150pd gti fans coming on for a short duration

[red16v]

Hi, I have an 03 150PD GTI.? I noticed last week that the two radiator fans kept coming on for about 5 secs or so and then going off even though the engine is cold ?? - this pattern of coming on for 5 secs/going off repeats itself every minute or so ? Couldn't understand it as the engine had only been on for a couple of minutes and the engine temperature was still cold. After some normal motoring (including stop/start in traffic) the engine temperature rises as usual to the 12 o'clock (90deg) position and stays there rock solid so I presume the engine is reaching normal operating temperatures as usual? However, this regular periodic 'cycling' of the radiator fans still continues (although I only hear it when I'm at a standstill - I wouldn't be able to hear it under moving traffic conditions).? ?I'm aware that 'Shagmeister' started a thread about a similar sounding problem to this some time ago (Aug 25th) and I'm wondering if I am suffering from the same fault.? Any thoughts appreciated. regards, yt.

[S11EPS]

I'm guessing that you had the air con on?

The fans on mine will start cycling 30 seconds after start up, regardless of engine tempeartures, if the air con is on.

This is either normal, or we both have the same problem!!!

[Rally_Chris]

If your fans keep going on and off then I'm afraid they could be knackered - this is a common complaint on both V6 and PD models. If you are still under waranty then I'd take a trip down to the stealer PDQ.

Chris

[red16v]

S11EPS. Yes I did have the air con on. I do not recall this happening on the car earlier on during the year. What? do you think the link is between the air-con and the radiator cooling fans ? I cannot see an obvious link ?

Rally_Chris. Why do you think the fans are 'knackered' Usually I think when something is knackered it doesn't work - in this case the fans are working (albeit too often ?) are you suggesting the water temperature sensor is faulty ?

The car is under warranty but I have little time to see a main dealer to let them experiment (the dealer is miles away) I would prefer to book it in having told them that the car is suffering from 'common known fault x' and to sort it under warranty. The last time they had the car they kept it for over a week whilst they worked on it (they give me a loan car and drop off etc but still awkward)

Further thoughts very welcome. regards, yt.

[nrgizerbunny]

hi guys,

on my car (150pd) if you turn the aircon on they both stay on. I did have that problem which you describe and the stealer told me that the fans were nackered - similar to what chris said.

he said that if they go and go off the thermal cutout is switching the whole system off.

might be worth a trip to the dealer before your warranty rus out

[red16v]

Hi chaps,
I must be a bit slow here. I still don't see the connection between the fans which cool the radiator water circulating around the engine and the air-con system. Surely these are two separate systems? perhaps its a computer control fault. Does anyone have a number for VW customer services ? I am willing to ring them about it and report back my findings here if it helps all. Regards, yt.

[shagmeister]

The fans system is quite complex, it keeps air flowing over the aircon cooler matrix as well as the water system. the common problem is the fan controller finds life to hard for it and it retires, normally when it does it damages the fans!  The comp system then goes into what the main stealers casually called emergancy cooling, hence the cycling of the cooling system even when cold.  Another symptom can be a grumblin noise when the air con goes on and off load similar to a fan running down and rubbing, this is the under cooled over pressurised air con coolant expanding over the restrictor.  You need to get it checked out if your still in warranty, mine died a week out of warranty and although i got half the price off because it is covered by the vw friendship scheme it still set me back best part of a 150 notes.  worth checkin innit, cheers shagmeister

[red16v]

Well perhaps the pieces of the jigsaw are coming together ? when I noticed this last week I naturally lifted the bonnet to see if there was anything obvious. i noticed at the front left of the engine bay what looked like 'water' that had splashed about it bit. I had wondered if it was 'spill' from the wiper resevoir etc (seemed unlikely) I then noticed that the (what I will call) the top up/coolant effort where the refridgerant is passed into the system was very cold and I assumed the water was probably heavy condensation that was on this unit - perhaps this does indeed then point to a problem with air con/fan cooling etc. I will ring up my local service manager next week (White Rose,Petersfield, Hants) and discuss with him with a view to taking it in for them to look at. I will report back here any conclusions to share with everyone. regards, yt.

[arcadia]

Gents

Had the same problem on my 150 GTi PD. Only niggle really - got the whole fan assembly replaced under warranty. My car was the second one to go to Silverlink VW, Newcastle with this complaint. 

You need it sorted, you'll end up burning out the control loom for the fans. They not only replaced the fans, but the associated wire loom as well. Oh yeah, it had nothing to do with the AC/Climate control system.

Hope this helps - cheers! 

[frosticles]

Don't really notice mine. Do come on when in standing traffic but only run climate on auto. Did, however in the summer notice the temp go over 2/3rds of the way just the once. Never happened again though. Still keeping an eye on it.