6 replies to this topic

[Bolt666]

Hi All!!

 

My cooling fan is dead and I am now sourcing a replacement fan - will a universal fan do the job?

 

I note that these can be picked up for £20 (instead of £50 from eliseparts) and would be intending to mount two fans across the radiator.

 

If any one has tried one it would be good to hear any feedback on them!

[siztenboots]

its not the cost of the fan , but the labour to remove the front clam and all the rads. if you do this replace all the rusty fittings with stainless

[Bolt666]

I have already removed the clam (what a mission!) and the rad, tested the fan on a battery and found it to be dead entirely! Its just a case of new fan now and re-assemble but a lot of copper grease will be used with new bolts for this!

 

 

[Arno]

Hi All!!

 

My cooling fan is dead and I am now sourcing a replacement fan - will a universal fan do the job?

 

Yup. Fairly basic SPAL units that should be availabl from more sources.

 

Make sure though to get fans that:

 

- Are sealed well (rain pools onto them)

- Move air the correct direction

- Have separate fan blades like the OEM fan

 

The last point is something I found myself with some of the uprated SPAL fans. These often have a retaining ring around the fan blades (and often more of a curve to the blades), but in the VX/Elise installation with the fans under the rad this seems to trap dirt/leaves/junk between the fan edge/ring and the radiator surface. In many cases this leads to the fan running heavy/difficultly and failing much more quickly than the OEM design.

 

2 fans fit fine side by side, just get some extra brackets. Depending on your rad you may need to drill some extra mounting holes.

 

It's advisable though to 'slave' the second fan from the first one via it's own dedicated relay/fuse and feed from the battery as they do pull quite some power (esp.on startup) and the normal fuse and wiring may not enjoy running 2 fans at the same time.

 

Bye, Arno.

[simonlpearce]

The cheaper £20 or so universal fans are a bit hit and miss in my experience. I had one that lasted over a year, then i sold the car and it got removed. I had another that lasted a couple of months before dying.

 

You want the fans to be independent of each other if you are getting 2, so if the fuse blows on one the other will continue to cool.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

i has a fan and rad working removed from a 44k mile car

 

£20 and its yours but your a bit far away lol

[Bolt666]

Thanks for the all the advisel!

 

 

i has a fan and rad working removed from a 44k mile car

 

£20 and its yours but your a bit far away lol

 

Shame you are so far away! I would be tempted though as if you mean £20 for rad and fan seems like a bargain to me!