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abaya · 07-17-2007, 09:06 AM

Question: How difficult is it to replace a radiator fan? And how much does the part itself cost, usually?

We just got a used car in Iceland, a 1997 VW Golf, and we had it inspected before we bought it. So I knew there was something wrong with the radiator fan already, but the price was still pretty low. So we figured on a "fixing" budget and went ahead and bought it.

After a few weeks with the car, we go for a 45 minute drive to go hiking. The car overheats after some driving on rough gravel roads, uphill, in 1st gear... we let it cool down while we take the hike, and it's fine on the way home. I take it to the best shop in town, where they do an electrical-systems diagnostic (apparently to test if it was a problem with the relay switch, or with the fan itself). Nothing else is wrong with the car, but the fan itself is broken. They quote me pretty high for the fan (close to five hundred dollars, in the American equivalent), and the labor will be a good hunk of change as well. But I'm free to look elsewhere, since they admit to not having the most competitive prices in town.

So, what I'm wondering is, how difficult is to change a radiator fan on one's own? I'd ask my dad to do it for me, but he's currently about 10 hours away by plane, and not coming to visit for a couple more months. We have tons of road trips ahead. I want to get it fixed, just don't want to pay the money.

I also know the car's clutch is slipping, and it could use a new fan belt. I'm wondering if it's a good idea to have all this work done at the same time, and be done with it? Or if I should just fix the radiator fan, then deal with the other stuff later. Tips? I'm not used to paying mechanics, since my dad fixed everything basically at home... so, looking for recommendations. I'm rather a tomboy, so I don't mind at all getting my hands grubby to fix something if it will save me $500... if possible.

07-17-2007, 09:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
abaya Location: Iceland	VW Golf, radiator fan, etc... Question: How difficult is it to replace a radiator fan? And how much does the part itself cost, usually? We just got a used car in Iceland, a 1997 VW Golf, and we had it inspected before we bought it. So I knew there was something wrong with the radiator fan already, but the price was still pretty low. So we figured on a "fixing" budget and went ahead and bought it. After a few weeks with the car, we go for a 45 minute drive to go hiking. The car overheats after some driving on rough gravel roads, uphill, in 1st gear... we let it cool down while we take the hike, and it's fine on the way home. I take it to the best shop in town, where they do an electrical-systems diagnostic (apparently to test if it was a problem with the relay switch, or with the fan itself). Nothing else is wrong with the car, but the fan itself is broken. They quote me pretty high for the fan (close to five hundred dollars, in the American equivalent), and the labor will be a good hunk of change as well. But I'm free to look elsewhere, since they admit to not having the most competitive prices in town. So, what I'm wondering is, how difficult is to change a radiator fan on one's own? I'd ask my dad to do it for me, but he's currently about 10 hours away by plane, and not coming to visit for a couple more months. We have tons of road trips ahead. I want to get it fixed, just don't want to pay the money. I also know the car's clutch is slipping, and it could use a new fan belt. I'm wondering if it's a good idea to have all this work done at the same time, and be done with it? Or if I should just fix the radiator fan, then deal with the other stuff later. Tips? I'm not used to paying mechanics, since my dad fixed everything basically at home... so, looking for recommendations. I'm rather a tomboy, so I don't mind at all getting my hands grubby to fix something if it will save me $500... if possible. __________________ And think not you can direct the course of Love; for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. --Khalil Gibran