Well, it appears that the electric condenser fan motor on my rig has died. It was working a month ago when I recharged my A/C system, but no longer.

I get 12V at the electrical connector when I turn the A/C switch on in the cab. Applying 12V directly to the motor results in no action. The resistance reading thru the motor is ~5.6M ohms. Verdict: dead motor.


www.mitsubisiparts.com has the following bad news:

Item Number List Price
MB878162 $346.68 $249.61
Hvac - Air conditioner - Condenser - Fan motor
FAN MOTOR, Montero 1995 - 2000

$250 (discounted!) for that puppy?? Arrgh.

Any thoughts as to a better price for one. Failing that, what is everybody's favorite online used parts place?

It should be a pretty generic part. Pull one at a junkyard or modify one from another vehicle. Car-part.com is my favorite junkyard parts searcher.

I think the stealer wanted $350 for a heater fan motor, but you can get them at Autozone for $25. It's just a fan, so it shouldn't be a problem to replace cheaply. Measure the dimensions and get one that's the same size or take yours into an auto parts store. I'm sure you can get something new or refurbed very cheaply.

Look closely at where the wiring harness feeds into the motor itself in the middle of the assembly. You may see some green or light blue crud there. If so, then you have the same problem I have run into on my first condensor fan and also a used unit that I bought from a salvage yard. The wires get soldered into the motor leads, and the solder joints "bloom" with age and water exp. You then get too much resistance at the connection.

I cut a small section of the bad wiring off the harness, soldered a new short piece of heavy wire in its place. I was able to lightly brush and clean the corrosion off the solder joint/wire of the motor itself, then reheat and add a bit more solder to the affected wire[lower wire] Fixed both condensor fans this way. Use heatshrink insulation on the new wire section to protect it.
I added silicone sealant to the outside of the solder joint on the motor itself to help prevent more corrosion. I wonder if the factory used acid type solder for this connection, as you don't often see this much corrosion on a rosin type solder joint. Hope this helps you out.

search for mitsubishi auto parts store on the web I just bought one for $87.95 plus shipping and handling. It is the best price on the web I looked for about 30 minutes.

-MAX

Wow,
I was about to post the same question. I'll take the fan off and have a look see. thanks guys

I bought one of those aftermarket fan kits for $30 and cut the old factory fan out of its mounting brackets and riveted in the aftermarket one. It is just for condenser, so the fan does ok. I also unplug my A/C clutch and turn on the A/C switch during 4 wheeling to keep the engine cool when at slow RPM/Ground speed. It does make a huge difference on lowering engine temps. So I say, even the cheap fan kits from the parts houses work adequatly.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
I also priced that OEM linear motor from the dealer. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

Excellent suggestions all, thanks.

Houston: I shall indeed investigate the solder connections. Perhaps that explains why I'm reading a very high resistance, rather than an open ckt.

VMAX: Do you have a specific URL by chance? Searching on those terms yields an awful lot of hits.

White Raider & wyleone - Excellent ideas, if I can't score an OEM one for reasonable, then I'll try some replacements.

Thanks all.

Sorry I did not see that URL post until now. God was on your side! I put the new fan in on Wednesday. My truck overheats with the AC on it seems to turn about half the RPM that the factory one did. I am really peed off about this purchase. I think I am going to look into rebuilding the mitsubishi one I have. Unless anyone here knows of a OEM parts dealer that sells factory mitsubishi fans cheaper? I did find this link on the web OEM fan I am not sure if it truley is a mitsubishi fan. Judging by the price I doubt it.

Oh, well good thing I was slacking on doing anything about it, too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I'm still planning on seeing if it's the bad connection as mentioned above. If not, maybe by that time you'll have tested that OEM Fan you just linked to as well. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

guys i just posted this same thing. find a late 80's 740 volvo about 30 bucks in a junkyard[others might work].the fan is almost the same size.just turn the fan upside down drill 2 holes in the upper radiator support. and 2 in the lower ,wire it up and your done.geez this is'nt rocket science boys. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />