I got this message yesterday. It seems the cooling fan isn't turning on. I got the message sitting in traffic with the AC on.

By the time I got home, the temp gauge was close to 120c and the car was close to running hot. I popped the hood and the cooling fan wasn't turning (when it should've been wailing).

I cut the car off and disconnected the little connector cable (left side of radiator, several inches down from front, inner lip). The contacts were wet and smelled like hot coolant.

Could the switch be faulty (now)? I cleaned it as best I could and reconnected. Cranked the car and let it run long enough for the fan to kick in, but it never did.

I think it's the connector/switch/doo-hickey.

Has this happened to any of you guys?????

 

I know what's wrong.

The wire harness fits into a molded, plastinc connector. Inside the connector are two metal prongs. One of the prongs is broken. The connector itself fits inside the plastic fan housing and appears to simply clip into place. I can't figure out how to unclip it so the connector simply slides out.

The connector (with the broken prong) would need to be replaced.



I wonder how much the part will be??

 

I think it's the connector/switch/doo-hickey.

I think you are on the right track. If your fans aren't comming on you sound like you may have found the problem.

But your technical description is a "Classic".

I watched an engineer retire after 40 yrs and in his going away speech he covered the what-ya-ma-call-it parts.

 

Radiator fan most likely faulty. On my car one of the prongs had melted inside the plug. Had to replace complete cooling fan assembly. The plug is not repairable. If there is a problem with melted prong or plug, it usually indicates short or other internal problem with cooling fan motor, and like I said earlier, it comes as a completecooling fan assembly(fan, motor, shroud, and plug) about $380.00

 

I agree sounds like failed burned out motor,, but isn't there a fuse or fuseable link to prevent fires?

 

how bad is it for one of these 5.0 liters to see 120C (248 F)

 

Not good, but if you didn't thermal shock it to cool off you should be ok. My corvette LS1 all aluminum upper temp for the fans are set at 228F. Thermal shock is dumping cold water on it to cool it off. If you allowed it to cool "normally" by turning off and hood open you had a normal cool down.

If you have driven it and no leaks, drips or errors,(baseball ), smoke you are ok.

 

You should be ok. You may have caused coolant to boil over, so check your coolant level and top up if required. You can keep driving your vehicle as long as you keep air flowing through your radiator -no bumper to bumper traffic- until you replace your cooling fan (if that is your problem)

Not sure why MB does not install fuseable links. I've done searches and this has happened a number of times.

 

Well, here's what transpired....

I have a friend who's a Benz mechanic. Took the car to him, had him check it out. You're right, the prong was broken and the connector couldn't be repaired.

The engine fan assembly had to be replaced....


It wore my wallet out.....

 

I was riding with a friend in his Chrysler and told him of your problem. He told me his car was the same. However he pulled it and noone could sell him just the motor he had to buy the entire assembly. Then he pulled the motor out and found numbers on it. After searching he found the part at a local parts house for $35.00. Installed it in his schroud and back operating.

So look closely at your failed motor. Can you remove it from the shroud? Photo it. Does it have any numbers. perhaps we can find a cross ref motor to work that is an identical replacement. Remember Chrysler and MB were one and the same company for a while. There might be come cross business here.

 

I have the old fan assembly. I'll remove the motor and look at the numbers.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Please forward the numbers and a photo of the fan if possible. I might be able to find a replacement to use next time.

 

Hi Guys,

New here. Am stumped after visiting many forums. I have a 2003 E270 CDI which clocked 110k already. No problems till this year. I recently got "ESP Not Fuctioning, Coolant visit workshop and display faulty ( with an engine icon) Visit Workshop". 3 Malfunction at the same time. But after turning off and then restart the car. It works perfectly fine. It may happen again, then same thing, turn off, and then turn on again. No problems. Then it drives like usual. It won't happen again until I turn off, then return to the car and restart. I've just replaced the central unit at the drivers side. The engineers could not find any problem on diagnostics.

HELP!