power steering fan.

[holdenontoit]

I did my searches and came up empty for this problem. Living in new england as I do, I have to put up with some pretty putrid road conditions. There is a fan that cools the power steering pump which is positioned directly under and in front of the motor such that it is subjected to everything that mother nature can throw at it. I did notice , several years ago a product sold by "cobalt" that is a stainless cover for this fan and I admit that I glossed over it at the time. BUT...........now that I have experienced what the innevitable failure of this part can mean, I felt the necessity to post . Ok, so the fan dies and kills a fuse in the process( now pay attention here) THIS SAME FUSE IS SHARED BY THE MAIN COOLING FAN FOR YOUR RADIATOR!!!! So you guessed it , your car will now overheat in no time flat and you run the risk of major engine failure due to excess heat.
So today I ordered the fan shroud from Moss (half price on sale), I understand it's a bear to install, but having just had the power steering fan (and fuse) replaced , it shouldn't be too bad. The fan installed was $325 at MINI of Manhatten ( where I was visiting for the weekend) Has anyone given ANY thought to wiring a new fuse for their main cooling fan, so that this "shared" problem can be put to rest? was it hard to do? (I am very electronically challenged). a word to the wise: check this stupid little fan often to see if it's getting crudded up and clean it or replace it as needed.(I've even heard of this whole scenario occuring because of a plastic bag being inhaled by this fan.) Peace . Jock

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by holdenontoit

Has anyone given ANY thought to wiring a new fuse for their main cooling fan, so that this "shared" problem can be put to rest?

If your MINI is still within the warranty period have the dealer do it ...

Quote:

SI M 32 01 04
Steering and Wheel Alignment June 2004
Technical Service

SUBJECT
Power Steering Pump Cooling Fan Activation

MODEL
Manual transmission vehicles produced from the start of series production through December 2002.

R50 Cooper
R53 Cooper S

CAUSE
Power steering pump cooling function has the same circuit protection with auxiliary engine cooling fan (fuse 05). Internal corrosion or external blockage of the power steering pump cooling fan may cause the fuse (F05) to blow, causing an inoperable auxiliary engine cooling fan.

CORRECTION
In case of a customer complaint only, the wiring for the power steering cooling fan can be modified to separate it from the auxiliary engine cooling fan circuit protection.

[holdenontoit]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC

If your MINI is still within the warranty period have the dealer do it ...

that's interesting reading, but my car is a June 02 buld, with 66k on it. I will definately print this out and suggest that they might want to do this anyway........
couldn't hurt. thanks for the link! Jock

[MINI-Morgan]

Wow havent heard about the good old fan in ages!

[shazam]

This is def. a known fault.

[MINI-Morgan]

So far as i was aware there was a second fuse added so that a failing fan cant burn itself out and blow the main fuse.