Any car buffs about? Name this part!

[suzieseaside]

I can't drive my old car for the want of a small piece of plastic - but I don't know what the part is called to search for it!

It is a plastic piece, open at both ends and which has two small rectangular 'bars' sticking out. It fits over the fan switch and seal at the side of a car radiator, and holds the fan switch into the side of the radiator like a bayonet fitting - you turn it until the two plastic pieces that stick out are held by the radiator side piece.

I have tried searching for fan switch bayonet fitting / holder etc. but got nowhere.

I cannot drive the car because as soon as the engine gets warm it is likely to blow out the fan switch and deposit the contents of the radiator in the road. The old one has one of the 'wings/bars' broken off.  It can't be worth more than 50p (though no doubt it will cost a lot more!) and it's so frustrating to be stranded after replacing the radiator and fan switch.

There are lots of sites where you can search for a car part if you put in the name for it. I have tried by describing it, but somehow doubt I will get any replies.  If anyone knows what the proper name for this part is, I would be very grateful. Thanks. 🙂

[5129frederick]

Try photographing the immediate area and put it on this site as an attachment, but more to the point, try telling us what car/model/year it is.  If you photograph the broken or missing area, that will at least give us something to go by, but we also need to know the make etc.  I hope that helps.

[hansrey64]

Can you not get in touch with the dealers?  Or contact the car firm that made the car for the name of the part?? I have no idea to be honest what your talking!!

What model and make is the car, what year etc that would help!

[suzieseaside]

Hi

Thanks for your replies.

Yes I can phone a Rover dealer and probably get a new part. If I tell them it is the piece that holds the fan switch into the radiator with a bayonet fixing, they will no doubt know what I mean.

I imagine that all vehicles with radiators with a fan switch hole will need some attachment to secure the fan switch into the radiator, so the make, year and model is not particularly relevant to know the name of this locking piece. It is of course relevant to get the right fitting once I know the name of it. I just thought I might do a search tonight on some of those many sites that search for 2nd hand car parts for my make/year and model, but didn't know the name for it to fill in the search forms! 

[right-then-petal]

hello Suzie,what year and model rover you got it should say on the log book or paper:-D

[right-then-petal]

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[suzieseaside]

Hi petal :-x

I have searched Rover car parts for my model. It is such a seemingly small insignificant little part, it doesn't come up under anything like cooling systems, which tend to only show large pieces like radiators, fans and fan switches, not the little thingummyjig that holds bits in!! :^O

Anyway, not to worry, I will trace it. I suppose I was amazed really that such a tiny bit of plastic (only 26mm diameter), when broken, can completely ground a vehicle and make it impossible to drive!

Here is this tiny little bit of plastic that put my car off the road, just because one of those rectangular bits sticking out is broken!!

   

I have been in touch with the person who sold me the radiator and they are going to look tomorrow for me.

Grrrrrr! Cars X-( 

Hate 'em when they don't go ...and especially for something that looks so trivial!

[dark_castle1]

suzie, search for radiator switch clip under google images

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID005077

I think I saw something similar to what you are looking for under number 8.

[dark_castle1]

Even google images radiator switch clip and you might see exactly what you want.

[right-then-petal]

[ilove2patch]

Have you trid your local scrap yard Suzie?

[right-then-petal]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rover%20fan%20switch&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=gCaMUaykAYLnOr-3gIgG&biw=800&bih=436&sei=pSaMUbyqIIaT0QX_wYHwBQ

[suzieseaside]

Well done corgi!  Switch clip - that looks like the thing. Slightly different design to mine, but same function. 🙂

Your pic is of the fan switch and seal, petal. I bought that, although mine has parallel pins and not at right angles like that. Thats the bit that has to be held in to the side of the radiator by the clip .

I have to admit that I didn't know that you have to buy a new fan switch, when you buy a new radiator. Neither did the guy who was putting the radiator in for me.  That wasted a week when we realised I would need to buy one of those after he fitted the radiator for me. You can't re-use the old one - so that's a useful tip for anyone planning to change their car radiator themselves in the future, which might save them some time.

We learn these things and then probably never need to know them again! My radiator lasted for as long as the car up to now - 18 years! Not sure I will outlive the next change of radiator!

[suzieseaside]

Have you trid your local scrap yard Suzie?

Hi Maggie! Nice to see you - hope you are well.

I considered that, until I worked out how much it would cost to get there and back - it's not that local! Plus the fee to get into look around!  Now that I know what it is called I will try to get it on the net - it can't be that expensive for a little bit of plastic (fingers crossed), and cheap to post too!

[misterpop]

This might be of help..A Mini sport part from Old mini specialists..

[misterpop]

[suzieseaside]

Thanks misterpop. Again similar thing - same function but different design - doesn't matter as long as it is of a size to hold the fan switch in and will clip into the radiator.

Thanks to everyone's help I have put in some enquiries on car part search sites for my make and model using the terms fan switch clip or locking ring.  Hopefully someone will reply. If I get no replies I'll go to a Rover dealer or a garage that can order it for me.

Thanks all :-x

[gokwansussgear]

What about slipping a suspender belt over it ? used to work in the olden days ?  :^O Best check its not too stretched though, it will need a bit of ''give''.

Best of luck ! 🙂