I need a new cooling fan for my 02, and when searching AutoZone I found different part numbers for an 03. The 03 Dorman brand costs significantly less than the 02. Now, the image is slightly different, but I assumed the fans should be the same for the 5.5. Is that not the case?

 

Is it the motor or the whole fan assembly? It possible that harness is changed in 2003, but I would look at yours and see exactly what you have then you can determine if the 02 and 03 are the same fan assembly

 

Shape of shroud and number of fins are different. I'm not going to take the chance to try to save $30. I guess from 2003 forward the fans were changed.

 

the fan motor that stays on the most has holes to dissipate heat, the other motor doesn't, plus I believe blade shape is different. Thats why I got OEM.

 

Rockauto.com has the motors cheap. They're all the same for the 5th gen.

 

 

What did Ni$$an want for those?

 

An arm and my first born $196 pop

 

+1 for the RockAuto fan motors. I bought a fan motor for my 02 about 2 months ago, and has been working beautifully.

Also, you'll want some washers on hand as it will sit a little closer to the condenser than stock... if you end up going that route.

 

If I had time I would have bought just the motors but the loud grinding started so suddenly and I drive 60 miles a day Monday-Friday.

Anyway I'm hating myself for going ahead and getting the 03 assembly. It did not fit well and I could not return it anymore. It is a little more bulky. It's on but the bottom inserts are far more spaced out than the 02. I could only line up 1 mounting hole on top as well. Motors look identical so I will probably just swap the motors onto my old one if the assembly rattles too much.

 

The motors are easy to swap.

 

Speaking of motors, now my driver side one stopped working. So I have to replace that one now hahah.

 

Yeahhhh... I'll stick with the TYC fan motor from Rockauto for $36.00