help! neither fan is running...relay? or? where to start looking?

 

My E-type experience is very limited but I'm sure there's a temp switch somewhere....most likely on the header tank. Remove the wires and jump them together. If the fans come to life then you know you have a bad 'Otter' switch.

That's what was wrong on the one E-type I've worked on with a cooling fan problem. It was a late Series 1.

If that doesn't pan out then others will chime in....and they'll probably want to know more about the car. I'm pretty sure there are 3 or 4 variations of the cooling fan circuit over the the years of E-type production

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks DD!
I failed to mention that the air conditioning didn't work either, I did not mention because I did't think they were related. Went out yesterday and both fans seem to be working along with the air conditioning!?? I did not do or touch anything. This possibly tells me it may have something to do with temp? It was after the car had run for quite some time before things stopped working.
I will look into the otter switch as you mentioned, but it could be a short somewhere?

It is a 71 XKE seriesIII 2+2 (V12) 31000 miles

 

On many cars, including many Jags, the electric cooling fans are triggered two ways: 1) coolant temperature (via the temp switch already mentioned) and 2) the a/c compressor circuit. It sounds like your fan circuit is fundamentally operational but lacks the temperature trigger.

Incidentally, the term "otter switch" refers to the company who supplied the temp switches...at least on the earlier E-types. I don't know if the temp switch on a Ser III is actually made by 'Otter' or not.

Cheers
DD

 

Doug,
Thanks again, but are you saying it may still be the temp switch or are you thinking it's the a/c curcuit? FYI...My fans kick on soon as I turn the key to start the fuel pump.

I'm assuming that the fans and the a/c works when cold, but once the engine heats up...it kicks out? Not sure what my next step should be.

71 xke ser III V12
07 xkr coupe

 

If the fans are not coming on when they're suppose to according to coolant temp, yes....I suspect a problem with the temp switch.




From what you've said the fans DO come on when you switch the air conditioner 'on'. This sounds like normal operation to me, as many cars have that feature....inlcuding yours, it seems.




I'm getting confused. Initially you said "neither fan is running".



I don't understand what you're saying, sorry



Is that what's happening? The fans work *until* the engine heats up?




Do you have any manuals or schematics or? I'm not sure that my assumptions about the fan circuit are correct.

Hopefully someone with more E-Type experience will chime in

Cheers
DD