage. I will be putting the rad back on ebay minus the fan unless someone on here wants one.

New rad and fan arrived already. Fan fitted and working.

Rad available for £20, free postage if anyone wants it. It is exactly as pictured above (minus the fan). Definitely fits 1.4 16 valve without aircon and probably others.