Hi all i just purchased a vitara fan a few days ago from a AZ member. I fitted it today and would like to share my feedback on it.
I have a G16B from a baleno in my zook and it was overheating in the dunes, so i purchased a Vitara cooling fan and viscous clutch assembly.
It was a very simple bolt on job, i have retained the standard 1.3 radiator and shroud setup. Your cooling fan will work heaps better if you have a shroud for it as it really forces the air to be sucked through the radiator, instead of drawing hot air from the engine bay.
I gave my zook a good workout tonight, the needle never moved from 1/4 on the temp gauge, which with the standard 1.3 Cooling fan was near impossible to achieve (i used to have to turn the heater on full ball to cool the radiator coolant down)
So this simple mod is very effective and cheap insurance.
Thing you will need for this simple but effective mod:
Vitara Cooling fan assembly $30
4 x 6mm bolts approx 20mm in length, for the fan to fan pulley ( or the old bolts out of the vitara fan setup)
4 x 6mm spring washers
10mm spanner or 3/8 drive socket and ratchet
and about 30 mins to 1 hour of time.
The method i used to change the fans is probably the rough bastards way of doing it but here goes.
Step 1
Unbolt radiator shroud, and move back to allow access to fan bolts ( 4 bolts in total use a 10mm spanner or socket)
Step 2 (Rough Bastards Way)
Remove 4 radiator mounting bolts using a 10mm spanner or socket, and let the radiator hang to allow access to fan bolts.
Step 2 (Correct procedure)
As i said above i did it the rough way (without taking the radiator out) If i were to do it again i would remove the radiator all together that way it would allow access to the cooling fan, without the posibility of screwing your radiator core.
Step 3
Remove 4 bolts that hold the fan assembly on to the engine. ( DO NOT PULL THE PULLEY OFF LEAVE IT IN PLACE) Pull the fan out and put it away incase you need a spare.
Step 4
Install the Vitara fan onto the water pump pulley, where the original fan came off ( DO NOT USE THE OLD SPACER FROM THE OLD FAN IT IS NOT NEEDED FOR THIS MOD)
Step 5
Tighten all fan bolts up, to correct specs ( Ensure you have fitted your new spring washers).
Step 6 ( Rough Bastards way)
Cut the fan shroud to allow fitment back onto your radiator
Step 6 (Correct way)
Put the radiator fan shroud back in.
Step 7 ( ROUGH BASTARDS WAY)
Tighten all radiator mount bolts and fan shroud bolts
Step 7 ( Correct way)
install radiator, tighten all radiator mounting bolts and shroud bolts fit all hoses, fill with coolant, and bleed the cooling system.
Step 8
Turn the fan by hand BEFORE starting to check clearance between Radiator shroud and Vitara cooling fan ( NO MODS WILL NEED TO BE MADE TO FIT THE 1.3 Cooling shroud to suit the vitara fan.
Step 9
If the fan blades DO NOT TOUCH the shroud it is all good to kick it in the guts and give it a burn in the sand.
Please ensure you check all coolant levels and have bled the cooling system before you thrash it.
I have not taken any pics, but i will take some eventually to help out if needed.
Cheers
Conrad
