Technical Fans not kicking in after heatshield change

[indalohombre]

I decided to change my cracked original exhaust heatshield for a new aluminium one from barchettaparts. It was a tight fit (I have AC with two radiator fans) so unplugged the fan assembly and removed it to make fitting the shield easier. Put everything back together again and after going for a test drive noticed my AC wasn't working (I am in Spain). Then I noticed that the temp gauge was a notch above normal (it is normally a notch below), so got it home before it seriously overheated.

On stopping the car I realised that neither fan was working, normally on the hill to my place they always kick in, you can hear them. Long story short, checked all the fuses and connections, all OK. Took the covers off the fan relays in the bulkhead box and if I manually press the relay shut the fans start up proving the wiring and fuses OK. Checked the power on the relay pins, all OK. So I guess there is a signal from the ECU that operates the relays, but where/how? And how would changing the heatshield cause this problem??

 

[tjr]

Hope you got it sorted, if not check out the Service Manual for the barchetta wiring diagram and ePER for supporting info (available here in "Downloads" and "ePER"). IF(!) my foggy memory serves me right, there are two engine temperature sensors feeding the ECU (one of them on the thermostat). Perhaps the one involved with the fans was dislodged during the above? Otherwise, mayhaps the relay is done for?

 

[indalohombre]

Checked both of the sensors just in case the wires were disturbed. Given there is a relay for each fan I think it unlikely both would have failed without being touched.... Given up fault finding and taking it to auto-electrician on 21st. It will be something simple (the multi pin plug is my guess as that is the only electrical thing that was disconnected) so will update thread with fix. Tks