Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,694
Likes: 3
From: Less Talk, More WOT | Houston TX
Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!!
Those of you who have seen the Zip C5 catalog have seen that fully adjustable fan controller they have for around $200 :eek: Well I found that Pep Boys actually carries something that is pretty much the same thing, and then found out that there is a tech tip to augment this controller into the C5 fans. Someone with electrical knowledge (read: not me :lol: ) should figure out how to wire this up to our c4 systems, it would be a cool function to be able to adjust the fan turn on and off speed and this system is relatively cheap at around $40. I would think it would be especially advantageous for keeping coolant temperatures in the optimum range during the changing seasons.
Anyhow here is the link to the C5 tech tip, https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=173&TopicID=1
Post any ideas or interest you have in this project, as well as reasons you think it would be good or bad.....and we will see where it goes from here... :lurk:
Anyhow here is the link to the C5 tech tip, https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=173&TopicID=1
Post any ideas or interest you have in this project, as well as reasons you think it would be good or bad.....and we will see where it goes from here... :lurk:
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,833
Likes: 0
From: Orange County California
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (LarryK 87)
Just buy a toggle switch and some wire and hook it up. cost < $5.00. connect to green and white wire with one wire, the other wire connects to the green and white wire, and the last wire to ground. You can toggle between one fan, two fans or off manually. EZ!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Henderson NV
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (Wheelman)
Eckler's sells a kit for $40 for C4s and you have your choice of operating range by buying either part number. My $.02
[Modified by vetteseniorcit, 3:54 AM 5/18/2004]
[Modified by vetteseniorcit, 3:54 AM 5/18/2004]
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,833
Likes: 0
From: Orange County California
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (vetteseniorcit)
Hello.... is anybody listening? I said 5 bucks... And you can pick the switch that you think would look kool in your car.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 524
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte Fl
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (Wheelman)
never mind pep boys, Autozone carries one for 17.00 adjustable from 32*f to 238*f.
looked at the above mentioned tech articale ( for the C5's) then looked at the switch, and hooking up to a C4 will be simple and inexpensive, so much so that i am thinking of getting 2 and adjusting both fans. total cost 34.00 USD plus leaves ECM in control ( to turn on that is) for AC or switch failure and fans will continue to operate independantly.
Main fan gets it's switch wired to ground, Aux switch gets wired in parrallel with existing wiring,
Hope to have this done within the next 2 weeks ( busy all this week and weekend)
looked at the above mentioned tech articale ( for the C5's) then looked at the switch, and hooking up to a C4 will be simple and inexpensive, so much so that i am thinking of getting 2 and adjusting both fans. total cost 34.00 USD plus leaves ECM in control ( to turn on that is) for AC or switch failure and fans will continue to operate independantly.
Main fan gets it's switch wired to ground, Aux switch gets wired in parrallel with existing wiring,
Hope to have this done within the next 2 weeks ( busy all this week and weekend)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (HiRiser)
I used one on my 86 made by imperial, which is the house brand for cooling fans from a couple of the major car part chains. I think it was around 20 or 30 bucks and used a probe atached to the radiator to determine the temp. There was a **** on it that adjusted when it would come on. Worked awesome, especially since the fan wiring had been fussed with by a japanese mechanic with good intentions and wasn't working at all. I wired up the fan and adj switch to the a lead from the battery with a fuse inline.
I set the switch to close around 185*. It worked great and I never saw temps above 195* even in the tropical heat and slow driving speeds out there.
Chris
I set the switch to close around 185*. It worked great and I never saw temps above 195* even in the tropical heat and slow driving speeds out there.
Chris
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (Wheelman)
:lurk:
I'll be listing a Hypertech PPIII for sale as soon as someone can come up with idiot proof instructions for this...
