Electric Fan Shutting Off

The Electric Fan is wired into the fuse box, where the A/C Fuse is(AC delete so it doesn't run anything) I was driving through town yesterday (Fort Benning, GA so naturally its 9000 degrees.) Noticed the temps were going up quick. Pulled over and the fan wasn't running. I messed with the wire going into the fuse and got it running.

My question is: what are my options to fix this. I think a toggle would be easiest. What are your opinions? Ideas, parts list. Also Battery is in the hatch.

Thanks
Jarvis
 
The BEST way to do this is use a thermostatically controlled set up.

You shouldn't run power from the fuse panel, that's too much power being drawn through it.
If you wire it with a toggle, wire it up with a relay so you don't catch the switch on fire.
 
The BEST way to do this is use a thermostatically controlled set up.

You shouldn't run power from the fuse panel, that's too much power being drawn through it.
If you wire it with a toggle, wire it up with a relay so you don't catch the switch on fire.
That's what I figured, how would i go about doing that. What am i looking for exactly, i tried "fan controller" Thanks a lot!
Also i know you shouldn't run it into the fuse box, keeps kicking on and off. On top of that it looks ghetto as hell
 
How many amps is the fuse its under? 5? 10?

You need minimum 30A depending on the fan amperage draw. You really should be using a relay drawing power from the battery with a slow-blow Maxi-fuse. Then trigger the relay with a temp switch, toggle switch, or fan controller
 
That's what I figured, how would i go about doing that. What am i looking for exactly, i tried "fan controller" Thanks a lot!
Also i know you shouldn't run it into the fuse box, keeps kicking on and off. On top of that it looks ghetto as hell

My current E fan has the thermostatic set up built into it so I really can't help you out with controllers, at least I can't tell you from experience. But from what I've heard from many people, the DCC controller is top notch quality and works amazing. And also I've heard of a few good things about the Flex-A-Lite fan controllers.
 
How many amps is the fuse its under? 5? 10?

You need minimum 30A depending on the fan amperage draw. You really should be using a relay drawing power from the battery with a slow-blow Maxi-fuse. Then trigger the relay with a temp switch, toggle switch, or fan controller
It's under the 25A AC fuse, So run wire from battery to relay. Run some sort of switch or trigger off of relay?
My current E fan has the thermostatic set up built into it so I really can't help you out with controllers, at least I can't tell you from experience. But from what I've heard from many people, the DCC controller is top notch quality and works amazing. And also I've heard of a few good things about the Flex-A-Lite fan controllers.
I'm not sure the fan model. I just got the car and I'm still learning it. I'll keep looking into fan controllers.
thanks for the responses!
 
E fan directly wired to the fuse box is major no no. Fire waiting to happen IMO. Post a picture of the fan and let us see what type it is. With any E fan , you should either install a variable speed controller like the Flex a lite 33054 or the DCC one, or a switch /relay setup like they have in Volvo's. Having an E fan come on all the time does 2 things- it shortens the life of the fan and also makes the car run hotter on the highway as it disrupts the air flow through the radiator. It is not needed to be running at 60mph.

A related question. Do you have a 130 amp 3G alternator? That is a must with an E fan.
 
E fan directly wired to the fuse box is major no no. Fire waiting to happen IMO. Post a picture of the fan and let us see what type it is. With any E fan , you should either install a variable speed controller like the Flex a lite 33054 or the DCC one, or a switch /relay setup like they have in Volvo's. Having an E fan come on all the time does 2 things- it shortens the life of the fan and also makes the car run hotter on the highway as it disrupts the air flow through the radiator. It is not needed to be running at 60mph.

A related question. Do you have a 130 amp 3G alternator? That is a must with an E fan.
I know its not good lol I'll look at it in the morning, been cleaning up and scrubbing the engine bay. I'm also not sure about the 3G alternator. What would be a good way to tell?
 
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Definitely a 3G. The fan is a Flex-a-lite. Look like this
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/flx-175/overview/make/ford

ok... that fan has an controller on the top of it that adjusts with the turn of the knob. That is the good news. The bad news is those fans are terrible and are notorious for the controller breaking, and the fan itself is not very good. Go to the FAL website or google and you will find the install instructions which will show you the proper wiring, What you need to do is install a a good fuse holder( large blade type 10g wire not the cheap little blade fuse with 14g wire) with at least a 30 amp fuse for the power wire to the battery side of the solenoid.
maxi_holder.gif



Make sure the ground is also attached to a solid ground point. Also, there should be a triangle shaped connector on the A/C power wire that feeds the controller. It turns on the fan whenever the A/C is on. You want to adjust the fan so it comes on about 5-10 degrees warmer than your stat.
 
