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fan stopped working

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by loosenoose, Dec 7, 2017.

  1. loosenoose

    loosenoose New Member

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    let me first say that i'm not good at electrical problems, so pretend like you are explaining this to a small child, lol

    i replaced the fan switch on the left radiator after i noticed my fan was no longer kicking on. that didnt fix my problem. any ideas of what to check next?
     


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  2. Samuel

    Samuel Member

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    Fuse maybe?
     


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  3. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    Is the actual fan working?
    Pull the wire from the switch while ignition is on and ground it.
    Fan should run.
     


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  4. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    The power feed to the fan motor is always "live"; the thermoswitch just completes the circuit to ground. You should always see battery voltage on the supply line, hence as Oz says, if you jumper the fan switch wire to ground you should have a running fan.

    I have had an occasion where a small rock had lodged between the fan blade and shroud and stopped it from spinning.
     


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  5. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    You always have a better way of describing things Terry.
     


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  6. loosenoose

    loosenoose New Member

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    fuses are all good.

    havent tried that yet, but i should have some time to check into it this weekend

    i can spin the blades with my finger. the fan has no problem actually spinning. i'll try bypassing the switch this weekend some time. i hope i can get it working again. also, i shoulda rode to work today! the bike woulda been just fine, lol. i live in the houston area, and i got about 2 inches of snow last night!!!!!! wtf! that's the most snow i've ever seen here. the only thing that compares is the big freeze of 94, but that was all ice
     


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  7. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    remember that the fan motor must be grounded, usually a green wire between fan motor and its frame, which grounds to chassis. power to fan comes from a 2-pin connector, one+ and one to ground.
     


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  8. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    The 5G fan is switched on by the ground wire via the radiator.
    12V+ to fan is always on if ignition is on.
    That's why if you remove wire from temp switch and touch the frame, fan will run if ignition is on.
     


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  9. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    yes, but only if wiring to fan is connected. :band::band:
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2017


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  10. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    That is true.
    I was just refering to the ground wire from fan, it doesn't go to the frame, it goes directly to the temp switch.
     


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  11. loosenoose

    loosenoose New Member

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    i grounded the fan switch line to the frame and the fan did not turn on
     


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  12. Darth Vader

    Darth Vader New Member

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    So that means the fan isn't getting any power. Can only be broken wire, corroded connection or fuse. Don't ya just hate electrics.
     


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  13. loosenoose

    loosenoose New Member

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    Yes, I do hate electrics!! :p
    I found out it's a bad ground on the side of the main wire harness. If I move the green wire a little, the fan runs. Would a drop of solder into the connector fix it? I tried zip tying, or duct taping in just the right way, but neither worked well.

    I'm also in the infancy of a streetfighter project, and took everything apart from the dash and now the bike won't start, even with all connections made. Wtf, Vfr.
    The bike will crank, but the fuel pump doesn't prime
     


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  14. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Always cure bad earths...
    Run another line to earth if you want to - its usually easier to make a new earth than to trouble shoot the old one..
     


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