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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-

Cooling fan identity

  • Thread starter Thread starter SteveG94GT
  • Start date Start date Apr 12, 2026

SteveG94GT

Member
Aug 23, 2016
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Apr 12, 2026
#1
  • Apr 12, 2026
  • #1
I have a 1996, V6, 3.8 convertible (in case it is relevant, and red, lol). How can I indisputably determine if the cooling fan set up I have is a one or two speed fan? I am having cooling issues and want to make sure I am trouble shooting a two speed and that is in fact a two speed. Thanks.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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Apr 12, 2026
#2
  • Apr 12, 2026
  • #2
Look at the fan motor:

A single speed fan will have 2 wires.
A 2-speed will have 3 wires.
 

SteveG94GT

Member
Aug 23, 2016
24
5
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Apr 12, 2026
#3
  • Apr 12, 2026
  • #3
Noobz347 said:
Look at the fan motor:

A single speed fan will have 2 wires.
A 2-speed will have 3 wires.
Click to expand...
I definitely have two wires, so that is single speed. Thanks
 

KRUISR

10 Year Member
Apr 16, 2015
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Apr 12, 2026
#4
  • Apr 12, 2026
  • #4
Noobz347 said:
Look at the fan motor:

A single speed fan will have 2 wires.
A 2-speed will have 3 wires.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. Contour fans are 2 wire fans and they are used as 2 speed fans. It depends on how things are wired up.

The thermoresistor in the Contour shroud will cut out 30% of the voltage (it will provide approximately 8V to the fan motors). That is how it achieves low speed. But the motors are still 2 wire - one power, one ground.
 

SteveG94GT

Member
Aug 23, 2016
24
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Apr 12, 2026
#5
  • Apr 12, 2026
  • #5
KRUISR said:
Not necessarily. Contour fans are 2 wire fans and they are used as 2 speed fans. It depends on how things are wired up.

The thermoresistor in the Contour shroud will cut out 30% of the voltage (it will provide approximately 8V to the fan motors). That is how it achieves low speed. But the motors are still 2 wire - one power, one ground.
Click to expand...
Thanks. So, that means I still have a problem with no low speed fan at above operating temp. I did read in Haynes, that they all were 2 speed fans for 1994 to 2003, and the 3.8 and 5.0 had two wires and the 4.8 had 3. I did wonder why I had a ECT sensor if there was no low speed. Thanks for adding on to this. I would have sailed down the road thinking I was good and have problems showing up again. Would a code pull show where the problem could be, relatively?
 

KRUISR

10 Year Member
Apr 16, 2015
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Apr 12, 2026
#6
  • Apr 12, 2026
  • #6
Not that I have an SN, but I believe the fans are controlled by the CCRM. They have been know to fail. You may want to start there if your fan does still work.
 

SteveG94GT

Member
Aug 23, 2016
24
5
13
Apr 12, 2026
#7
  • Apr 12, 2026
  • #7
KRUISR said:
Not that I have an SN, but I believe the fans are controlled by the CCRM. They have been know to fail. You may want to start there if your fan does still work.
Click to expand...
I think I replaced it once already in 2019. I have an extra in the garage and no other to have one laying around. Thanks for the tip.
 
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