Thought I'd share a couple of tips/tricks I picked up while replacing the cooling fans on my '09 td4 yesterday, I'd seen some people saying that the bumper etc. needs to be removed to do it but I can confirm that's not the case.

Symptoms:
While away for the weekend a few weeks ago there was an awful rattling noise when I turned on the A/C. I later tried to look for this but had no luck finding it and could see the top fan spinning so figured something had fallen in then worked itself loose.
Last weekend when coming home I noticed the top fan running at full speed when the car was off, it didn't stop unless the main plug on the fan control was disconnected, the lower fan didn't turn at all.

Best guess is that the rattling noise was the lower fan failing, I'm assuming it shorted and then killed the control module which made the remaining fan run continuously. $500 later I had a new assembly ready to fit.

Removal:
The workshop manual isn't overly helpful here, it just says to unplug the connector, tie the A/C pipes out of the way and remove.
I found that on mine, the trans cooler meant that the LHS of the fans can't lift straight out, and the upper rad hose stops the RHS from going far enough over to get around it.
Solution is to pull the top hose off, you only lose about a litre of coolant, the lower tab of the fan pack then needs to be wiggled over the rad inlet, it's tight but it fits, once that's out the whole lot pivots and lifts.

Took me a little while to work it out but I would guess 30mins to do next time using these steps.

One other note, the assembly I was given has the fan controller in a different spot, lower down and directly in the airflow.
This looks to be what's used in the Evoque and I guess the controller placement is to help with cooling and prevent heat related failures. The shroud fits the same and fans work fine so no functional difference.

Have removed mine several times without removing the coolant hose. Admittedly it's fiddly but doable. Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

cheers both - that's useful to know. Jules

gasman wrote:

Have removed mine several times without removing the coolant hose. Admittedly it's fiddly but doable.

Not sure what motor yours is but mine is a 2009 diesel.
Bring the fan assembly out towards the battery side at an angle and it does come out.  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

It is the auto gearbox cooler that is the problem. Gasman has a manual. I commented on this on another thread. Silver 2009 HSE