Radiator Fan Manual Switch S2

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Revision as of 11:01, 28 January 2011 by hbaumhardt (talk | contribs)
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For short roof K Series S2s fitted with later Bergstrom HVAC systems (without A/C fitted) and 2 radiator fans.


Standard ECU/ECT logic is for both rad fans come on at low power (run in series) at 103C and off at 98C and switch to high power (run in parallel) at 108C. Bouncing between 98 and 103 leaves a lot of heat to soak after a track session and the coolent really wants to be 85 before shutdown.


The radiator fans are run from the A/C Control Module (Rover YWB100800 Lotus A117M0038F) located on the right front wheel arch liner and accessible through the service panel with the water guard removed.


S2 Rad Fan Relay control pins.jpg


NOTE: Since I can’t find a specific wiring diagram those pins are based on the North American 111R manual and observed behaviour, so may contain errors but no nuts.


You may have some relays in the relay box (C and D) listed as radiator fans, but the fans will run without them fitted only generating some Fan relay OBD codes;


P1400 S2 Fan 1 Relay Short

P1401 S2 Fan 1 Relay Open

P1402 S2 Fan 2 Relay Short [unverified]

P1403 S2 Fan 2 Relay Open [unverified]


Rather than hack the loom I made up a harness using male and female 6 way econoseal connectors and tapped wires for earthing the 2-2 and 2-3 relay pins to see what happens.


S2 Rad fan relay harness.JPG

Quick test that everything is working OK is start the engine and pop the ECT sensor connector off – both fans run high. Reset and restart from cold idle;


Earth Pin Wire Below 103C Above 103C OBD Code
(A) 2-2 Blue/Silver Fans 1&2 Low Fans 1&2 Low none
(B) 2-3 Blue/Yellow Fan 2 high Fan 1&2 High 1402 Coolant fan relay 2 short
(C) 2-2 & 2-3 As above Fans 1&2 high Fan 1&2 High 1400 Coolant fan relay 1 short

The OBD codes are probably the ECU complaining that the fan is running without the ECU telling it to.


In all cases the current draw on the earth wire is less than 0.4a as it is only energising the relays. Also when the relays are earthed the fan(s) will keep running with the ignition off and key out until you disconnect the relay earth, so careful how you use this. Once you stop earthing the relay(s) normal ECU/ECT fan logic will resume.


On the basis that I dont want to kill both fans with too much high speed running I have stuck with plan (B) to override fan 2 only and ran a wire from the Blue/Yellow connection to an SPST switch on the dash connected to earth and life is good.