AC condenser fan not running

I replaced my AC compressor (with major help from user blgravely) but am now chasing down what appears to be a faulty condenser fan. The AC blows cold when the clutch is first engaged but then after about 45 seconds, the clutch starts cycling on and off in ~15 second intervals. After awhile the AC starts blowing ambient temperature air (both front and back AC), and I can see through the front bumper to the condenser fan and it’s just sitting there not moving. I can hear the relay clicking in the passenger footwell and pulled what I believe is the fan’s relay to test it but hit a dead end when I realized I have no clue how to test it, especially because this particular relay has no markings/diagrams.

Does the condenser fan run anytime the AC is engaged? Or just when it hits a certain temp? Any other trouble shooting, suggestions or experience with this issue?

I purchased my Hiace back in May and the aircon didnt work at all. Who knows how long it hadnt worked for?

I took it to a garage (very old school) who pressure tested the system and had to regass.

They then turned the system on and found that the fan on the compessor wouldnt run. They then spent the next 30 minutes gradually trying to turn it by hand (with a long screwdriver from the front of the car).

Bit by bit they eventually managed to get it moving and then with liberal amounts of WD40 etc it span freely. It has since been wrking flawlessly which I find impressive and surprising for a 28 year old car.

The fan doesnt run all of the time with the aircon on, but I think most of the time.

Lol wow, love this caveman method. I’ll try this today, although I’m pretty sure my fan is in a cage that might not accommodate a screwdriver. Either way, I’ll take a look.

Yep mine also in cage. It was a slow process, but credit to the mechanics who persevered and sorted it.

Sorry, posted the image from phone and dont know why it uploaded the same image so many times!!!!

Ah yah, unfortunately the cage around my fan has a much tighter weave, I don’t think I’ll be able to get anything through it.

In your pics, on the right side of the fan appears to be power plug. You might want to check with a light bulb if 12v are supplied there when a/c is running. If 12v are supplied and fan is not spinning... you got a good reason to fish that fan out for further investigation...

Also if the engine gets too hot (unplug the temperature sensor near the filling cap on the 1kZ - to simulate this) it will spin the fan too.

Hey guys.

The condenser fan is really hard to get to.

It receives 2 signals to activate it. One from the compressor and one from the engine temp sensor on the water manifold just under the radiator cap.

These signals join at a ceramic resistor on the back side of the condenser power pack assembly.

1.  To see if the thing works ground the sensor wire at the water manifold. Use a paper clip or a little bit of wire. Engine can be running or in the accessory position. This forces it to come off and on as you ground it. It is a pusher fan so air will be forced down through the condenser and radiator, out the bottom of that skid plate/grill thing behind the license plate. If it comes on you have a wiring problem on the AC side.  Ours worked but vibrated and the bearing was squealing like a screaming child.

If it doesn’t you’re going to have to do what I did and put a derale fan assembly off my race car like I did on my wife’s van. Keep in mind if you go that route the repair is very challenging. It is really hard to get that thing out. Bumper comes off. And you take the whole assembly off from underneath and then split the power pack. If you need to do that I can help over the phone but plan on a day or 2. It’s cheaper that route than trying to source a motor assembly. Quieter and probably 3 times more powerful too.

Let me know what you find out. I, back from missions until next year. Just getting the place ready for Halloween.