2003 1.2 Punto Fan

[Mrcheerful]

Tom Burton wrote:
> Hi
>
> Just a quickie...
>
> Just been doing a bit of a service on a friends Punto 8v 1.2 2003.
>
>
> The car has recently had a replacement engine as the previous unit
> lost its water and seized up!
>
>
> Whilst doing the once over I noticed that the fan mounted on the back
> of the radiator is very stiff to turn by hand for about 7/8s of its
> revolution.
> Putting two and two together I am wondering if the fan is buggered
> hence the water loss hence the seizing up?
>
> My question is, should the fan turn freely by hand? My Focus fan does,
> my corsa fan did....
>
> It looks easy enough to pull to bits to get the motor out and test it
> with a 12v supply but I thought I'd ask first!

yes, it should spin freely. First check that the fan is not hitting
somewhere. If it is the motor that is stiff you may be able to squirt some
oil onto the fan bearing from the outside and try that first,the other you
may be able to punch or drill a little hole to let lube in, most rad fans
are crimped together so are not really user serviceable. Checking the fan
works is part of basic servicing.

[Mrcheerful]

Tom Burton wrote:
>>> My question is, should the fan turn freely by hand? My Focus fan
>>> does, my corsa fan did....
>>>
>>> It looks easy enough to pull to bits to get the motor out and test
>>> it with a 12v supply but I thought I'd ask first!
>>
>> yes, it should spin freely. First check that the fan is not hitting
>> somewhere. If it is the motor that is stiff you may be able to
>> squirt some oil onto the fan bearing from the outside and try that
>> first,the other you may be able to punch or drill a little hole to
>> let lube in, most rad fans are crimped together so are not really
>> user serviceable. Checking the fan works is part of basic servicing.
>>
>
>
> Cheers MrC, I can't help be a little suprised that the garage who
> fitted the engine didn't check, given the old engine seemingly boiled
> dry!

it would be a usual check after fitting an engine for any reason, let alone
overheating, let it run till the fan kicks in, let it cool a bit, recheck
the coolant level, would be the norm.

[Mike P]

On Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:17:18 +0100, Mrcheerful wrote:

> Tom Burton wrote:
>>>> My question is, should the fan turn freely by hand? My Focus fan
>>>> does, my corsa fan did....
>>>>
>>>> It looks easy enough to pull to bits to get the motor out and test it
>>>> with a 12v supply but I thought I'd ask first!
>>>
>>> yes, it should spin freely. First check that the fan is not hitting
>>> somewhere. If it is the motor that is stiff you may be able to squirt
>>> some oil onto the fan bearing from the outside and try that first,the
>>> other you may be able to punch or drill a little hole to let lube in,
>>> most rad fans are crimped together so are not really user serviceable.
>>> Checking the fan works is part of basic servicing.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Cheers MrC, I can't help be a little suprised that the garage who fitted
>> the engine didn't check, given the old engine seemingly boiled dry!
>
> it would be a usual check after fitting an engine for any reason, let
> alone overheating, let it run till the fan kicks in, let it cool a bit,
> recheck the coolant level, would be the norm.

Everyone I know who's owned an early model Punto 1.2 has had the
headgasket fail in it. Myself included!

--
Mike P