Dorman 620-139 radiator fan

Purchased a Dorman radiator fan (part 620-139) to replace the OEM fan which cracked, then seized up.

For the life of me, I can't get the electrical connector to firmly connect. Everything lines up, slides together well, but I can't get the tabs on the connectors to lock. My hands are raw from trying to push it together. It's as if the two bottom out before the tabs meet.

Anyone else have this issue, and what did you do to overcome it? Tried greasing the connectors lightly with dielectric grease, no help.

Thanks!

Has the fan socket got a gasket at the bottom of the connector ..maybe.?
You may have to sand, scuff, pare some of the connector end a bit.
I plan on using the same fan; so keep us posted.

There is a gasket inside the male (car side) connector that I would assume is supposed to stay.

It looks like the female pins in the fan connector are not as recessed as the ones on the OEM fan connector. This may be stopping it from pushing in as far.

Maybe I'm overthinking it. It's got no more than 1/2 mm before the tabs catch. When I pull it back apart, it takes a tremendous amount of force to do it, so maybe it's OK not being fully seated. I can't see it coming loose. I thought about cutting the connector from the OEM fan and splicing it in, but then I create three points of failure with the splices. Plus I might lose my "limited lifetime warranty" on the Dorman unit.

maybe tiewrap behind both connectors around the wires, then tiewrap the two ties together across the connectors..so that you are pulling the connectors together.

or just a very small dab of permatex at the very end of the outer connector.

These are tricks I do on my audi..she has several connectors that need replacing..I just buy replacement connectors and keep a location list to do "someday."

I just installed one too last week and had the same issue. I used some grease and pliers to finally get the lock to latch. Good luck, I thought it wasn't going to fit but finally got it lol

interesting, mine fit pretty damned snug but wasn't that bad to deal with. If you dont wanna try swapping it for another one (try the plug before mounting) Id try to use zip ties just to make sure it doesnt come apart. I had to do that when I had a plug for a coil pack break

I literary just installed this fan in my car a couple hours ago and couldn’t get the connector to connect. I tried so hard that my hands are cut up lol. I used a little die-electric grease and forced it together. I got it to the point where the clips almost snap in, I used a zip tie to keep the clips down on the connector. I tested it and it works well! I don’t see it coming apart

As much as I tried, I couldn't get the connectors to snap in to place. They are connected, and I doubt they are going anywhere because it takes a tremendous amount of force to separate them.

I will likely do the zip tie trick just in case, but otherwise I'm done playing with it.

New fan works perfectly fine. Replaced the old one that was cracked and burned up on me on Friday. For those who are looking, the OEM fan has been discontinued and is no longer available new. Aftermarket appears to be the only option. Dorman available for less than $100 at Advance Auto Parts (if you use a 25% coupon).

Thanks!