Question for those with a Flex-a-lite electric Fan

[Redfire 05]

I purchased a flex-a-lite electric fan for my 86' GT and I'm unsure where to put the radiator probe for the fan's thermostat switch. There is a spot on the fan control box that it fits in I had been running it there. But today I replaced my non working stock water temp. gauge with a new autometer gauge and discovered that the fan doesn't come on until the car gets really hot. In all honesty I saw the temperature gauge hit 230 and the fan hadn't come on so I flipped my manual fan switch and it cooled down to 210. I wasn't willing to let the temp get any higher. I guess I'm not 100% sure that the gauge is reading correctly but it is new, and I put the sending unit in the stock location so I would assume it is correct. How would I know?

So as for the radiator probe, do I need to put it somewhere else to get a more accurate reading? It seems like the best reading might come from the bottom drivers side of the radiator close to where the water from the block enters the radiator. Where did you guys put your radiator probe? And do you just push the probe into the rad between the cooling fins?

By the way, the fan thermostatic switch is adjustable and and before using the manual switch I tried turning the thermostatic control full clockwise and counterclockwise, but the fan didn't come one either way.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

I think the instructions tell you to put it up top near the cap on the driver's side. At least I think that's what they said. That's where mine is and it works great. Just push it through from the back to the front and when the temp probe is exposed on the front side don't forget to put the rubber cap back on it or it will be reading too cool when you drive the car. Also, don't crimp or bend the metal wire connectiing the probe to the control or it may cause problems. Just coil up the slack and tie it off somewhere.

 

[Redfire 05]

Thanks, I'll try that and see how it works.

By the way I see you have TF Heads on your 86' did you have to cut valve reliefs in the pistons?

 

[Redfire 05]

Nevermind, I see that your heads are awaiting installation.

 

[sawbones25]

I put mine on the passenger side top, a few inches down from the top row. Wanted to make sure that if the water level dropped some that it would still be getting an acurate reading...
I stuck a temperature probe into the coolant and set the dial on the fan to come on at 195 degrees (with a 195 degree t-stat). I never had any trouble out of it.

 

[AZNEAL311]

Mine is also on the passenger top side as well. I would try and figure out why you cant adjust it. A friend has the same fan in his Ranger w/302. He pulled the instructions off of there web site for me.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

Nevermind, I see that your heads are awaiting installation.

Yeah I've been wanting to put them on for a while, but I need a few more parts and don't have the money at present. I don't think I'll have to cut reliefs in the pistons though. I'm getting ready to move so it will be a while before I can get them on the car.

 

[Redfire 05]

Okay, so I fooled around with it more today and I think I have a hypothesis about the cause of the problem. First here's what I did. I removed the radiator cap and placed a kitchen meat thermometer in the radiator and started the car. I let it heat up while monitoring both the water temp and thermometer in the rad. Eventually the water temp hit 230 while the thermometer in the rad only read 160 ,at which point the electric fan came on. I turned the fan temp control and the fan went off. So the fan thermomstatic switch is working, I have another problem.

It could be one of three things:
1) the thermostat is stuck closed.
2) the water pump is going out or gone.
3) the new water temp gauge is reading incorrectly (although being new, I doubt it)

I am going to change the thermostat asap and hope that fixes it.

 

[Redfire 05]

Mine is also on the passenger top side as well. I would try and figure out why you cant adjust it. A friend has the same fan in his Ranger w/302. He pulled the instructions off of there web site for me.

Yeah, I got instructions off of the web, but I didn't see anything mentioned in them about the probe.

 

[smokin91']

The instructions say to put it in the top on the passenger side of the rad a few inches down from the top. Stick it in there, then in the fin right next to it, stick in a turkey thermometer. When the turkey thermometer gets to the temp you want the fan to come at turn the knob on the control box until it comes on, and voila, no guessing at what temp your fan is coming on anymore.