Radiator fan problems
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 09:11
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Rob from Cairns Offroad Training & Tours
We have had more probs up this way with 100 series turbos fans going into radiators while going thru even shallow water. Apparently the turbos have a thicker radiator. The fan blades are very flexible and the radiators fairly fragile.
Anyone know of a replacement fan, we are experimenting with a 60 series fan which is much more durable tho different off set. Another alternative I am looking at is crim safe mesh between the shroud and radiator. I now know of at least a dozen T\D cruisers up this way with this problem and Toyota themselves are
well aware of it. I went into a radiator repairers today to ask about fans and he showed me 5 damaged radiators. Major worry for me as the OTL will be much wetter this year. Anyone have an answer for this problem??? And no I don't want to buy a Nissan I have had one before.
Cheers,
Rob Berrill
www.4wdtraining.com
White 100 Series TD 5 Speed auto,
Bilstien
suspension .
OE Mags, alloy B\Bar and roof rack,
Lightforce XGT, tint,
UHF radio,
BFG AT 285\75 tires.
Reply By: Austravel - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 09:59
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 09:59
Hi Rob, I'd think your on the right path looking at stiffer blades. Unless that is Toyota come up with a fix that they will do at nil cost. I guess what ever you do will/may have some consequential effect, ie using the crim safe barrier may wear or destroy the orginal blades and using stiffer blades may reduce air flow or...... Or other fixes may involve quite a bit of time and money.
As a side note and not starting a toyota is better than nissan thread but in your work you'd certainly get to drive and see both brands. I spoke to another major off road tour group in
Alice Springs and they had Toyotas but said he'd rather patrols but got a much better deal when buying landcruisers. His reasoning was the strength of the motor and drive train in the patrol. So what's your take on it, for heavy towing/load carrying, and off road work, reliability etc which IN YOUR VIEW is better, or which have you had better luck with??
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 10:45
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 10:45
Not trying to start Nissan v Toyota HA
very loaded question I have driven only toyotas and have never had an issue with drivetrain or motor which includes way overloading them with samples over rough pit floors. Springs do break. I have used Toyotas for some very heavy duty work but unfortunately I have not got to put a nisssan through same stuff otherwise I might finally be able to better answer this Q
Best answer I heard was "as there is no clear winner the debate rages on"
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Follow Up By: Austravel - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 10:58
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 10:58
Wan't trying to start another but Rob was saying he had driven both so thought he might have some valuable info. I tend to think the same, both are as good as each other just different.
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:12
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:12
you got me thinking a bit more about asking peoples opinions. I used to work with mapping geos that had worked in a few different countries so I asked a simular question and got told that the worst vehicle she had been in was a landrover. When I pumped her for more info expecting tales of blown diffs wrecked motors etc she replied "hasnt got a dash on it like this one (hzj78) I had no where to put my maps and photos"
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Follow Up By: Austravel - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:30
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 14:30
True, depends on what emphasis you put on what area I guess.
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Follow Up By: Rob from Cairns Offroad Training & Tours - Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 00:42
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 00:42
Thougt long and hard about whether I wanted to get involved in this one but here goes a persoal opinion only. I feel the Patrols have stronger drive trains better diffs specially the LSD also a good h\brake The Tojo has better lower range transfer casebleepty LSD and h\brake. The 4.2 lt diesels in both are much of a muchness and in both trucks some are slugs and some go like the clappers, lots of variation from someone who has driven lots of both. I feel the Tojos generally have a stronger tighter coach builder than Nissan tho I have driven a few very poor 80 series specially the first 4.5 petrols. Up here Tojos hold their value very
well. I feel the tojos are getting softer each model where as the Patrols have stayed tuff. Just as a matter of interest I bought a new Pajero GLS 3.5 lt in 97 $45k It was a ripper car till now the best compromise 4wd I had owned, but 3 years later could only get $28k for it, the most I have ever lost on a vehicle in such a short time. I currently have an 100 series 03 T\D auto that I bought 18 months old 58k klms that best suits my use as a tour guide. You can not buy a bad vehicle today the trick is to buy the one that best suits your intended use. Here endeth the lesson.
Cheers Rob
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Follow Up By: Austravel - Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 09:31
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 09:31
Well said. Generally what I thought but having only driven a few of each didn't feel like I had enough experience to make the decission. Thanks
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Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 12:25
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 12:25
NOw I am going back in tike a bit...afore some of you
young fellas were 4wd-ing...and before viscous fans were heard of............
It was in the Territory Top End and we used to do numerous water crossings with water regularly over the bonnet driving little Suzuki 2strokes. The plastic non viscous fan would suck forward and make a mess of the radiator. One
bright spark in the club made up a galvanised plate with a handle which would slide between the radiator and the fan and so stop any damage. We all followed his lead.
The easiest way to stop the fan going through the radiator on these modern 4bies is to drill a hole in one fan blade and when going through deep water crossings secure it with an Ocky-strap.
Too easy!
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 12:59
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 12:59
I thought back in those days befor a/c and p/s you just pulled off the 1 fan belt. Saw a fixed blade cruiser stop in only 700mm water coz the fan chucked water all over it (petrol) at the
King Edward river crossing. Quite funny as Hubby (German couple) was on the other side waiting for his missus to cross so he could get the photo (I rescued them with a can of crc)
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Follow Up By: Member - Chrispy (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:21
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 13:21
Willem - that's exactly what i did when setting up the Patrol for comp work - drilled a hole in one blade and fixed a piece of wire that is connected to the shroud at the other end. When I'm about to do a water or deep mud course, I slip the wire (with a hooked end) into the hole in the blade and she stops running - and slips against the viscous clutch for the crossing. As soon as I'm clear, I disconnect the blade.
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 19:31
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 19:31
Rob,
I have noticed that a lot of new vehicles are prone to water on the fan. Had a 3 week old Hilux with a neat circle in the radiator and the water didn't cover the bull bar.
From what I have seen the water is not going through the radiator but come up from under the radiator and then onto the fan.
It might pay to have a look under the front and see if water can come there. A cover plate from the bottom of the bull bar to behind the fan might be the go.
I think TJM has some type of shield to stop this, but can't be sure.
My 80 Series never had a problem but it had about 90mm between the fan and the radiator.
Wayne
AnswerID:
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