Can someone tell me how remove and replace an auxiliary fan on my 350SD 1991? The published manual only shows the one fan arrangement-- Mine has two side by side fans with a plastic shroud. I called tech help at MB headquarters and they say there is no published sheet on this, the later fan arrangement, and they could not describe a procedure. I need to fix or replace the drivers side Auxiliary Fan.

I now have the shroud loose but it seems to me that I can only remove it by removing the bumper. I may be mistaken.

Any help will be appreciated

Bob Hall
rah@fast.net

Robert - I had to do this when replacing the a/c condenser on my 1990 560SEL. It's quite a bit trickier than on the earlier one fan W126 bodies (early diesels) and you have to remove the shroud and fans, whereas on the single fan models you can access the condenser without removing either shroud or fan.

Check this slide.

You can remove the shroud after pulling the plastic rivets, which you have already done, but the problem is the shroud interferes with the crosspiece above the radiator. Check my slide and make a few peace offerings.... I'm pretty sure your late diesel is identical in design to the two fan 560SEL.

Robert: If you are still trying to get the double fans out, I just did that job last week. In replacing my condenser, I had to pull the radiator and the fan in order to slide the condenser and fans out the same way as the radiator. The fan assembly is bolted to the condenser with the shroud over the top of it and I couldn't see any way to remove fans unless condenser was pulled as well.

Mark

Thanks

I finally found that by taking out the radiator and condenser upper retaining springs and then pushing the condenser top back the thickness of an open end wrench (1/4"-1/2"), which I used as a wedge to retain it in position, I could remover the shroud -- then the double fan assembly.

Again thanks for the help.

Bob Hall

Robert, unfortunately you took the hard way to replace the fans. I just changed out the driver side fan on my 1991 350SD just last month. They recommend replacing both fans at once because of the aggravation involved in removing the aux fan shroud. I chose only to do the fan that was failing.

As in an earlier post, I took out most of the rivets. Many of them broke because of the age. I just pushed the broken ones through with a screwdriver, gently. I bought all new rivets at the dealer, rather cheaply.

Once the rivets are out, I then removed the small air shroud to the air cleaner on the lower passenger side.

I then gently pulled the aux fan shroud from the bottom and worked it up - as the aux fan shroud has a lip that sits on top of the fan assembly. Once I gently worked the plastic up and over the fans, I was able to remove it and then the fans.

This took me about one hour to do, however, I was on business traveling and did it in the parking lot of the hotel - with minimal tools.

With the driver side fan failing in 100 degree weather, it definitely had an effect on cooling when in around town driving.

Just posting this to help anyone else who has to do this.

Richard


I finally found that by taking out the radiator and condenser upper retaining springs and then pushing the condenser top back the thickness of an open end wrench (1/4"-1/2"), which I used as a wedge to retain it in position, I could remover the shroud -- then the double fan assembly.