C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

86 question!

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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 05:21 PM
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Default 86 question!

I was checking my spark plugs and noticed something that I guess I had overlooked before. I don't have any pics, but I'll describe it. It looks like a sensor between the #1 & #3 spark plug. It had what looks like a place that a connector should be. It is threaded into the head with teflon and has a round place for a one wire connector to go. I looked and didn't see any loose wires in the area. I haven't looked through the FSM yet and was just wondering. Any help?
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 06:37 PM
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That's a fan switch. If your car has one main fan, there should be a plug there. If you got two fans, then you should have it there. If you got one fan, then someone must have added it in and did not wire it in since you don't see the wire.

I added one on my single fan 86 to turn the fan on at 200, and it wires into the fan relay green w/white wire. So do you have one cooling fan or two?



Last edited by 86PACER; Mar 31, 2006 at 07:10 PM.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 06:43 PM
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Since we are talking 86 here, I'll post the single fan configuration. There are several small changes thoughout the years, and a past thread on this topic turned into a complete disaster.

Last edited by 86PACER; Mar 31, 2006 at 07:25 PM.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 06:44 PM
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Does your temp gage work?
On my 86 it is a green wire with a white stripe and it breaks out of the alternator harness.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:02 PM
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My vette has one main fan. My temp guage does work. Then this is o.k. for it not to be plugged in? Thanks fellows.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:03 PM
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On your 1986, the gauge temp sender is in the corresponding hole in the right side cylinder head. The left head carries the auxiliary fan switch.


86PACER,
I think a good many of us learned about the "one off" set up in the 1985 without an auxiliary fan. I know *I* did. Your schematic is just an little small, dark, and fuzzy for me to read. Can I assume it is different than the 1985 and looks as one would expect?

RACE ON!!!
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by RRT vette
My vette has one main fan. My temp guage does work. Then this is o.k. for it not to be plugged in? Thanks fellows.
Does your fan come on? It should. If it does, it might just be a lower temp fan switch someone installed but did not wire in. A low temp fan splices into the Green w/white wire of the cooling fan relay across it and below the master cylinder.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI


86PACER,
I think a good many of us learned about the "one off" set up in the 1985 without an auxiliary fan. I know *I* did. Your schematic is just an little small, dark, and fuzzy for me to read. Can I assume it is different than the 1985 and looks as one would expect?

RACE ON!!!
Me too. It's different in that unlike 85, post 85 single fan cars don't use the auxillary fan switch on the other head as a back up ground. That's the best I can do with this camera. I can't get an upclose clear shot of it and still fit all in the screen. I have to enlarge it.

Last edited by 86PACER; Mar 31, 2006 at 07:29 PM.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:17 PM
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This is the guage sender.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:25 PM
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Originally Posted by RRT vette
My vette has one main fan. My temp guage does work. Then this is o.k. for it not to be plugged in? Thanks fellows.
This post showed up while I was typing my last post. All C4s have only "one main fan". The question is whether you have an auxiliary fan or not. The auxiliary fan will be in the front side of the radiator in your '86, if you have one. The unattached switch is for turning on the aux fan at the designed temp. If you have the fan, the switch should be hooked up. If you don't have the fan, one must wonder why you have the switch.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
This post showed up while I was typing my last post. All C4s have only "one main fan". The question is whether you have an auxiliary fan or not. The auxiliary fan will be in the front side of the radiator in your '86, if you have one. The unattached switch is for turning on the aux fan at the designed temp. If you have the fan, the switch should be hooked up. If you don't have the fan, one must wonder why you have the switch.

RACE ON!!!
My 86E only has one fan, no secondary. My temps run 175-180*. There is not problem with the system, I just didn't know what this sensor did. So, I'll just leave it alone, as long as it doesn't leak! Thanks guys I know if there are any questions, I'll be able to find it on the forum.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 11:08 PM
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Alright guys, I was wrong. There is a secondary fan I remember seeing. It is a small fan just behind the front bumper infront of the radiator and a/c condensor. I looked and I don't think it is working or al least it doesn't look like it. The front bumper is so low to the ground that I need to put it on ramps to see it good.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 11:23 PM
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RRTVette......I can not speak for other year vetts, but my 89 came stock with a 5/16 square plug in the left head, between #1 and #3 cylinders. I installed a secondary sensor in that location to turn on the fan at 192 deg F and I bought the assembly from Mid America Direct. My vette has two fans as it has the AC option. Perhaps the previous owner of you car performed a similiar modification. Just a suggestion for your question. Do you want my old plug
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 11:48 PM
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The Aux fan in 86 wont trigger until 238F, so its not a surprise that yours doesnt seem to be working, if your temps hang around 180F.

Mine is triggered by a new switch to come on at 185F.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 11:54 PM
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I don't know why, but my 86 shop manual does not have a wiring schematic for the dual fan configuration.
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 06:07 AM
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Uriel, It was in the Electrical Diagnosis Manual Supplement ST-364-86S.

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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 06:13 AM
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by vader86
The Aux fan in 86 wont trigger until 238F, so its not a surprise that yours doesnt seem to be working, if your temps hang around 180F.
It is really no surprise that the aux fan isn't coming on since it is disconnected.
Originally Posted by RRT vette
It looks like a sensor between the #1 & #3 spark plug. It had what looks like a place that a connector should be. It is threaded into the head with teflon and has a round place for a one wire connector to go.
RRT vette,
The wire that connects to that "round place for a one wire connector" on the switch in the left head is circuit #335. It is a .5 Dk Grn/Wht wire just to the right of center, near the top of, the schematic Ray Quayle provided. Find the .5 Dk Grn/Wht wire at the "B" terminal of the AUXILIARY fan relay and start tracing. Eventually, you want the other end of that wire connected to the switch in the left head.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 04:20 PM
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And the relay should be here:
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 07:51 PM
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Yes Ray, I have this relay located in the same place but no connector going to it.
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