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I have a similar fan, my controller box is set up a little differently. I'm getting rid of it though, mine never came on thermostatically as it should and flipping a switch constantly would have annoyed me.
 
ok... that fan has an controller on the top of it that adjusts with the turn of the knob. That is the good news. The bad news is those fans are terrible and are notorious for the controller breaking, and the fan itself is not very good. Go to the FAL website or google and you will find the install instructions which will show you the proper wiring, What you need to do is install a a good fuse holder( large blade type 10g wire not the cheap little blade fuse with 14g wire) with at least a 30 amp fuse for the power wire to the battery side of the solenoid.
maxi_holder.gif



Make sure the ground is also attached to a solid ground point. Also, there should be a triangle shaped connector on the A/C power wire that feeds the controller. It turns on the fan whenever the A/C is on. You want to adjust the fan so it comes on about 5-10 degrees warmer than your stat.
Mine doesn't have an adjustment knob. I see the only i linked does, mine does not :( I'm assuming that changes things?
 
If you don't have a high current alternator, you can forget about using an electric fan. The stock 65 amp alternator on 86-93 Mustangs isn't big enough to run the fan and the rest of the car. If you have a 94 or later Mustang, the stock 3g alternator should be fine if it is working correctly.

Switching a fan on and off manually is a bad idea. Too many guys have been distracted (hot girl kissing on their neck, too much to drink, dog tired and not thinking clearly) and cooked things because they forgot to flip the switch. An equal number have forgotten to turn the switch off for the same reasons and run down their battery.

The best fan controller available today is a DC Control unit. www.dccontrol.com. Cost is about $???. Be prepared to wait 4 weeks or more to receive your controller once you have sent in your payment. The controllers are custom made in small lots and lead times can stretch out.

Next best is a SPAL controller - $70-$120 See http://www.spalusa.com/store/Main.aspx?html=pwmv3. eBay will have the controllers for a bargain price: do a Google search and see what you find.

At the bottom are the Hayden or Imperial controllers available through Advance Discount Auto Parts and AutoZone. The non adjustable one is about $30 ( Hayden 226206) and the adjustable one is about $60 (Hayden 226204). I recommend you do a Google search on Hayden and the part number for more info.

Do not use a simple on/off switch without using a relay. The current load can burn up the typical cheap automotive switch very quickly. The fan draws 30+amps and you need to use #10 wire on the fan power and ground wiring.

If you are good with electrical stuff (90% of the people here aren't), build your own controller. The numbers on the diagram (#86, #87, etc) refer to the numbers on the bottom of a typical automotive relay.

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Note that the temp sensor in the diagram needs to match the thermostat in your engine. The preferred arrangement is to have it open about 5 degrees above the thermostat.

To allow the ignition switch to control the fan so that it does not run when the ignition is off, connect the relay contact #86 to the red/green wire on the ignition coil or to the red/yellow wire on the coolant level sensor.

If you are an experienced electronics tech or electrical engineer, email me and I will send you the prototype drawings of a fan controller that is similar in function to the DC Control unit. It is a build it, troubleshoot it yourself item. I will not build or troubleshoot units, so it is not suitable for anyone who isn't really good with electronics.
See my post at http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-for...-sooo-much-amperage-help.859590/#post-8645840 to get the drawings and full details.

Alternate placement for a temp gauge sender or temp switch/temp sensor for an electric fan. Use the heater feed that comes off the intake manifold. Cut the rubber hose that connects the manifold water feed to the heater and splice in a tee adapter for the temp gauge sender. Be sure to use the same water feed line as the ECT sensor. That way you will get the most accurate temp readings.

Tee adapter info:
Make a pilgrimage to your local hardware or home supply center and get some copper pipe and a tee that fits the temp gauge sender. Solder two pieces of copper pipe onto a copper pipe tee with threads in the tee part. Find the correct brass fitting to match the temp sender threads to the tee fitting.

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jrichker, the OP said he has a 3g alt so he should be good there. To the OP, sounds like the controller for the fan crapped out like I said they are prone to, and the prior owner just hard wired it into the fusebox? Can you post a picture of the fan and the wiring coming off it.
 
jrichker, the OP said he has a 3g alt so he should be good there. To the OP, sounds like the controller for the fan crapped out like I said they are prone to, and the prior owner just hard wired it into the fusebox? Can you post a picture of the fan and the wiring coming off it.
Their is one black and one red wire. The red wire goes across the bay into a little whole that goes into the drivers compartment and is wired in behind a 25amp fuse in the AC slot. Black goes to somewhere on the frame. When the fan stopped i just jiggled it iin the fusebox and it kicked on and got the temps down.

5mg7.webp

8m2g.webp
 
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Their is one black and one red wire. The red wire goes across the bay into a little whole that goes into the drivers compartment and is wired in behind a 25amp fuse in the AC slot. Black goes to somewhere on the frame. When the fan stopped i just jiggled it iin the fusebox and it kicked on and got the temps down.

5mg7.webp

8m2g.webp

As mentioned, that wiring is a fire waiting to happen. Like I thought, the controller on that fan is broken and the prior owner just hard wired the fan to the fuse box . You now have a few options

1. leave it as is and hope your car doesn't overheat from the fan failing or worse burn up the wiring and car
2. correct the wiring and install a controller and keep the BM fan
3. correct the wiring, install a controller, and replace the fan with a better e fan

IMO you should at least do option 2 which has been detailed earlier in this post. You can do option 3 with a jy Taurus fan and a new controller for under $200.