gadgetmind Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 So, two "experts" tell me I need a new a/c compressor, a third says it's my engine mounts, but after much poking around I'm 99% sure that my electric fan is kippered. Very strong vibration on the back of it that *exactly* matches what I can feel through the wheel and feel in the cabin. Audi part number seems to be 4D0 959 455 A and local stealer wants £219+vat !!! (It's a 1995 A8 4.2) I suspect that a wide range of Audis use the same fan but don't want to risk getting one that doesn't fit. Advice? Also, my front breather hose is also in a bad shape. I read elsewhere on this forum that 5/8" heater hose is fine for the job. What about the rear ones? Do I need the real parts of more heater hose? Thanks Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Welcome to TSN Ian, I'm surprised that you can feel the vibration from the electric fan in the cabin? But as usual wait for the other Ian from A8parts and he'll surely be able to help with parts. But from what I can see is that there are 6 different types of fan; size varies by 10mm and large variences in power rating. The one you've been quoted for is a 300w Bosche 280mm. Would need to know your engine code located in the spare wheel well sticker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJStrange Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Sorry to be so vastly off thread and cheeky, but Ska - you have PM... Good luck with your fault finding Ian, hope you cure it soon enough (and cheap enough too ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted May 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 Would need to know your engine code located in the spare wheel well sticker. It's ABZ. The chassis number has a T for the year - 1996? I'll prove 100% that it's the fan today. I can't find the far end of the cable to it - it goes under a chassis beam and then maybe into a blue box. So, I either remove the fan and hold it in my gloved!) hands while my wife checks for vibration, or maybe I just stall it with a bit of plastic pipe. I've also found this one in Poland. http://tinyurl.com/44oofy The Valeo web site gives this as matching part 4D0 959 455 F, whereas one from an A8 in an a8parts eBay auction is given as 4D0 959 455 A So, both around the same price, one sure to match but 12 years old, the other new but a pattern part. Tricky! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 Hey Ian Looks like the fan from a number of different engines would fit yours including mine from the V6 perhaps looking at the part numbers. see pic: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted May 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 Yup, I'm pretty sure the Valeo one from Poland would fit, and at circa £48 with P&P at about £18, it's a great price. But I've just ordered a used one from A8parts for £35, and a friend might be able to collect it. I couldn't find a connector on the cable. The earth is easy to see, but the other end disappears into the darkness. I'll either track it down or just cut the cable and fit some crimp connectors and heat shrink tubing. I also had a look/poke at the breathers on the back of my engine. Boy, they are hard to access! Anyway, they currently look OK. Phew! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted May 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 By the way, where did the exploded diagram of the fan fitting come from? I might need to invest in such a data source ... Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A8_Tony Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 Welcome to TSN Ian I had the same issue with a fan a couple of years back, but could never feel any vibration through the steering. This makes me think it's something else. The electric fan is held on with 3 rivets, that is why Audi will charge the £219 you've quoted, as they see it as a special fit (my words not theirs, theirs will sound far more technical). Now IT_S8 may have other ideas, but I had mine fitted by Audi, as I didn't fancy having the lot come off into the front of the engine!! Anyhoo, maybe you can have a word with IT_S8 and if you attend the meet tomorrow, I'm sure he'll bring one on down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted May 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 I checked that it was this fan by jamming a plastic pipe into it to prevent it turning and then getting my wife to turn the a/c on and off. The vibration wasn't there when the fan was stalled. I'm guessing it's like the *tiny* vibrate motors in cell phones - they really punch above their weight when they get going. Maybe we're talking about different fans? This one is just held by two bolts at the top and it then lifts from a retainer at the bottom - I removed it last night and it only took a minute. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted May 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 OK, job now done using a fan from A8parts and some coolant hose from eBay. The fan was a *sod* to fit. The ground wire is easy, but the +12V heads off deep down and in the wing. The "tool catcher" needs to come off from underneath to access where it attaches to an odd blue plate - resistor pack? What's this thing for - dim dip? Anyway, I put a socket onto the nut holding the fan +12V lead onto this, and the nut snapped off even without a wrench attached! As the bolt is part of the terminal, I had to totally remove this pack (during which another terminal nut snapped off), drill out the old bolts, and fit new nuts and bolts to keep everything secure. Then it all needs refitting, and the tool catcher needs bashing back into place, so THREE hours to swap one fan and replace the breather, with the latter taking 10 minutes. Oh well, done now, and the vibration has gone. The "new" fan is a little noisier than I'd like, but it seems to be getting quieter. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Well done mate, glad its sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetmind Posted May 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Thanks! It was harder than expected. Note for Mr Audi. Electrical connections that are taking 25Amps (300 watts / 12 Volts) need protecting from humidity, so using different metals and shoving it unprotected down in the wheel well isn't a right good idea. Salty water and high-current, what a splendid combination! I'm just glad the terminals on the mystery blue thingy (resistor pack?) were more butch than the bolts. They took to drilling right well and I think my retro-fit will last longer than the OEM solution. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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