Radiator Fan Socket - how to dismantle?

[tonytiger 0]

The big brown wire on the radiator fan socket/connector on my vr has corroded off (resulting in boiling coolant today). I've removed the rubber seal from the back of the socket but I can't figure out how to get the terminal connector out so that I can resolder it.

Anybody know how to do that?

CHeers.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Yup, you need one of these - http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=524&item=3175

[tonytiger 0]

Cheers Kev. Not a hope of getting one of them locally on a bank holiday weekend then. Guess I'll just have to wait (as usual) to have one posted.

[mariojoshi 1]

Are you talking about the plug with the 4 wires that connects onto the fan motor? If so - bollocks to needing a specialist tool - you can remove the terminals individually by pressing the retaining clips with a small electrical screwdriver from the front of the plug, one at a time. Need to apply a bit of pressure and pull on the wire/terminal whilst doing this, but can be done!

[tonytiger 0]

In the absence of the correct tool, I was going to try improvising something - so thanks for the info - I'll give that a go. Though it sounds like it's easier with at least 3 hands! Cheers.

[mariojoshi 1]

Three hands and a foot.... actually ;)

 

Good luck!

[tonytiger 0]

Well, I've failed to remove the terminal from the fan connector with improvised methods, and the laser tool which I now have won't do it either, as that only does the smaller terminals it seems. I'm trying to remove the larger terminal on the left in the attached photo. Any other suggestions please anybody? (Apart from fitting a completely different fan!)

 

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[Kevin Bacon 5]

Ah sorry mate, I thought that green one would do the job. I thought you meant the smaller plug on the radiator sender, not the big fan plug.

 

I bought one of these a while ago, which seems to do every plug no probs - http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=524&item=3774 Shame you're so far away as I'd lend it to you!

[tonytiger 0]

No worries - an extra gadget that'll have a use eventually. I had seen those other kits, but wasn't sure if they would do everything or just most. Shame they're so pricey - still might fork out for one anyway, as I suspect I'm going to have a few more sockets to do anyway.

[Jim Bowen 1]

Got my rad sender one apart without any special tools....

 

 

 

did it last night, popped the connectors in the new block and was perfect :)

[Stonejag 10]

Yeah, they're really awkward to dismantle. I gave up on my MAF plug (metal fatigue in one wire so it snapped off level with the blue silicon waterproofing plug) and had to chop a chunk off the side to get enough metal to solder the wire back onto. That said it lasted a year before I got around to putting a plug from a Golf VR6 on it, just chopped and spliced the wires further down the loom. Much easier...

 

Pretty sure you can still get the terminals from VW if you want to use all-new parts, just use a standard crimp tool to attach them.

 

Stone

[tonytiger 0]

If at first you don't succeed, hit it with a big hammer. :)

Except for once I didn't. I created a terminal removal tool from a pair of tweezers with the aid of a grinder, and it worked!