Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-15-2016, 06:47 PM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: va
Posts: 62
Only left radiator fan comes on. Problem?

I was running my car yesterday for a while, and I noticed that I can only hear my left radiator fan come on. I turn on the A/C and the right fan still did not come on. How can I trouble shoot this?

I have a 01 Boxster base 5spd w/94k miles.

__________________
01 Boxster S 6Spd, Speed Yellow w/84k miles. | 991.1 911 C2 7spd Manual | 01 996 C2 -6spd - Green Machine - My baby | 997.2 C2S 6spd | 2x 01 Boxster base
professorman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2016, 12:15 AM   #2
still plays with cars...
 
BoxsterSteve's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Baden, ON, Canada
Posts: 1,087
Garage
Pull the offender and put 12v to it directly. If it still won't run, it's a goner.
If it runs when powered directly, the relay that switches it and/or the ballast resistor would be your next parts to investigate.
__________________
Six speed 2000 Boxster S
Arctic Silver on Metropol Blue | LN Dual Row IMSR | Arctic Silver console, spoiler frame & bumperettes | Crios mod | Technobrace | RoboTop module & modified convertible top relay for one-touch roof operation
BoxsterSteve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2016, 11:43 AM   #3
Registered User
 
mikesz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Cranston RI
Posts: 902
Garage
FYI resolve it quickly. My left fan wasn't working and was binding causing row in the fuse box to fry.
__________________
99 Porsche Boxster
mikesz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2016, 11:45 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: va
Posts: 62
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikesz View Post
FYI resolve it quickly. My left fan wasn't working and was binding causing row in the fuse box to fry.
Wow..... Thanks for the tip.
__________________
01 Boxster S 6Spd, Speed Yellow w/84k miles. | 991.1 911 C2 7spd Manual | 01 996 C2 -6spd - Green Machine - My baby | 997.2 C2S 6spd | 2x 01 Boxster base
professorman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2016, 04:35 PM   #5
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
Most likely cause is the ballast resistor. Very common failure. Do a search, lots of posts on troubleshooting and repair. I've done two of these - one on my earlier Boxster and one on the 996.
__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2016, 05:42 PM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: GTA
Posts: 128
I have a 2000 Boxster.
Today in 28 degree temperatures in traffic she got pretty hot.

I had to pull over to cool her down.
I hear a fan in the engine bay behind me.
What does it do? How does it cool the motor when the rad is out front???

There are fans on the front rads????????

How do I check them?
Fuzzuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2016, 06:47 PM   #7
Registered User
 
thom4782's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Foster City CA
Posts: 1,099
To test...turn on car, then turn on a/c. Fans always run then at low speed,

If one fan doesn't run, then its either the ballast resistor, the fan motor or the fan relay. You can test the relay by swapping it with the relay from the working side.
thom4782 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 07:02 AM   #8
2003 S, Arctic Silver, M6
 
paulofto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,348
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzzuki View Post
I have a 2000 Boxster.
Today in 28 degree temperatures in traffic she got pretty hot.

I had to pull over to cool her down.
I hear a fan in the engine bay behind me.
What does it do? How does it cool the motor when the rad is out front???

There are fans on the front rads????????

How do I check them?
The fan in the engine bay is to move air surrounding the engine. Air is drawn from below and pushed out the passenger side vent. There are 2 fans out front, one for each radiator. The S model has a central rad as well but no fan behind it. Follow Thom4782 advise to test the front fans
paulofto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 10:03 AM   #9
Registered User
 
mikesz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Cranston RI
Posts: 902
Garage
there is also a good DIY somewhere I think on Pedros board on how to make a jumper and removing the 4 relays for the 2 fans and "jumping" the bottom slot with the top slot for each fan relay. that is how I diagnosed my issue.
__________________
99 Porsche Boxster
mikesz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 11:21 AM   #10
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
If its just the ballast go to parts geek and get the radiator fan /ballast combo for about $160. The ballast is about $110 and in the future you will need to replace a fan.
I had to replace both fans on mine.
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000

Last edited by san rensho; 06-17-2016 at 11:23 AM.
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 11:42 AM   #11
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: GTA
Posts: 128
Quote:
Originally Posted by san rensho View Post
If its just the ballast go to parts geek and get the radiator fan /ballast combo for about $160. The ballast is about $110 and in the future you will need to replace a fan.
I had to replace both fans on mine.
Where did you get this deal?

