cooling fan assembly removal

My driver side cooling fan crapped out and I want to save $$ and replace myself, I started looking at it and there are only 2 bolts that hold it in but I'm trying to figure out how the assembly comes out? Slides out from top next to the head? or in fnt next to the clip? or does it drop out the bottom? Its a 4.6 v-8 FWD. But theres a cross bar that runs along the radiator and that narrows down the room to slide out. Please advise, thank you

You will need to remove the whole radiator to access the fans. It looks like a p.i.t.a., but it's not too too hard- really. I removed mine (following these directions) in a little over an hour. Installation took two seeing as things fall apart easier than they fall together. Also, a helper if great during installation.


Disconnect battery ground cable

Remove engine air cleaner

Remove upper radiator hose from water bypass tube

Remove radiator overflow hose from radiator and fan shroud

Loosen transmission oil cooler tubes while holding radiator connector with a back-up wrench.

Remove transmission oil cooler tube from oil cooler inlet fitting

Remove nuts retaining A/C condenser core to the radiator

Disconnect engine control sensor wiring from the cooling fan motors.

Raise your Continental on a couple of jack stands

Remove splash shield from lower radiator support and front sub-frame

Remove lower radiator hose from radiator

Loosen transmission oil cooler tubes while holding radiator connector with a back-up wrench

Remove oil cooler tube from oil cooler outlet fitting on radiator.

Remove retaining screws for power steering/transaxle oil cooler and position cooler aside

Support fan shroud, radiator and A/C condenser core with a suitable jack stand. Remove lower radiator support

Position jack stand aside and carefully remove radiator and fan shroud

Remove two retaining bolts for fan shroud at top of radiator and remove fan shroud from radiator

Remove upper radiator hose from radiator

To install, reverse Removal procedures. Tighten fan shroud bolts and A/C condenser core nuts to radiator to 2.7-5.4 N-m (24-48 lb-in). Tighten lower radiator support retaining bolts to 8-11 N-m (71-97 lb-in). Tighten transmission oil cooler tubes to fittings to 24.4-28.5 N-m (18-21 lb-ft). Tighten power steering/transaxle oil cooler and splash shield retaining screws securely. Refill engine cooling system as outlined.

A couple of tips: Have some zip ties on hand, they will help you out during installation. Be careful not to lose the square headed bolts that hold the fans to the radiator.

Thanks goes to Towncar on my successful radiator swap today!