Hi - first ever post

2000 B5 S4 135,000 miles and owned it from new - 99% stock

My auxiliary passenger-side cooling fan is busted. After much searching on this great site for knowledge I've finally proved it by pulling the fan power connector by the PS-reservoir and jumping the pins to the battery - nothing, pretty sure I have a dead aux fan.

Looks as though I have to put the front end in the service position to switch it out. A couple of posts say "if you have slim fingers" you can avoid that, but I don't really, and while I can see maybe getting the fan out without moving the radiator, I can't see how I'd re-route the new cable (could cut/splice somewhere maybe?) - any advice on that from someone who's done it without moving the radiator.

Then - while I'm in there...what else should I do? The car had a timing belt at 90,000 with water pump, thermostat and fan-clutch (not by me though) - so I'm not yet ready to do that again for another ~30,000 - but what should I do now that are at least semi-no-brainer while I have it apart?

Thanks,

-Richard
Scotts Valley, CA

 

first, don't be afraid of service position. it does take some (a lot of) extra time but the extra room you are afforded is well worth it IMHO. Also, if you run into a "snag" you are most of the way to just removing the whole front end.

There should be enough slack (play) in the radiator hoses to get the fan off without having to drain and remove the radiator. I do seem to recall some mention of having to "break" some plastic clips that hold the bottom of the fan to the radiator to get it off.

Really, the only thing I can think of to look into while you are working in that area is the serpentine belt and/or components thereof. But if you aren't having problems with that stuff....

-not an expert, just an enthusiast