Merry Christmas everyone! So my 98 LX starts to show overheating symptoms out of the blue... in my infinite wisdom I decide it's a water pump and replace it. Still overheats. Then notice that the electric fan isn't turning on even when the AC is turned on. So I get out of the car and smack the shroud and it starts spinning slowly with a weird rotational noise. Harness plug look OK...

Radiator Fan/Shroud assembly replacement?

thanks!!

seems like an easy diagnosis to me ... replace that sucker.

just beware of the some the cheap aftermarket replacements.

yeah I figured it was a subtle sign to me...

I noticed RockAuto has 5 or 6 of them... TYC is a brand I recognize

I got a Spectra from Rock Auto to do mines earlier this year. So far so good. The only thing I noticed is that it doesn't fit quite as snug as the OEM one. I've noticed the same issue on other cars too when they've had theirs replaced. There is a gap as the assembly gets closer to the top that just can't be overcome. I've seen photos from auctions where they zip tie it at the top to get it as sung as possible. I didn't have to do that to mine as it didn't bother so much but just a thought as you put yours together.

I like the price of the Spectra

thanks for the tips!

Just an update with some tips.

I bought the TYC off of Amazon for $79 free shipping.

It fit perfectly and now I have a fan when the AC is turned on. And boy does it blow... a small hurricane.

Just a few tips:

1) Remove 3x 8mm bolts, 2 from the shround near the top and one from the expansion tank hold down. Unplug the fan connector.

2) No need to remove the expansion tank or disconnect any radiator lines. Just wiggle, jiggle and rotate to get the old fan/shroud out.

3) Remover the lower radiator hose support piece from the old radiator. Don't replace it on the new fan/shroud yet.

4) Wiggle jiggle and rotate the new fan/shroud into place. Before you align the fan/shroud with the clips, install the lower radiator hose support bracket to the new fan/shroud. (it just clicks in)

5, Line the fan/shroud up with the clips and replace the 8mm bolts and pop the expansion tank back into its clips and tighten its 8mm bolt.

Plug in the new fan.

I'm still on my factory unit, but I do have a problem with the resistor, which Ford does not sell as a separate unit. Heck, even a direct fit fan assembly is no longer available.

I'm not too keen on VDO, Spectra or Four Seasons but was curious about the TYC, which IIRC is a Taiwanese brand. What was the country of origin on the TYC fan, anyone know?

Ford abandons it's products so fast! Throws us into the clutches of the dodgy aftermarket.