Hi,

A few quick questions about my 1983 300D: First, I am curious about my aux fan. I have read the other threads, and understand its operation, but have noticed something different. WHen I bought the car, the 'c' fuse for the aux fan was blown. I replaced it with an MB red fuse as required, and havent checked it for a while. Today I was doing an oil change, and decided to look at the fuses. 'c' was blown again. I took a look at the aux fan, and it appeared very tight. I manually rotated it around a number of times, and now it feels looser. I drove around town with the AC on with hopes that Id get it to turn on, but no luck, I suppose the AC pressure wasnt high enough (I definitely need a recharge, BTW). Any ideas what it means to have a blown fuse on the fan? I suppose something is sending it power to run, which is a good sign. If it is stuck, I know that can make the fuse blow, but now that I feel that it is rotating ok, any ideas if it will come back to life? I had a bit ofa scare yesterday in the 92° heat, because the temp needle crept up to just under 100. It usually sits just slightly over 80.

The second question is that the other day, I popped the hood and noticed that one of my vacuum lines was out. There is a black box on top of the valve cover on my engine, right behind the breather hose. On that box, there are spots for five vacuum tubes. There are four connections arranged in a square, then one to the side. The one on the side and the top right of the other four had hoses, but then there was a loose hose. Can someone tell me where it belongs? I stuck it in the top left hole, and the car seems to be working fine, no problems noticed, and it turns off. Havent checked the CC though, but I dont knwo if the CC is a vacuum system. Any help finding that would be great.

Finally, after changing my oil today, I realized that I didnt change the copper washer on the drain plug. I used the same old one without even thinking. Is this very bad? What are my chances of leaking oil? It wont happen again, but im just thinking about it...

Thanks for any help,

JMH

Hi,

OK, quick followup... after playing with the fan a bit and changing the fuse, I got it to unstick well enough that I got it to turn on after running the AC for a while... Good sign. The only problem is that that aux fan is really, REALLY loud. It actually drowns out most of the glorious diesel racket that I usually hear. Is this normal, could it be that the fan hadnt ran in many years (the PO had replaced the original fuse with a glass one, so it must have been bad for some time), or is it perhaps that the fan is on its way out? Its juat so loud that I dont know that it could be operating correctly. Maybe it is, but any info would be appreciated. Thanks

JMH

I have to tag team on this question. Two of my three MB's are screaming noise from the fan when the engine gets to a certain temp.

Help?

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

The aux fans used on the 123 chassis are just plain loud. Obnoxiously loud. You just learn to live with it in the summer with the AC on, and be thankful if your AC still works (the system is NASTY to work on.)

The black box on the valve cover with the array of tubes is for the EGR valve. I'd plug off the source vacuum hose and remove the rest of the plumbing. EGR just reduces power and MPG on a diesel, while doing almost nothing to reduce emissions (IMO).

Relax about the copper drain plug gasket, just remember next time you change the oil. Oh, and don't worry about the temp at 100C when it's hot out with the A/C on. My old 240D would normally run at 80C but in the summer, with A/C full blast, it would settle at 105C especially when idling. Don't worry unless it gets over 110C... I'd kill the A/C and turn on the heater at 115C.


HTH,

__________________
Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

Sounds like mine are working pretty well then if "deafening noise" is the norm

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed