We have a 1993 300E. When caught in traffic the car over heats. The problem is one of the cooling fans in front of the radiator does not always kick in. If it is tapped it will start. Is there any solution short of replacing the fan?

I had the same problem this past week end. Got stuck in traffic and the car overheated. Electric auxiliary fan was not working.

On mine, there were a couple of things that may have caused the problem. One was that two of the three spokes that run from the motor to the rim of the fan guard were broken where the spokes meet the rim. The fixture is made of aluminum.

To solve the problem I epoxied the two broken spokes and the frame now seems to be holding up. I used JB Quick and then put on a second coat of JB Weld.

Also I cleaned the contacts of the plug (connector) that is located inside the motor compartment at the base and to the right of the radiator... near the edge of the headlight. (looking at the car from the front)

I also cleaned the connectors of the temperature sensor and sending unit which is located just to the left of the air breather housing.

My guess is that either the housing spokes are broken as a consequence of fatigue cracks or the fan guard is somehow not attached properly and consequently the fan is being blocked from turning.

I doubt if the problem is with the motor and I suppose the problem is fixable if you are handy enough.

__________________
Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

supplies power to the fan and replace it with a new one.
Jim

One of the aux fans on my 95 E300 would only operate after tapping on it. The only sure fix was to replace it. They aren't that expensive. Surely a lot less than fixing the car afer it overheats. I bought my fan from Performance Products (before Fast Lane) and my tech charged one hour to
install it. One thing he discovered was a massive amount of dead bugs had piled up between the fans and the condenser, and there wasn't any way to notice it or clean out that area without having the fans out.