I'll be listing a Hypertech PPIII for sale as soon as someone can come up with idiot proof instructions for this...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (okinawa86vette)
Since, on an L98, the ECM controls the fan(s) based on coolant temp and/or A/C line pressure, the only way to make ECM fan control "adjustable" is to distort the coolant temp sensor readings. This can be done by connecting a trim pot (variable resistor) between the coolant temp sensor (located under the TB) signal line and ground. Then as you lower resistance the ECM will sense a higher coolant temp and bring the fan(s) on at a lower true temp.
Put a scan tool onto your ECM and check what coolant temp it is seeing.
Put a scan tool onto your ECM and check what coolant temp it is seeing.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,694
Likes: 3
From: Less Talk, More WOT | Houston TX
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (65Z01)
Since, on an L98, the ECM controls the fan(s) based on coolant temp and/or A/C line pressure, the only way to make ECM fan control "adjustable" is to distort the coolant temp sensor readings. This can be done by connecting a trim pot (variable resistor) between the coolant temp sensor (located under the TB) signal line and ground. Then as you lower resistance the ECM will sense a higher coolant temp and bring the fan(s) on at a lower true temp.
Put a scan tool onto your ECM and check what coolant temp it is seeing.
Put a scan tool onto your ECM and check what coolant temp it is seeing.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 524
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte Fl
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (Wheelman)
the Aux fan runs off a non-ecm controlled temp switch, only the main fan is controlled by the ECM ( or A/c Pressure )
will keep everyone interested posted when i add these to the car, and will hopefully provide as nearly idiot proof instructions as possible, but nothing is totally idiot proof, but only because idiots are so ingenious :D
will keep everyone interested posted when i add these to the car, and will hopefully provide as nearly idiot proof instructions as possible, but nothing is totally idiot proof, but only because idiots are so ingenious :D
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown WV
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (Wheelman)
There are two fans. The primary fan turns on based if 1) the A/C fan request signal indicates yes (high A/C pressure), Vehicle speed is less than 35mph, and the coolant temperature is greater than 226 degrees or 2) A/C request is not indicated, vehicle speed greater than 35mph, and coolant temperature is greater than 226 degrees. The secondary fan turns on if the primary fan has been turned on for 2 seconds and 1) the A/C fan request indicates a high pressure, vehicle speed less than 50mph or 2)A/C request indicated, vehicle speed less than 35mph, and coolant temperature is greater than 235 degrees or 3) A/C request not indicated, vehicle speed greater than 35mph, and coolant temperature is greater than 235 degrees.
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (Alzado77)
OK, after repeating that to myself out loud several times, I now need a handful of Advil for my headache and a face lift to remove the new wrinkles in my brow...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (Wheelman)
Wheelman, yep I was refereing to only the fan(s) that is/are controlled by the ECM, depending on model year.
The '85-'89 L98 uses a single main fan with an optional booster fan in front of the radiator; the main fan is indeed controlled only by the ECM and the booster fan only by the aux fan switch.
The '90-'91 L98 uses a primary and a secondary fan behind the radiator, like the LT1 setup; both are controlled by the ECM.
The '85-'89 L98 uses a single main fan with an optional booster fan in front of the radiator; the main fan is indeed controlled only by the ECM and the booster fan only by the aux fan switch.
The '90-'91 L98 uses a primary and a secondary fan behind the radiator, like the LT1 setup; both are controlled by the ECM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 524
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte Fl
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (65Z01)
good catch there re: the differant years i neglecting to add that disclaimer,
and tobijohn i dont think we are in the minority :D where would the world be without us idiots, hey who else would just go on in the face of convention, remember fulton's folly? :thumbs:
and tobijohn i dont think we are in the minority :D where would the world be without us idiots, hey who else would just go on in the face of convention, remember fulton's folly? :thumbs:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Adjustable Automatic Fan Control For Cheap!!!! (LarryK 87)
Hell yeah! Nice work Watson..
I'll be doing this mod as soon as I have time to look into it after sobering up tomorrow after work... :cheers:
I'll be doing this mod as soon as I have time to look into it after sobering up tomorrow after work... :cheers: