bgoetz

My car is primarily a fun weekend/track toy, I have seriously only used the AC a couple of times. Recently the fan has developed this god awful rattling at idle and under throttle (when not even spinning just stationary). I am debating just removing the dang thing, but I have a track event 4hrs away this weekend and if I get stuck in the rain I will need defrost in which case I will want to run the AC. Is it ok to run the AC with no AC fan?

Incubus

I know you get some airflow at speed when in fresh air mode with the fan off, so it's possible. I'd be worried about what happens at rest though.

Definitely not the safest thing you can do.

bgoetz

I think that is a good point, I would likely NEVER be sitting with the AC on an I do have the Modifry temp gauge so I could always kill the AC if I get stuck sitting and/or start having issues. I think I am removing it, it is 3lbs of annoyance right now, if it becomes a problem I will buy a new/used one.

Halfassjack

ac condenser or blower motor? why not remove entire system. You will end up damaging car trying to run without any of the fans and using ac.

Chuck S

Put a new fan in there, or a used one.

To my knowledge both fans run anytime additional cooling is needed so there is no "AC" fan. Both fans turn on with the AC, of course regardless of engine temperature, but when the radiator reaches a certain temperature (about 195°F) both fans should come on regardless of AC being on.

-- Chuck

Halfassjack

Out of 3 fans which is op wanting remove? None of them is really good to have not working. I know how the system works.

Car Analogy

Its obviously the hvac system blower fan, NOT the engine cooling system fans, that he is referring to.

The op stated he would not likely be stopped and needing defrost, but if caught in a heavy downpour and all traffic slows way down, you may have need for defrost blower and stuck unable to see. Could be very dangerous.

bgoetz

No it is the AC condenser fan that is rattling like crazy (the fan bearing may be shot). I realize that they both operate when the coolant temp sensor kicks them on, but the drivers side is the "AC" fan. There are tons of people who have removed them with zero issue in cooling of the engine, in fact in a track application it may be better because air can pass through the radiator more freely on that side. RobRob removed his a long time ago and tracked the car just fine without it. I don't want to remove the entire system because I still use it on occasion (to defrost in a rain storm).

So, my question isn't do I need it to drive with the AC off, I don't. My question is what happens if I run the AC without this fan? My thought is worse case the engine temp starts rising due to the extra heat on the AC condenser and engine load from the AC and I have to turn off the AC.

Halfassjack

Will be ok if car doesn't idle much. Will make a.c. high pressure side run higher.

bgoetz

Thanks, that is what I was looking for! So your saying it actually could cause an AC issue due to high pressure IF I idle too long with the AC on. So, in a situation in which I idle for more than a couple minutes turn the AC off? If that is the case I can live with that!