When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
how do i reprogram my fan to come on sooner.
i am putting a 160 deg thermostat in this weekend, but from everything i have been reading on here i need to adjust the fan somehow.
heats up at stoplights.
The fan(s) are controled by the ECM. You can either do it the cheap way and wire the fan(s) to ground with a toggle switch or have the ECM chip tuned to turn the fan on sooner. More info can be give if you let us know the year of the car.
If your car is overheating, altering fan on/off times, and placing a 160* thermostat is only masking the problem. First, what year is your car, and exactly what temperatures are you running when setting at a light?
We will need a little information from you so we can help. Also complete your profile for future posts.
not sure of the exact temperature, but definitely heats up when i stop.
the fan comes on just before the warning area in the gauge. i sound like a real newb, i know, but i can't remember the temp.
Sounds like the fans are working correctly. The analog gauge gets almost in the hash marks before the fans come on. Drive it again and look at the digital coolant gauge and see what temp the fans on on at should be around 227*. If so, the fans are working normally.
If it is an L98, a 160° stat is ill advised. A 160° is OK for an LTx engine. Either way maintenance should be your first step, including removing the radiator and cleaning out from in between the radiator and condenser. Next, you can try reprogramming or whatever is necessary for your year, to turn the fans on at a lower temp. Remember, the thermostat only controls the minimum operating temp. The stat opening point has NO influence over whether the temps rise at idle or not, nor how high.
Unfortunately reprogramming a 93 is a little complicated and requires burning a new chip. This link shows an alternative that over rides the PCM to turn the fan on earlier.
The switch will set a code for Quad Driver Module 3 because the PCM sees the circuit grounded when not commanded to do so but that code will not illuminate the check engine light.
As others have suggested first make sure you do not have a restricted radiator or other cooling issues before modifying the fan circuit.
can anyone tell me how to reprogram the fan if i need to?
You will have to find a local tuner or use one of the members here that are tuners. You will have to ask them in advance about just reprogramming it for the fans, but a tune usually cost ~$200.