Where are the balist resistor's?

Parts geek. Com?
Fuzzuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 11:43 AM   #12
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: GTA
Posts: 128
Forgot to mention. Drivers side fan runs and not the other when the AC is turned on
Fuzzuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 12:45 PM   #13
Registered User
 
thom4782's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Foster City CA
Posts: 1,099
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzzuki View Post
Forgot to mention. Drivers side fan runs and not the other when the AC is turned on
Still the same issue: broken fan motor, ballast resistor, or relay or its a break in the wiring.

If you switch the relays the passenger fan still doesn't run, then think fan motor or resistor.

If the weather is hot and you let the car run at idle until the fan switches to high speed as the water temperature rises and the passenger fan still doesn't work, then the fan is the problem.

If the passenger' side fan comes on at high speed, then it's the ballast resistor

If you have a Durametric cable or know someone who has one, you can test the fans in low and high speed modes without having run the car.
thom4782 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 03:49 PM   #14
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: GTA
Posts: 128
Quote:
Originally Posted by thom4782 View Post
Still the same issue: broken fan motor, ballast resistor, or relay or its a break in the wiring.

If you switch the relays the passenger fan still doesn't run, then think fan motor or resistor.

If the weather is hot and you let the car run at idle until the fan switches to high speed as the water temperature rises and the passenger fan still doesn't work, then the fan is the problem.

If the passenger' side fan comes on at high speed, then it's the ballast resistor

If you have a Durametric cable or know someone who has one, you can test the fans in low and high speed modes without having run the car.



Thank you. Very much appreciate your response.

My wife I'd going to kill me. Having to work on my car all the time.
I used to work on my old motorcycle's until she grew tired of it and make me buy a new bike.

Maybe I can get a new Boxster if this continues.

LOL
Fuzzuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2016, 08:27 PM   #15
Registered User
 
Pdwight's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 2,079
Fwiw

I have been working on and repairing things all my life (turn 60 in a few days), you say you got the fan motor going ?

Unless you found something wrapped around the motor binding it it is probably toast. I have gotten many motors that were seized going...penetrating oil etc. I have found if a motor ever seizes it's life is most likely over, you might get it going for a while but it will fail on you again. Summer is not a good time for a cooling motor to go out, get a used one from Woody if there is any drag whatsoever in that motor. It might cost a little right now but seem like loose change compared to an engine later.
Pdwight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2016, 10:12 AM   #16
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
lQUOTE=Fuzzuki;499871]Where did you get this deal?

Where are the balist resistor's?

Parts geek. Com?[/QUOTE]


01 2001 Porsche Boxster Radiator Fan Assembly - Cooling System - Bosch - PartsGeek
01 2001 Porsche Boxster Auxiliary Fan Resistor - Cooling System - Genuine - PartsGeek
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 06:16 AM   #17
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: GTA
Posts: 128
Here is the update. I was away in Switzerland. At home, my wife and child were driving around and heard a weird noise. Very weird. Never heard a car make this kind of noise.
I checked around, saw that the power steering reservoir was empty. filled it up and still heard the noise. I was thinking the power steering pump was finished.
Brought it to Mantis Racing in Oakville.
The found it was the water pump. They replaced it and found that neither fan was kicking in.

They replaced both resistors packs and now all is well.

My Visa would say otherwise. But, so be it.

Fuzzuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:50 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page