S4RS cooling fan failure!

CCEMN1 · March 10, 2010, 06:14:40 PM

I've got an '07 S4RS. While in Daytona this past week, it may have been cold, but the traffic was atrocious, as usual. This was causing my Temp to soar to 228 regularly. At one point I looked down at my left side fan & noticed it wasn't spinning. I gave it a couple flicks with my fingers and it began to spin. I then looked at the right side fan & it too was spinning. Later I noticed both fans had stopped. I tried flicking the left one, but it seemed to have seized? It was. and still is, frozen solid & won't budge! The right side fan spins freely with my fingers, but never comes on when the engine is hot?
Are these two fans linked in series? I can't understand what's going on here? I've already purchased a used fan on eBay to replace the seized one, but was wondering if anyone here has any experience with this? Thanks guys!

vwboomer · March 10, 2010, 08:26:13 PM

I noticed last year that neither of my fans work. Temps reaching about 220 in stop n go traffic. I never really gave it much thought since I spend little time in traffic. but it was a bit worrisome.

DucHead · March 11, 2010, 04:14:59 AM

Sorry, no help here except to say that the wires running to the left and right fan are different colors suggesting that they may not be in series.

I removed one of my fans last year. When summer rolls around, I do my best not to get stuck in traffic.

ducpainter · March 11, 2010, 04:30:20 AM

I'm pretty sure I read here somewhere that the left fan comes on first then the right if the temp continues to climb.

Naturally it's controlled by a sensor and the ecu.

You may have more than one problem, or simply a bad fan motor.

Slide Panda · March 11, 2010, 05:23:52 AM

They are set up to run as DP described.

DesmoTimes sells a kit that has better fan blades, and also a switch that allows you to manually bring the fans on - But the fan blades won't work on your bike

. But the point of the comment is, it is not unheard of it install a manual override for the fans on a Duc

corey · March 11, 2010, 07:02:36 AM

is 228Â° all that bad? my bike pretty much runs around 220Â° in the summer...

CCEMN1 · March 11, 2010, 12:09:12 PM

Quote from: ducpainter on March 11, 2010, 04:30:20 AM
I'm pretty sure I read here somewhere that the left fan comes on first then the right if the temp continues to climb.

Naturally it's controlled by a sensor and the ecu.

You may have more than one problem, or simply a bad fan motor.

Yes, the left fan motor is definately seized, it won't budge, no matter how hard I try to get it to turn. I've never seen bearings on an electric motor seize to this degree? Funny, because initially, it was just not spinning, until I gave it a twirl. It then seemed to work fine, noislessly, until I noticed it stopped all together!
I bought a used fan on ebay & am going to do an over-ride with a lighted switch.

Speeddog · March 11, 2010, 02:58:54 PM

Desmoquattro and Testastretta fans are different, the 'bolt pattern' that goes through the radiator is not the same.

'01 and '02 S4 fan wiring is different.
AFAIK '02 S4 and Desmoquattro S4R are the same wiring.

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Quote from: corey on March 11, 2010, 07:02:36 AM
is 228Â° all that bad? my bike pretty much runs around 220Â° in the summer...

The bikes in question are water-cooled, yours is air-cooled.

CCEMN1 · March 11, 2010, 04:53:02 PM

Fortunately, I bought a used fan from a 2007 S4RS, the exact same make, model & year as mine, so I'm hoping I'll be OK?

Speeddog · March 11, 2010, 05:02:19 PM

Should be fine.

corey · March 11, 2010, 05:06:57 PM

Quote from: Speeddog on March 11, 2010, 02:58:54 PM

The bikes in question are water-cooled, yours is air-cooled.

yea, i've got that part down... i guess i'm not aware of the heat tolerance differences between the two?
is the 4-valve water cooled motor not able to handle 230Â°?

Howie · March 11, 2010, 07:55:04 PM

Quote from: corey on March 11, 2010, 07:02:36 AM
is 228Â° all that bad? my bike pretty much runs around 220Â° in the summer...

Not for the engine as long as the coolant pressure cap is working, but every extra degree sucks when the fans come on and direct the heat towards you.

djrashonal · March 11, 2010, 08:13:25 PM

is there a way to install bypass switch to turn the fans on manually so you can start cooling before it reaches an ungodly temp?

Speeddog · March 11, 2010, 08:21:45 PM

Yes, you can set 'em up with a switch.
But then you've got to *remember* to keep an eye on the temp.

IIRC, your '01 S4 has a fan relay.
Not completely sure.

'02 S4 has the fans powered directly by the ECU.

Pretty sure the Desmoquattro S4R are the same way.
Testastretta likely as well, but I've no info to back that up.

djrashonal · March 11, 2010, 08:35:47 PM

I think you are right sir! I found this on Ducati.ms that has a handy pdf....it seems pretty basic.
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=9290

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S4RS cooling fan failure!