Bought my 94 vette (62,000 miles) about 6 months ago. Normal issues -weatherstripping - leaks. When I first got the vette I noticed that there was a rocker switch under the dash above my right knee. Thought that maybe it was part of the alarm system, played with the switch for a while - nothing -no response that I could see. Forgot about it.

Well, tonight as I was tinkering, I found that the switch starts / stops the radiator fan with the ignition on prior to starting the engine. Why would someone want to do that? Any thoughts.

A carfax revieled that the car did come from the northern Arizona area and maybe turning off the fan would speed up the heating process - maybe?

I have decided to leave the fan on all the time. Temp runs at 197 after warm-up period which from what I can tell from other posts is normal.

The groups feedback would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

 

I believe thats a therostat switch too keep the engine running cool so that it performs more regularly. I think its for hot days on the strip, not sure I'm pretty new here as well.

 

It's for turning the fan on at idle while at the dragstrip in the staging lanes.

Otherwise, they won't come on till the engine reaches 228 degrees.



You should not use it while driving on the freeway.

 

Interesting - so it sounds like I should keep the fan switch off at all times - not real interested in drag racing my vette. Should I watch my temp to ensure that the fans do come on and is 197 a normal temp after 20 minutes of driving?

What that does lead me to ask is why the install? I can see no engine modifications that would suggest a racing vette. Only a K&N filter that I replaced. Would someone modify the fan switch with no other modifications and take to the drag strip?

Thanks for the quick reply to my origional question.

 

Some guys are paranoid about temps over 200. 200-220 is perfectly normal though.

 

This is me, I have a switch for the push fan, summertime the temps get way too hot, If you want your engines electronics to last, keep it at 180... or try too.

 

isn't it fairly cheap/easy to rig up as well?

 

Bryant: My 89 has the little switch located just as you describe your switch. I installed the switch as I do not like to have the temps over 200 on my engine. I have installed a 180 deg t'stat and cleaned all the crap out front of the radiator. On the highway, I do not use the switch! However, I do use it if I am sitting in traffic as the engine will heat up quickly without air movement through the radiator. I think central coaster said it well: some guys are paranoid if the temp gets over 200 degrees.....and that is me! I guess the switch is installed for many reasons all of which relate to controlling the engine temperature.

 

Yeah, installing a manual fan switch is very easy. I do the same thing on my 89 when I am sitting out in traffic.

 

CC that was me also when I got mine I freaked out when the temp got up that high and I posted in here. Learned that is normal for a vette. I was used to driving my 92 ford flareside 4x4.

 

Temps on the later LT1s can get higher with no problems... but the earlier L98s do seem to perform better with a lower temp... but I still think 180 is too low, regardless.

I would prefer the engine coolant to be about 190~195. That seems like a nice balance.

 

Just a thought.
Coming from Arizona - maybe this switch was to help get air flowing thru the A/C condensor to help w/ A/C cooling in the hot summer time when setting in traffic or a low speeds in town.
It would also help w/ engine temp but would definetly help w/ the A/C when the temp is 120 degrees outside and your setting still.

 

I have the fan switch on my 86.

 

Yup...one of two reasons...he used it to keep the temps from getting too high in traffic and/or to keep the negine cool at the drag strip, as mentioned...btw, many folks drag race their stock vette's...very consistent for bracket racing....

 

If you call a 6' piece of wire and a switch cheap. That must be close to $3.

 

I'd like to find out why some Ford trucks and cars run 203 or 205 degree t-stats from the factory. Either it makes them run slower with more heat soak or makes a nice warm and toasty (Ford) in the cold of winter. Might make them break more and "fail on race day", hence the other "fix or replace daily" brand name. Sorry, just had to get it out of my system...

 

Don't know of any modern injected motor that doesn't operate somewhere between 195 and 225, sometimes even higher and that's been the engineering for about 20 years now. If you hook up a scanner, you will see these temps and most OEM dash readouts never, if ever show these numbers (probably because too many people are stuck in the days when cars ran at lower temps and the Dealers don't want to have the bother with the complaints it might generate). Don't know of any engine/electronic failures due to these temps either. Do you really think all of those soccer moms would be happy with the family van or SUV if the engines were blowing up? Do you really think all of the thousands of C4's (and C5's and now C6's) left the factory with some horrible cooling defect? Get real - lower temps do nothing for average driving or longevity. And the engineering and emissions laws are such (they're inapplicable) so that a/c operation is uncompromised (the fan, through a pressure switch is turned on/off at pressures that control condensor temps far better than a fan being turned by a pulley or controlled by a manual switch). If you think you have a cooling problem, know how it works, diagnose it and then fix it - turning on the fan sooner doesn't even qualify as a bandaid approach - or are you going to be the last one to own this Vette before it goes to the boneyard or have you bought one that's going to find it's way there sooner rather than later?

 

I have had two HEI modules fail and leave me stranded, that module sits on a thin film of silicone and a metal plate and cooks all day, half my relay wires melt back and have to replace the plugs and relays. 1 MAF sensor go south. If these relays were vaccum tube operated, I wouldnt be concerned with heat but they are transistor silicone based and are prone to fail with heat. Alternator more efficient, tends to charge less when overheated, Less pressure in the cooling system. Although a engine does have to run at a certain tempurature, I still think GM wants to sell us more vehicles so they make it run hotter to give the engine more wear time. haha I have had less problems all around with a cooler running engine. And at 321880 miles, im sticking with cooler engines and full synthetic Mobile 1.
On the other hand, taking out the stat and running cold under 140 builds sludge, carbon deposits, gumms injectors, oil doesnt get into the nooks and crannies, and many more that cant bee good, Keep it at 180 or 195