VR4 Starter and fan issues

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Technikhaus
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VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Technikhaus »

Hey all,
So we recently picked up a VR4 Legnum for about $700, and have just finished doing the water pump/timing gear as well as a replacement rad.
We still have a few issues left with it though.

it can sometime take up to 20-30 turns of the key for the starter motor to kick in, during the failed attempts you can hear the fan relay click, and that's about it, the starter doesn't even attempt to turn. When it does start, the starter runs perfectly, and turns over almost instantly.

The other issue is that the fans don't kick in at all, ever...
The relay is working, and there is power getting to the controller on the back of the fans, but that's it.

I'm kind of thinking that one of the temperature sensors may be malfunctioning and the car not finding the need to start the fans?
The other odd thing is that the temperature gauge very quickly shot up (to above the red mark) after driving for about a minute, but the radiator didn't feel all too hot, and you could easily lay your hand on it.

Any thoughts here?
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PHIL069
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by PHIL069 »

Check for dirty/loose earth connections and dirty loose positive connections to and from the starter.

The FTO coolant sensors are the same as the VR4, so try fitting your FTO ones for testing fan and dash gauge.
mikeey01nzl wrote:Hats off to you too Phil for spending so much time on the phone trying to help someone out, your a top man and only a few would've spent so much time. well done! :salut:
Daniel2019 wrote:Come on phil, we bonded at the bonfire, lets be honest here...me and phil are besties now... :lol:
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Technikhaus
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Technikhaus »

Cheers for that, shall try and find the starter amongst the packed engine bay tomorrow, and are you able to point me to where the sensors are?
I've never had to touch them before, so have no idea :(
Man '96 FTO GPX
Man '89 Legacy RS Rally car
Man '90 MR2 GT
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PHIL069
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by PHIL069 »

You can see them here on the VR4, one in front of the other, just to the right of the thermostat...

Image

Here is the FTO...
Engine Cooling FTO.jpg
Here is the VR4...
Engine Cooling VR4.jpg
Here are the part numbers, 1 & 2 VR4 = 3 & 4 FTO...
Engine Cooling Sensors Part No.jpg
Engine Cooling Sensors Part No.jpg (158.35 KiB) Viewed 1040 times
mikeey01nzl wrote:Hats off to you too Phil for spending so much time on the phone trying to help someone out, your a top man and only a few would've spent so much time. well done! :salut:
Daniel2019 wrote:Come on phil, we bonded at the bonfire, lets be honest here...me and phil are besties now... :lol:
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by PHIL069 »

Oh...and here is the starter...

Image
mikeey01nzl wrote:Hats off to you too Phil for spending so much time on the phone trying to help someone out, your a top man and only a few would've spent so much time. well done! :salut:
Daniel2019 wrote:Come on phil, we bonded at the bonfire, lets be honest here...me and phil are besties now... :lol:
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Technikhaus
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Technikhaus »

Thanks for that Phil, will hopefully be able to take a look at that tonight, I'm not near ASA at the moment, but does anybody have any idea if the sensors off of a GS could fit?
Man '96 FTO GPX
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Technikhaus
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Technikhaus »

Just looked up on ASA and they are indeed the same :)
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Bennoz »

And Schuuuuuaaaart has a sh*t ton of them, brand new lol
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Technikhaus »

Turns out it wasn't overheating, and the the gauge cluster wasn't screwed down!
Tightened it back up and the car suddenly has half a tank of fuel and the temp gauge works fine now!

Derp....

Still having issues with the starter too, but haven't tried to trace it yet.

Now just to work out of the ticking is just the tappets and nothing else. I'll try remember to do a video this week sometime and upload it to see if anybody can pick anything out.
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Bennoz »

They're hydraulic tappets, always keen to make a noise lol
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Re: VR4 Starter and fan issues

Post by Technikhaus »

I guess I'm just not used to how ridiculously loud they are compared to the FTO :/
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