Another SPAL controller craps out!!!!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Another SPAL controller craps out!!!!
Well after trying everything under the sun to fix my over heating issue it comes down to the fans not coming on and staying on when they need to. I reprogrammed this thing 5 times!!!! What really sucks is the controller never worked and I only have about 100 miles at most on the car sense I got it running. I had to order the preprogrammed harness from Dewitt's to replace the SPAL controller. What a FREAKIN peice of JUNK!!!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Here's what I'm looking at, thanks to another recent post about spal controllers...
http://www.dccontrol.com/
http://www.dccontrol.com/
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Oh Crap! Don't tell me this. Mine is still working but every time the needle starts to move upwards I'm thinking the controller is craping out. I'll be carrying a jumper with me also.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Yeah I thought numerous times maybe it was me doing something wrong. Each time I would go back and re read the instructions and start over. Sometimes the fans would come on sometimes they wouldn't. And if I started the car up after letting it sit for a while the fans would never come on even though the temp was well above the high temp "ON" setting. Basically if the temp went above 200 the fans would never come on.......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
I've programed mine 3 times, and it still does what it feels like 
Now I just watch the temp gauge and use the overide switch when needed...aint technology grand
And this is a replacement unit...
Now I just watch the temp gauge and use the overide switch when needed...aint technology grand
And this is a replacement unit...
Last edited by yellow 72; May 14, 2007 at 03:19 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
That does suck because it was one of those things that I thought I would add to mine. Its probably like the Pertronix deals. Lots of folks had problems with them but I have had mine ever since I got the car, it still works. Knock on wood.
Hang on to it Gordon, it may work forever. Just run the back up switch like these guys are talking about doing and it should be fine. I rely solely on my temp switch to turn my fans on.
Hang on to it Gordon, it may work forever. Just run the back up switch like these guys are talking about doing and it should be fine. I rely solely on my temp switch to turn my fans on.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 3
From: Glen Allen (Richmond) Virginia
I am running dual Generation two programable controllers (one for each fan motor) that with the dual overide switches should get me home. Mine have been working perfectly but I do wish they would make remote led's that you could put in the cockpit so that you would know what fan is doing what.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
So far mine works great. I decided to run a 160 t-stat and get the water flowing constantley and then control the engine temp with the variable controller. The engine temp will sit right on 180 where I have it set but the underhood temps are outrageous with only one fan runing at minimal speed. My air breather is too hot to hold on to. I am changing my strategy and starting one fan with the engine to help with this problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
Likes: 6
From: North of the Bay California
I have dual fans and can't get the spal controllers to work. I'm rackin my brain as to why. If I bypass the controllers and short out the sensor wire to ground the fans work great. Could these controllers be bad right out of the box? I have wired them per the instructions, and I was going to call SPAL Thursday.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I put my Spals on a GM controller relay, same as a '87 vette would use...or much of any other GM product with elect fans....
they are either ON or off.....so far so good....
OH, I carry extra relays....I used the same relay for fuel pump, fans, and other crap....it works, it plugs in, it's common enuff to be FREE from junkyards....and they occupy 0 space....simple....eh??
they are either ON or off.....so far so good....
OH, I carry extra relays....I used the same relay for fuel pump, fans, and other crap....it works, it plugs in, it's common enuff to be FREE from junkyards....and they occupy 0 space....simple....eh??
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Mine essentially did not work right out of the box. I called Dewitts and he said that the SPAL controllers turned out to be lemons. I had to spend another 60 bucks for the SPAL 195 wiring harness. So essentially I got stuck with a peice of junk controller and had to spend more money to fix something that should have worked in the first place. I am not a very happy camper.
So essentially I got stuck with a peice of junk controller and had to spend more money to fix something that should have worked in the first place. I am not a very happy camper.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
The "General" isn't always right...Remember the "X" cars, Vegas, Corvairs, Cadillac 8-6-4 engines, converted gasoline/diesel engines? OTOH, the General switched to electric cooling fans on Corvettes 23 years ago. They seem to be doing a good job so far!