Dear all, Car is a 308 GTB '77 Do the cooling fans operate with engine off? and key ignition on? Im actually straded. Temperature reach max in traffic jam. Some water came out from expansion tank, I believe Fuses look ok so far Thank you!
Yes,as long as the ignition switch is on and if the temperature is high enough,the fans will run even if the engine isn’t running..
QV isn't wired this way. Either way doesn't matter. they don't have to be able to come on with the key off.
My QV fans run (at sufficient hot temp) with engine off + key on. Not that this aids in cooling down the engine, of course.
Got it. Thank you guys I waited 30 mins and drove it back to the workshop, all highway so temp remained in good level. Confirmed fans dont run. We dont know cause yet Anyway she is safe now at least Thaaaaank you for quick replies!
Glad you made it back! Advice: since you blew coolant, consider replacing the cap if it's over a couple years old.
That’s exactly how my 328 fans will run.. And come to think of it l’m pretty sure my GT4 fans would do the same ..
But when you turn the key off the fans cut off as well. I initially misunderstood his question because I just skimmed over the post. I thought he was asking something else until I just read it again. Water cooled VWs had fans factory wired independent of the key. I could park my scirocco, turn it off and lock it up and I would hear the fans kick back on for a few moments when walked passed it again coming back from the mailbox.
Some cars do have the fan circuit hot wired and they will run with the switch off and the key in your hand. I've never understood this nor have I been able to figure out what possible logic path led some engineer to decide it would be a good idea. I've shut the engine off, I'm walking away, I no longer require the cooling system to be controlled, it will cool down all by itself passively. Kind of like those headlights that stay on after you shut the car off. It just bugs me.
I HATE when a dome light stays on a few moments. I am never sure if I just didnt leave it on. I always end up standing there staring at the car to be sure it cuts off
I noticed that the temperature was a little higher than normal on my GT4 last week and when I checked the fans, only one was running. Do they come on together or independently at different temperatures? Paul
I suspect like the GTB/GTS there are two switching options: with the a/c on one fan will be on whilst with the thermostat both come on Last week was a difficult week for 308s with very high ambient in the UK ! At a guess your a/c was on so you need to check the thermostat on the radiator - short it with pliers or a paperclip or similar to check
I wired mine to spin both fans over 20 years ago. Even that doesn't help in traffic on a QV in the deep south
Did the same on my GT4 when l had it,,l wired both fans to run when either the A/C is on or when the temperature brings them on..
When I put a screwdriver across the thermostat terminals only the left fan started up, although the right fan stuttered. Both fuses and relays are okay. Probably a dodgy connection somewhere. We’re off to France in it in a couple of weeks, so I need to get it fixed.
My one fan stopped working. I disassembled the motor and found completely worn brushes. Easy fix. Did both motors while is was in there.
They look pretty original, so that could well be it. I’ll order some new brushes in any case. Where did you get them from?
Hi all, I localized the problem. It was our old friend OEM fusebox which melted down Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Problem solved installing Birdman fusebox Thanks dude! Many thanks for all your quick replies Julio
That's what happened to my 328. Suggest you check the thermostat by removing and bridging the wires,rather than placing a screwdriver across the terminals. That way you know there's enough contact to operate both fans.
I also made a small jumper with two female plugs with a short chunk of wire between that I could pull both leads off the lower temp sensor in the radiator, plug the jumper in and the fans would run constantly. I actually just ran across it a couple weeks ago when cleaning some stuff out in my garage. I always carried it with some tools in case the sensor ever went out. Wouldn't have helped much in your case with a burned fuse board but it could come in handy.
One reason I could read in a VW shop manual is, to prevent heat accumulation in the under bonnet area and therefore to avoid fuel vapor lock inside the lines and system components located in the engine bay. Of course, on the Ferrari it would make absolutely no sense with the fans far away from the engine and fuel delivery system. Best from Germany Martin
Indeed. And if you have fuel in the lines around the fans in your 308, something has gone very wrong when connecting the lines in the engine compartment... Rgds