The power stage that manages the power for the coolant fans in a
928S4, GT, and GTS is located on top of the front bumper, very close the
the refrigerant filter and high pressure port, right hand side so on the passenger
side for EU. The power stage part number is 928.618.421.00
Please order your Fan Power stage repair in our
webshop.
The fan power stage gets signals from the fan controller 928.618.418.00
which is located besides the passenger seat under a cover (in front
of the audio power amp).
The Fan controller has the task of evaluating signals from various
sensors and using that to send a signal to the Fan Power Stage. The
power stage has the task to efficiently manage the power that goes
to the fans without heating up too much. A problem
with either fan is sensed and sent back to the fan controller module.
The controller module then turns one fan to max power to compensate for the
(other) failed fan unit. The typical behavior is easy to spot: the
fan runs very VERY loud when the fan is activated.
Well, the system is pretty well made, it utilizes a Pulse Width
Modulation to manage fan rpm as efficiently as possible. It works
great until it breaks down, mostly due to age.
Typical symptoms are:
- Total lack of power to turn on the fans (presuming 12v is
available on the round connector of the power amp, and ground
connection is ok)
- One fan runs max as soon as the battery is connected
- Both fans run max as soon as the battery is connected
- One fan runs max and the other is silent. Sometimes suddenly
both run, or the problem moves from one fan to the other (so running fan gets silent and failed fan suddenly
runs full power.
- One fan is silent, the other fan runs at max rpm, and this
rpm fluctuates in a regular 10 sec cycle where the controller
samples the non-running fan.
It turns out that it is not at all easy to identify the root
cause that makes the fan power stage act in emergency mode.
Possible causes are: broken fuse, bad fuse contact (burned
socket), bad controller module, bad contacts on power stage or fans,
bad ground contact for fans... and of course a faulty power stage.
We worked for almost two years to find proper solutions to all of
the problems that make the fan power stage fail. And we are
confident we can now repair these boxes so that the system works
reliable again.
The repair consists of finding the broken part(s), replacing and
testing. Since the repair is not a simple "swap-a-component" we need
to confirm proper operation by a test drive for a while. So we
only offer a swap service with a core refund. Every repaired power
stage is repaired professionally, sealed so that water can not enter
anymore, and new rubber o-rings placed on the main connector. Repair carries a
one year warranty.