there are two radiator fans in my 1998 cl 2.3, which I've owned for a year and a half. recently the car began to run hot (2/3 way to top) while driving on the highway, and when I've pulled over to check out the problem, I've found that the passenger side fan isn't running, although if I twist the wires a certain way then it comes on. the passenger side fan has 4 bolts to it, the driver's side fan has only three (2 on top, one bolt at the bottom). ALL of the car part sites I've scoured only list the 3-bolt fan for a 1998 2.3, which they refer to as the "a/c fan shroud assembly". I need the other side, however- I need to know what the heck fan that is. the 1998 3.0 has a 4-bolt fan everybody sells, and the 1997 2.3 has a 4-bolt fan that everybody sells; anybody know if either of these fans will work?

can anybody tell me where to get the 4-bolt fan for the 1998 2.3 without going to the dealer, and I apologize if this question has been asked before but I can't find it.

 

have you gone to autozone?

 

yep, and I've already bought the only one autozone sells- but its the 3 bolt, which I'll return tomorrow but I'll trade it in if the 98 6-cyl 4-bolt or the 97 2.3 4-bolt will work in my acura. I even asked the autozone guy as I made my purchase if his fan would replace my passenger side fan, and he stated that it was the only one they carried, and that I'd have to go to the dealer if it didn't work. needless to say, I'm hoping he was mistaken, but I've searched every auto parts site on the web and they only list the 3-bolt, and I know my car is stock.

surely somebody has replaced this fan without resorting to their dealership....

 

i had to replace mine on my 98 2.3cl also. i got the motor for the fan from a 97 accord ex 4 cyl. either 94-97 we share most of the engine and suspension parts with it. its a lot cheaper then buying it from acura.

 

The fan motor can be removed from the mounting frame. I went to Autozone and they pulled rebuilt motors out of boxes till we found one that fit the mounting frame bolt pattern. It was an Integra fan motor as I remember. All the motors are similar. The pax side motor is longer than the drivers side motor on a 97 2.2CL. Make sure motor forward extension (mount-shaft end) is not too long or fan may hit the radiator. Also make sure the fan blade mount will work w/ your fan blade, which must be removed. Cost was about $50.

Also check out ebay. I've seen many fan assys for sale at reasaonable prices. I've purchased for an Accord in past. Below is an example of a 94-97 CL motor assy. I guess this doesn't fit your car. Have you checked whether you can swap the motor into your old frame?

ebay 94-97 Acura 2.2CL Fan Assy

good luck

 

thanks for all of the info, TexasHonda. alas, that ebay fan is the 3-bolt model that doesn't replace the fan on my passenger side. but based on what hybridnrg stated, when I took my 3-bolt fan back to autozone I asked to take a look at their 1997 Honda Accord parts, and they list that particular Honda with two fans, one is the 3-bolt fan which is the exact same part number that I returned for my 98 acura. the other fan however comes with 4-bolts, so I've taken a chance and ordered that one. it was the same price, so in effect I'm just swapping out fans. I can't imagine why acura didn't bother to tell anybody that they use two different fans in these cars, and my chilton's was characteristically silent on the matter.

I'll post back once I figure out if the 4-bolt 1997 accord radiator fan was a match to my 98 CL; thanks for the replies

 

alrighty then, for future reference, a 1997 accord ex 4-cyl 4-bolt radiator fan is the exact match for the passenger side radiator fan in a 98 cl 2.3, and can be ordered at any autozone, etc. The bolts, the size, the fan shroud, everything lines up with the acura; thanks hybridnrg for that info.

but I guess I'll still have to resort to the dealership to get a decent shop manual!