Relay 217 - coolant Fan relay is buzzing :/

[Chris5044]

Hey guys, I have noticed when the car gets hot and the fan operates I can hear a buzzing sound from under the dash. If I removed the shelving under the steering wheel I can access some relays and it seems to be the 217 relay, - the Coolant fan operation.

I have ordered another relay online and it came. The trouble is - this is a used part and not new. So on fitting this, the same problem can be found. So my hunch is the new - 2nd hand relay is also faulty.

Does anyone know where I can find a new one of these relays please? or a working one at least?

I also found on the forum someone mentioned it was easy to solder it, though it doesn't look straight forward to strip down and reassemble.

Any thoughts and ideas? I'm not too happy with the difficulty on finding parts for these vehicles.

[Tractor Dave]

I would be surprised if two relays had the same fault. I think your problem lies with a poor connection to the trigger feed or earth of that relay causing the magnetic switch to flutter.
you can test the relay using a simple 12v feed and multi meter.

[simons2]

Agree with Dave , sounds like low voltage to the relay coil

[Bowie69]

Could also be a corroded fan switch contact (bottom of radiator).

[Chris5044]

Hey guys!! Thank you so much!! I dont know how to do that electrical thing you speak of. I guess I could swap the radiator fan switch out to see if that helps. I did change the radiator years ago.. Ill check if I got a new fan switch or not.

[Tractor Dave]

Hey guys!! Thank you so much!! I dont know how to do that electrical thing you speak of. I guess I could swap the radiator fan switch out to see if that helps. I did change the radiator years ago.. Ill check if I got a new fan switch or not.

Have you got a spare 12v battery? Just run the positive to the small blade marked + and negative to small blade marked -. You should then hear a click inside the relay. Take your multi meter and set it to resistance (ohms). Before you connect the battery the two big blades will be open circuit and the meter will read 0.L. After the battery is connected you should get a resistance reading such as 00.0 or a low number showing the switch is working. This relay is a very simple on off switch.
If you have no undertray, water gets into the bottom radiator fan switch and the wires get corroded.

[simons2]

You can also use a jumper wire on the female side of the radiator fan switch connector

[Chris5044]

Just to answer / conclude this thread. I bought a second hand relay off the bay and it still had an issue. I ended buying the part from Autodoc. The new relay came, and looked smaller. I checked the pins, but they still seemed to fit the old design. Fitted this and the problem is now fixed.
I went on to coolant flush the car also and sort my cold start tune with the tuners. The car is now back on the road and so far isnt leaking coolant. Will run her a bit and check if all is well. Still needs coolant bleeding (as heater fan inside is still cooler than wanted for heat, failing that might have to bleed heater matrix.

The car is back!! yey!! and drives so well! Getting her ready for the Nurburgring trip in Sept. I might look into replacing any rubber parts deffo do a brake fluid flush and maybe a cambelt change too.