944T: fan going? hard to replace?
 

So, after a winter full of snow, I finally get my 944T out on the autobahn and hit a traffic jam. Temperature gauge goes up to half-way btwn the first and second tick mark (but obviously still in the normal range) , and a horrendous howl starts from under the hood which I can hear in the cabin.

Noise stops after about 2 minutes and temperature gauge now shows the needle at the first tick mark.

Get home and temp is rising (again about half-way btwn 1st and 2nd tick mark) and howl starts again, open the hood, and its coming from near the radiator but stops just after I open the hood, and I check the temp gauge again and its on the first tick mark.

Does this sound like the cooling fans going? It sounded just like a bad bearing does, that higher pitched howl. To my knowledge, neither fan has ever been replaced.

How hard are they to replace, in terms of pain the rear and time put in? As a point of reference for repairs, I probably could replace the timing belt on my 944, but I paid a good mechanic to do it since it takes quite a while to do it.

Last question: Pelican says 2 fans are required, at $200 each. Worthwhile to replace both at the same time "as long as I'm in there"?

Thanks!

I've heard them sound pretty awful. You should be able to idle the car with the hood up and wait for the fans to kick on.

BTW, I don't think I would buy these items new. . .salvage is your friend.

they cycle on/off depending on water temp. turn the fans by hand to see if they're binding.

bolts top and bottom, fan/shroud will come out from the bottom.

i'd bet someone here has fans or fans and shroud for sale.

See my posting on the turbo side of this website. Just replaced one of mine last week. They come out either from the top or bottom.

I replaced a fan a few weeks ago. With the batwing off and the plastic engine pan off it is an easy job. Disconnect two electrical connectors (1 for each fan) and remove 4 - 6 bolts. Can't remember if I removed top or bottom but it was a straight-forward job.

Pretty easy to remove the fan shroud and then the fans themselves. You can normally pick up used fans for 25-50 dollars, either here or ebay. You can buy quite a few used fans for what it costs for a new one, and the job is pretty straight forward.

As said run your car with the hood up and see if the noise starts when the fans kick on. Eventually the bearing will seize and blow the fuse. In a pinch you should be able to get by with one fan, till you get another one to put it.

Another vote for fan removal being pretty simple - I just pulled mine out the bottom while working to replace the radiator.

As aforementioned, pull them. See if you can free it up once out of the car, it's just an e-clip to remove the fan blades from the motor. Penetrating oil will be your friend. 12v and good lubricant can return an old electric motor to working conditions sometimes, other times the motor comes apart and pieces are cleaned and polished. I've never needed a fan motor, but I have replaced one of the two blades.

It can be hard to get the blades off the motor, but with patience, a puller, heat, hammer, and screw drivers, it's easy. Take off the E-clip, and don't worry about the motor, but pay attention to the fan.