Chrysler Repair: 99 300m fans, upper radiator hose, hood latch

Question
My car makes a grinding noise when the fan kicks on. How do I change it? Impossible to get to.

Answer
Hi James,
The removal of the fans merely requires removal of the upper radiator cross member which then gives you room to pull the fan module up and out. Because of the hoses that flow to the radiator and transmission cooler cores, if those pass thru the fan module you will have to drain the radiator and disconnect the trans oil cooler hoses and plug those to avoid loss of all the trans fluid in the hoses/cooler. But in my '98 manual it appears that only the upper radiator hose has to be removed. So once you remove the top crossmember you should be able to access which hose(s) have to be disconnected. Then disconnect the electrical connector for the fans. Finally there are two fasteners on each side of the fan module and clips at the top and bottom mid-line of the module. Assembly is the reverse. Put on the upper radiator hose and clamp in the same position as when removed. Then put crossmember back in.
I notice that there is a separate instruction in another part or the manual for the "upper radiator closure panel" that includes the hood latch mechanism, which may in fact be the "cross member". If it isn't obvious how to remove the cross member that prevents you from lifting up the fan module let me know, and I will give you the 10-step procedure for doing that "closure panel also, or better yet xerox copy and postal mail you the page which has an illustration. Just give me a postal mailing address, via the 'thank and rate' tab.
Roland