[Z06] C5 Fan Trick
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
C5 Fan Trick
Get a chance to hot-lap at the drag strip? Hate paying that horsepower penalty when the coolant temp soars? There is a work-around short of a fan switch or tuning the PCM.
All it take is a 6 inch piece of wire and a couple minutes to do the set up the first time. After that about two minutes each time you go to the track. Helpful in the summertime too; keeps the engine temps in the range for good power.
I put up a page at my site with a how-to for turning on the fans without tuning or a switch.
Here is a link: C5 Fan Trick.
Ranger
All it take is a 6 inch piece of wire and a couple minutes to do the set up the first time. After that about two minutes each time you go to the track. Helpful in the summertime too; keeps the engine temps in the range for good power.
I put up a page at my site with a how-to for turning on the fans without tuning or a switch.
Here is a link: C5 Fan Trick.
Ranger
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 1
From: Douglasville Ga
Can this trick be used if I am just driving the car around town and there are a number of long traffic lights to wait thru? I know that it is not neccessary in the winter, but it gets pretty hot during the summer months in the ATL.
Awesome write up by the way. The pictures REALLY help. thanx
Awesome write up by the way. The pictures REALLY help. thanx
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
Thanks Ranger, This is a must have for me, especially at E-town were it takes you ten minutes from the pit to the burnout box once you start moving. 
Something that just came to mind. What do you think about adding a automotive 12v say 15amp toggle and then just flip it on whenever your at the track?
Something that just came to mind. What do you think about adding a automotive 12v say 15amp toggle and then just flip it on whenever your at the track?
Last edited by BonestockZ06; Jul 18, 2007 at 02:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Can this trick be used if I am just driving the car around town and there are a number of long traffic lights to wait thru? I know that it is not neccessary in the winter, but it gets pretty hot during the summer months in the ATL.
Awesome write up by the way. The pictures REALLY help. thanx
Awesome write up by the way. The pictures REALLY help. thanx
But got to be honest with you Bigstik, those 220-240 temps in traffic don't do any harm. They do matter at the drag strip where measured acceleration in the name of the game and the penalty for the high temps is .20-.40 seconds in the quarter-mile.
And thanks for the kind words.
Ranger
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Plus I only need to control the fans at the track. Two minutes to turn them on. Part of the track ritual, if conditions warrant.
When you return home from the track at the end of the day and shut the motor off in the garage, you can hear the fans still running; a reminder to remove the Trick and stow it away in the glovebox.
Ranger
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
I refrained from that approach. Didn't want to run a risk of needing to explain it's purpose to a tech or district rep should a warranty claim be hanging in the balance. The Fan Trick is clean and leaves no tell-tale sign.
Plus I only need to control the fans at the track. Two minutes to turn them on. Part of the track ritual, if conditions warrant.
When you return home from the track at the end of the day and shut the motor off in the garage, you can hear the fans still running; a reminder to remove the Trick and stow it away in the glovebox.
Ranger
Plus I only need to control the fans at the track. Two minutes to turn them on. Part of the track ritual, if conditions warrant.
When you return home from the track at the end of the day and shut the motor off in the garage, you can hear the fans still running; a reminder to remove the Trick and stow it away in the glovebox.
Ranger
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 1
From: Minburn Ia
Thank U .... who doesn't like to 'hot lap' when traffic is low... and not pay HP penalty for the rapidfire enjoyment of the sport.
I'd bet this will also work on C5 base cars. Will check fuse box and see if it is same as on Z's.
I'd bet this will also work on C5 base cars. Will check fuse box and see if it is same as on Z's.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Your sensing is correct.
I've checked the owners manual diagrams for 1997-2004 and the configuration of the Relay box appears identical for all MY C5s.
Ranger
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 1
From: Minburn Ia
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Thanks, Ranger. Fan wire trick sounds like a neat idea. I will be trying it on my car and if satisfied, I'll probably run a wire to a switch in my interior, mostly for convenience. Just because 240 degrees in traffic is okay, that doesn't mean I feel comfortable seeing temps that high. I've got a street rod with a hot rod Chevy motor in it. In 95 degree weather, sitting in traffic with the a/c on, it'll idle forever at 185-190 degrees.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 16
From: Nashville TN
Here is an alternative for a permanent solution. You install a toggle switch in the car, then wire a relay inline with the existing fan relay. the new relay keeps the stock operation and prevents the PCM from throwing codes. However this system only turns on the upper fan in high speed mod. I devised this system several years ago and it works great.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Here is an alternative for a permanent solution. You install a toggle switch in the car, then wire a relay inline with the existing fan relay. the new relay keeps the stock operation and prevents the PCM from throwing codes. However this system only turns on the upper fan in high speed mod. I devised this system several years ago and it works great.
(1) the actual wire splice/connections you made.
(2) wire routing
(3) penetration through the firewall
(4) switch location and capacity, etc
If posting images presents a problem, I'll be happy to host them for you.
TIA,
Ranger
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Denver CO
Get a chance to hot-lap at the drag strip? Hate paying that horsepower penalty when the coolant temp soars? There is a work-around short of a fan switch or tuning the PCM.
All it take is a 6 inch piece of wire and a couple minutes to do the set up the first time. After that about two minutes each time you go to the track. Helpful in the summertime too; keeps the engine temps in the range for good power.
I put up a page at my site with a how-to for turning on the fans without tuning or a switch.
Here is a link: C5 Fan Trick.
Ranger
All it take is a 6 inch piece of wire and a couple minutes to do the set up the first time. After that about two minutes each time you go to the track. Helpful in the summertime too; keeps the engine temps in the range for good power.
I put up a page at my site with a how-to for turning on the fans without tuning or a switch.
Here is a link: C5 Fan Trick.
Ranger
Thanks,
Rich
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Using the Fan Trick, the fans remain in low-speed mode. For work at the drag strip, low-speed is sufficient.
I didn't use the Trick on the street. There, the factory turn-on points for low and high meet my needs.
Ranger
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW