I'm not sure about bridging contacts, but i'd wager 'quite a lot' that the problem here is the cooling fan itself - they are a notorious weak spot on these cars and the fan and control unit are one item! The other problem is that at present they're in rather short supply - Xpart (Rover) have had them on back order since last summer, though a delivery date of February 1 is still being quoted which may happen but I'm not holding my breath! They cost about £300 list, but I have heard of people paying up to £500 to get one. In theory fitting one involves depressuring the aircon system but there is a way of doing t without, though that does involve making one small cut (that cannot be seen once it's all back together) in the fan cowl.
There is a very easy way of testing the fan - switch the aircon on so that it operates, and the fan should start to run at low speed - the same fan is used to provide aircon airflow at low speed and, if rqwuired, engine cooling at high, though in practice the cooling system function is needed only in hot weather on most petrol cars, and hardly ever on diesels
Peter Simpson (sold 50 Rover 75s on ebay!!)
January 2008
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