sparklemint

Ok, I'm absolutely sick of my car getting hot in stop and go traffic or idling. I have replaced the thermostat and water pump and the air dam is in place, albeit scraped up a bit. At speeds above 30 or so the car maintains a perfect operating temperature. At operating temp when I'm idling the engine idles at 30psi oil pressure and runs great, but when the car starts to get hot the oil pressure gets dangerously low and it is really pissing me off.

I ordered a hypertech fan switch On 200 - Off 185 but I think I'd rather just wire the fan to be always on. This looks like it's going to be a really nasty summer. What I don't understand is how to do it. My knowledge of wiring goes as far as splicing wires from the head unit to match the wiring harness. If anyone could explain in detail where I find the right wires and what to do with them, I would really appreciate it. The only information I've found through search is rather technical and doesn't make it easy for me to understand what to do.

Zap Racing

Do a search for "grounding cooling fan relay" or a variation of that term. There have been many threads--some with pics.

Basically it's very easy. U ground the green wire with a tracer going to one or both your fan relays, usually located around the battery area. On mine one relay is between the rad and the battery, and the other is in between the batt. and the overflow tank. Ground to any convient ground or ground wire and it's runs 100% of the time when U have ignition key on. I've had my car like that for several years and it works great! During the winter, depending on where U live, U may want to unground the secondary fan relay and let that one work normal.

Do a search to confirm the color of the wire--Oh Yeah--read thru the FAQ's at the top of this page--all the info U want is up there somewhere!!!

sparklemint

I found the relay you're talking about and the green/white striped wire. Grounding is simply a matter of pulling it out and attaching it to something metal like the chassis, right?

Thanks for the help

Zap Racing

single fan or double fan?

I have both of mine running 100% of the time.

Yes--U do not need to actually cut the wire, just strip the insulation back a 1/2"--easiest to just take another piece of wire about the same size (but not absolutely necessary) wrap it around the green wire and either ground under a screw/bolt that may be handy or to another wire that U are sure is a ground. Most black wires are ground, but not 100% guaranteed! That's all there is to it! (Of course, wrap with electrical tape after your finished so it doesn't look like crap and stuff it back in any wire loom it may have come out of!)

Some people will ask--isn't that hard on the fan motor, running all the time. Well, sonsidering replacement fan motors are about 40.00 + or - , and considering what it would cost if U fry your engine or tranny because of it running hot, I'd say it more than an even trade-off--besides my fan motors have been running 100% of the time, for near 3 years now and no problem.

manonfire

finally someone that could explain it in a mannor that I could understand, I hate wiring and electrical and this was easy and straight forward.....thanks zap.

sparklemint

Finally got around to doing this. Just clipped off a wire from an old wiring harness and spliced that into the green/white wire and then ran it to a nearby bolt, then wrapped it in some electrical tape. Took me all of 5 minutes.

The auxiliary fan comes on as soon as I turn to ignition, and the primary fan comes on when I start the car. It runs at fantastic temps now and I love it.

Thanks for the help

Zap Racing

Actually i learned all this and more in reading Willie's article about single and dual fan. His article disappeared when the system crashed a few months ago, but I have been in contact with him and he is going to repost it and update it (if not done already)

Bill Speed

My A/C is not running the fans, so if something is at fault, still not sure where or how to tell....w/o spending some dough
I'll see about grounding one of the relay wires I suspect of fault. Will just one do, if you have two fans?

My car is really heating up with all the metered ramps and slow-@ss people out there pi**ing me off! Not to mention one red light after another via the expert hand of traffic management! It irks me to no end hehe
'
Bill

Zap Racing

On a dual fan factory setup the AC should only turn on the passenger side fan. It comes on either when ac is turned on or when the temp sending unit on passenger side head (located between 6 + 8 cylindar) reaches correct temp tha closes the circuit for whatever temp rating the switch is.

The drivers side is controlled by the temp sending unit at front center below intake--goes to ECM and then sends signal to relay for that fan to turn it on.

U can ground the green wire with a tracer stripe going to relay for either fan to test to make sure the relays themselves are working. If U do that and the fans are NOT coming on U either have relay or power to the fan issue or the fans themselves.

If they do not come determine if U have 12 volts at the fans when the relays are grounded.

If U have a dual fan set up and your gonna just ground the relays like I have had my car for several years now, then U need both fans running--mine run 100% of the time--24/7 (when the key is on that is!)

Hollar if U need more info

Bill Speed

Not sure how to strip the wire w/o cutting one...not something I typically do, or the specific wire... I don't see a blatant 'green' when I look. By 'tracer', you mean it has a white line as well? Not sure on that account. I need to ground both relays points for both fans? I was hoping I could get the fans themselves tested as I had for my 88 Cadillac at one point, but no one has stepped up with that yet (station I was at, did it for free.. a rare treat it seems!)

Bill

Zap Racing

ok--let's back up some.

Do the fans work at all? Do they ever run?

Do U know what/where the fan relays are on your car?

Texas_Rdz

I have my grounded to both come on with key on. Thanks for your info it was an easy fix for me. The wire is green with a white stripe , to answer that question about the wire color.

CamarosRUS

great job fixing the hot engine!! but now ive got a question....i recently installed a new radiator and went to a single electric fan. untili place another order with jegs and get my fan switch i want to wire the fan to be on all the time when the car is on. since i had dual fans and now have only one how do i do this? where is this green and white wire located??? thanks in advance!

Zap Racing

read thrugh the earlierposts in this thread!!! It is described there. If U have a 91/92, I believe they are by the brake booster.

CamarosRUS

just woke up when i posted...


anyway, i found the wires needed to ground (you were right, by the brake booster) but when i gronded them it didnt turn on the washer pump i was using to test the system. i removed my dual fan setup and am running a single fan now (its not installed), i want to run the fan all the time when the cars on but apparently this isnt working for me. i treid both relays to see if one was fried and neither worked. any suggestions? do they BOTH have to be grounded? does the car have to be running? etctec

Zap Racing

What year is your car?
All except 91/92 (maybe 90 also, not sure) the fan relays are over by the battery. If nothing else, start tracing the wires backward from the fans themselves to fing the relay. Find the green wire with the tracer (white?) and ground it--fans should run when key is on, unless something is wrong somewhere. May need to get a test light or volt meter to it.

Are U sure the washer is hooked to the correct wires for the test? If U have a test light or VOM use that instead of the washer to test it (or a lightbuld with leads or something. I know this works, I've done it to a dozen different thirdgens!!!

CamarosRUS

yes its a 91. yes i grounded both those relays already with no result. i know at least one fan worked before i pulled the stock setup because idling i never went over 220....time to bust out the multimeter and spend a frustrating couple houirs in the garage. i was hoping to get the entire radiator installed today too

Zap Racing

Hook up the VOM instead of the motor and see if U get power when U ground the green wire.

Trace the wires back from the fan itself to the relay--I know that's a hassle, but may be what is necessary.

CamarosRUS

its a fluke!! i tried the relay closetst to the drivers side and got nothing before. so i tried the relay closest to the pass side and got nothing. after i came in here and posted i went back out with the circut tester and tried the pass side relay first with nothing then tried the drivebrs side and viola! i got current!!! so i guess it was user error but i just dont see how. i now know the relay closest to the pass side is shot and thats the one running to the stock fan closest to the pass side (and im assuming the fan that works with the a/c) and thats why i had a problem with the car getting extremly hot when my a/c was on (when i used to have it). o well its a good day after all.

thanks for the suggestions!

Zap Racing

Glad I could help!

U owe me a burger and a Beer next time U come to Houston! How's that?

CamarosRUS

sounds good to me!