[alfa] 146TI radiator fan motor problem UPDATE

["William Corke" <william@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear group,

I have now heard from the Alfa dealer, who have discovered that the fan motor
is in fact fine, but that there is a blown resitor within the fan unit.  The
failure of the resitor is what is causing the 40A fuse in the circuit to blow
whenever the car gets up to temperature.

So what they are now trying to work out is what is causing the resitor (and
the ones that failed before) to blow.  Whatever it is is appears to be
deteriorating gradually, to judge from the shortening of the gaps between
failures.

Suggestions still sought.  The idea of not very impressive engineers/mechanics
trying to track down a problem of this kind on $175 dollars an hour (yes
really!), to repair a car that's worth no more than $1,750 dollars, makes my
knees tremble!

Regards,
William


EARLIER MESSAGE BELOW
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Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 03:22:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: "William Corke" <william@domain.elided>
Subject: [alfa] 146TI radiator fan motor problem

Dear Group,

My daily driver is a 1997 146TI that has unfortunately developed an growing
taste for consuming radiator fans.  When I bought the car from its first owner
a year ago I had a new fan fitted which lasted until the end of May, before
blowing its 40A fuse and needing to be replaced with new fan motor unit.  The
second replacement lasted only 4 weeks before the same thing happened; and the
third lasted 24 hours!  My local main dealer in Guildford, Surrey tested the
system through before they fitted the 3rd one, pronounced everything fine, and
replaced a couple of relays "just in case".

Has anyone encountered a similar problem?  Someone has suggested to me that
the ECU might be delivering too much current.  The Alfa dealer has speculated
that the radiator might be a bit clogged (technical term!) and so the engine
is running how, creative excessive underbonnet temperatures, and causing the
insulation to melt on the fan motor.

Any ideas?

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