Cooling fan temp switch
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
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From: OR
Cooling fan temp switch
I have a '87 coup that runs too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Looks like it has a 160 thermostat in it because that's how warm it gets in the winter. Idling in traffic on a hot summer day it will get around 220. My plan is to install a 195 thermostat and rig the fan to come on at around 200. In a book I got from corvette central there are several temperature switches for electric fans. There is a temp switch or sensor in the location stated in the catalog. It's between cylinders 1 and 3, and I believe it has a green wire with a black tracer on it. Does that sound like it? Will all I have to do to make it work the way I want is change that part or is there more to it than that? Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
Changing that switch, only, will only affect the on temp of the auxillery fan. The higher temp stat will only affect the minimum operationg temp, it won't make it want to overheat. There are other things you can do, but for now, get that stat changed. You could compromuse with a 180 stat.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
If your Vette has the booster fan in front of the radiator there will be an aux fan switch in the block below #1 & #3 spark plugs, else there will be a threaded plug in that location. With the stock setup the aux fan switch ONLY controls the booster fan and the ECM ONLY controls the main fan.
If you do not have the booster fan option, you can install an aux fan switch into that location, though I hear the plug is a PITA to remove. In either case you can wire it to control the main fan relay, per my C4 Tech Tip.
BTW, if you had a 160deg aux fan switch wired per my tip your coolant temps during summer months would not climb above 170-175deg even in 90+deg weather in traffic.
If you do not have the booster fan option, you can install an aux fan switch into that location, though I hear the plug is a PITA to remove. In either case you can wire it to control the main fan relay, per my C4 Tech Tip.
BTW, if you had a 160deg aux fan switch wired per my tip your coolant temps during summer months would not climb above 170-175deg even in 90+deg weather in traffic.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,448
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From: Tracy CA
If a car has that aux fan option (think it's the B4P option), what condition would cause that aux fan to come on? Coolant temp? Oil temp? Block temp?
I have this option, and never saw the fan come on.I had the wire replaced (The old one fell apart in my fingers), but it hasn't really been warm enough to see if the fan will work now.
-Eric
I have this option, and never saw the fan come on.I had the wire replaced (The old one fell apart in my fingers), but it hasn't really been warm enough to see if the fan will work now.
-Eric
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by EPiC Vette
I have this option, and never saw the fan come on.I had the wire replaced (The old one fell apart in my fingers), but it hasn't really been warm enough to see if the fan will work now.
-Eric
-Eric
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
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From: seattle WA
I've heard alot of guys pull their 160 and replace it with a 180 in the winter.Since I have both fans in my 87-I ordered part# 40290 (temp switch-the one with 2 wires) from Eckler's-$39.99. Check out 65Z01's site-regarding this.It does come with wiring diagrams, but somehow I must have wired it like 65Z01's site recommendation, although I've never seen it, because both my main fan and aux. fan both come on at 200 and off at 185.With my 180 thermo I run max. 209 summer in stop and go, and usually around 170-180 in winter, plenty of heat from the heater.
