what's the purpose of the little fan in the roof?

[johare]

I have a 1991 300ZX. Recently I noticed that when it's hot outside there's a noise coming from the area where the front dome lights are that sounds like a fan with bad bearings. When I popped off the cover for the dome lights, that's exactly what it was...a little fan. It must have some sort of sensor because it only comes on when it's hot outside. Does anyone know what the purpose of this fan is and will it do any harm if I disconnect it so I don't have to listen to it?

[AZhitman]

Haha, that's a new one for me - Let's see what the Z32 guys have to say!

Welcome aboard, johare!

[freakonaleash1187]

That little fan is for the upper cabin temperature sensor. You can lubricate it with a tiny amount of oil or you may need to adjust the tension on the shaft.

[evildky]

I hadn't noticed that in my Z32, I know the Z31's have a temp ensor for the automatic climate control, the fan keeps the air moving so it can get an acurate reading, if it's making noise it might just need to be cleaned with compressed air, or might be on it's last leg

[johare]

Thanks for the reply.I already squirted some WD40 onto the shaft but it still made noise.Since I'm pretty much a climate control-freak and always set the air manually (temp, fan speed, etc.) and I don't see myself spending money on such a seemingly useless item, I may have to employ the two stage trash method for this part.Stage one: put part in a drawer in case the car blows up without it.Stage two: find said item in a drawer a year or so later and, having no recollection what it is or where it came from anymore, throw it in the trash.

[nsrZ32]

Haha chalk that little guy up to Nissan over engineering. Most times cleaning it up keeps it quiet. At normal operation you should not hear it at all. Honestly though, just take it out if it bugs you. Your two step program sounds good to me!

[Honad]

Heh, I knew the thermometer for the climate control was in there, but I actually wasn't aware there was a little fan in there. That's awesome.

[freakonaleash1187]

Linky to explanation of the little fan.

Weird Little Fan Thingy

[computerking]

hehe i noticed the fan noise too on my car doesnt really bother me much it comes and i goes. My other ride is a 1984 mazda diesel pickup noise is a relative thing and relatively speaking that fan noise would be immeasurable inside the cab of my truck hehe

Nice to at least know what it is so i can fix it or not worry about it

[speedjunkie]

hahaha thats awosme i get that to. comes and goes not a big deal to me though.

[johare]

thanks for the link. I may try to adjust the tension now that I see how easy it is.It never ceases to amaze me how much information you can find on the internet.

[freakonaleash1187]

All you gotta do is search for it.

[el niZmo]

thats awsome, I never knew that my car had one of those till I read this! The things you find on this website are amazing sometimes