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Cooling fan wiring ?

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Old Jul 11, 2017 | 07:48 PM
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Default Cooling fan wiring ?

I'm gonna throw this out there while I continue searching for the answer.

I've got a set of dual Spal fans wired to the factory wiring harness which are controlled by my PCM. I'd like to add an external relay in order to get more power to the fans. The factory wires look kind of thin and I feel like adding more power to them VIA an external relay will give them a little extra power and so the fans don't pull so much power through the thin factory wires.

What would be the best location to provide a trigger for a relay ? I'm looking for an exact location. Fuse # ? relay # ? location ? Wire color ? ECT .........

I can't read a schematic at all ....

Last edited by junk c5; Jul 11, 2017 at 07:49 PM.
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Old Jul 11, 2017 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 8VETTE7
Since you can't read a schematic I won't bother to post the C5 cooling system fan wiring diagram.

There are already 3 relays and 3 fuses in that circuitry to control the fans. The two fuses that provide the power to the two fan motors are each 30 amps. The third fuse is 10 Amps but is just the control circuit for a relay and not powering the fan motors. So the factory wiring is adequate for the fused circuits in question.

I cannot imagine how you can provide "more power" to the fans than the factory already has done. The fact that you have "spal" fans is of little impact as long as the factory fuses (14, 46 and 49 in the engine compartment fuse box) are not blowing. The factory relays for the cooling fans are 43, 44 and 45 in the same fuse box.

No personal offense but since you cannot read a wiring schematic it would also follow that you are not electrically qualified to assess the needs of the wiring of the C5 cooling fan system. I suggest that you
leave well enough alone........ JMHO

Just for the record I have been running an aftermarket pair of Spal fans on my car since 2011 and have yet to experience any issues with power to the fan system...........


I seen that you've provided electrical schematics on numerous occasions and I was hoping this topic would get your attention . I figured since the factory wires in the harness are so thin that they could only supply so much power. Given the fact that the Spal wiring harnesses are much thicker I figured that fans required more power than the factory wires could supply. I just inspected the harnesses and wires and they all seem to be in perfect working order. Nothing is melted or burnt up and I do not have a problem with popping fuses .

You are obviously much more familiar in this department so if you say the factory wiring is sufficient enough to Power dual Spal fans, then I will take your word for it and save myself the trouble of running more wires in an already overcrowded engine compartment .
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Old Apr 13, 2019 | 03:32 PM
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Old thread but how are you guys wiring 2 fans? I’m trying to understand the schematics and it’s Chinese to me
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Old Apr 14, 2019 | 03:34 PM
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Hey I don't mean to hijack this thread but can someone point me to the best way to lower the ECM/PCM temp of when the fans come on? I have been searching the forum for about 10 minutes and have not found easy instructions. Thanks!
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Old Apr 14, 2019 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by NewportGeek
Hey I don't mean to hijack this thread but can someone point me to the best way to lower the ECM/PCM temp of when the fans come on? I have been searching the forum for about 10 minutes and have not found easy instructions. Thanks!
As far as I know, you have to use HP tuners to adjust what temp the fans come on. Maybe you can look into a supplemental fan controller

Last edited by junk c5; Apr 14, 2019 at 07:15 PM.
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Old Apr 14, 2019 | 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by MRc5z
Old thread but how are you guys wiring 2 fans? I’m trying to understand the schematics and it’s Chinese to me
I can’t find the private message I had with the way I wired mine. I’ll look the next time I’m under my car.
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Old Apr 14, 2019 | 11:39 PM
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Ok thanks,

I used HPtuners to lower my Dewitt’s SPAL fans last year and tried messing with it again with the aftermarket ones
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Old Apr 18, 2019 | 09:09 PM
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So from reading other posts regarding wiring aftermarket fans, I think I’ll just wire in 2 relays to the fans, and use the fan #1 to trigger them. I’ll take out the relays and fuse for fan 2 as I think that’s what I understand from those posts. Any input?

Im not sure why the Dewitt’s SPAL fans worked fine previously but my Derale fans won’t operate correctly
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