Electric Fan on Radiator

[xterraminator]

This may seem like a dumb question I should know the answer to but I have an electric fan mounted in front of the radiator on the drivers side. Its between the bumper and radiator. What is this for? It never turns on and in the manual I have can't find anything on it.

 

[Roadwarrior]

That is a stock efan that some of the first gens came with. I am not sure if it was an option or not, as some 1.0 gens have them and some do not.

I do not think it would be that hard to splice into the line and wire in your own switch, giving you larger cooling power (duh, its a fan) and the option to turn it off during water crossings. As I was researching the efan swap, I didn't realize this was an actual thing until I saw CaseyCamby's at his house, and then I started seeing them all over the 2001 (I feel like this might be the only year they came on them) models.

 

[xterraminator]

Roadwarrier, you must have read my mind. Yes I want to hook it up with a relay(if needed) so I can manually turn it on. Increased air flow would help. I just need to find what section in the manual it is in. eg. EL, CL.....

 

[Roadwarrior]

I wouldn't even worry about oem manual specs, I would look at wiring it in as an aux fan (aftermarket). I think you should be okay with that modifications.. ha!

 

[Muadeeb]

It was supposed to be an aux fan for the AC system, but I've never seen one actually working. My 01 didn't come with it.

 

[xterraminator]

OK. I will wire it up so it runs manually(constantly) when I am on the trails. I will have it turn on and off with a cabin switch.

 

[Prime]

I snagged one from the junkyard. Haven't decided how to wire it up yet, but inline with the AC compressor makes sense. The harness I grabbed also had a thermal switch with it. No clue what temp it switches with though.

 

[TJTJ]

Its supposed to be the AC fan, and its supposed to come on when you turn on the AC. The solenoid for the relay that kicks it on is probably bad/dis-wired, etc, so I'd just check continuity from the solenoid when the AC is on and see if its sending/getting juice.

Mine works on my '01 and '04 for example, and when I replaced the Mech fan on the '01 with a full sized efan, the AC one still worked too, etc.

SOME '00 came with NO Mech Fan, and JUST efans, but, that's not what that one on that one side is, its just an AC fan.

 

[TJTJ]

I snagged one from the junkyard. Haven't decided how to wire it up yet, but inline with the AC compressor makes sense. The harness I grabbed also had a thermal switch with it. No clue what temp it switches with though.

You can typically adjust a pot switch on the thermostat part...but, generally, you set it to come on when the thermostat opens, so ~ 190º F

 

[Prime]

Yeah. This is a sealed unit. No adjustment. Just a silver dome that was pointed toward the radiator. Heh.

 

[TJTJ]

Yeah. This is a sealed unit. No adjustment. Just a silver dome that was pointed toward the radiator. Heh.

If you know what it was from/for...you can see what ITS thermostat used as a set point. 190º - ish is pretty popular, you might be fine.

IE: The one you grabbed was for a 2000 XYZ, and the interweb lists that as using a 190º F thermostat, etc.

 

[xterraminator]

I disabled my ac and pulled the compressor belt off. One less thing to turn. Now that the AC is out the fan is just sitting there. Will make good use for it now.

 

[TJTJ]

I disabled my ac and pulled the compressor belt off. One less thing to turn. Now that the AC is out the fan is just sitting there. Will make good use for it now.

WOW, no, USE the AC compressor, you now have an awesome OBA system.

 

[xterraminator]

Has this ever been done before?

 

[Prime]

WOW, no, USE the AC compressor, you now have an awesome OBA system.

This! If I didn't want AC, I'd do exactly that.

 

[Roadwarrior]

Any way to introduce a dual valve on that? Couldn't you have both? As long as you aren't running the AC, it should work as an OBA.

 

[Roadwarrior]

Just split that straight into an air chuck mount.

 

[Prime]

Problem with that is that the ac system has freon running through it. Not air.

 

[Roadwarrior]

Problem with that is that the ac system has freon running through it. Not air.

How were you planning on using it for OBA?

 

[Prime]

If you're not using the air conditioning, you can use the compressor to compress air instead of freon.

 

[Prime]

You can't use the same pump for two purposes because the ac is a closed system. The air compressor is not.

 

[Roadwarrior]

If you're not using the air conditioning, you can use the compressor to compress air instead of freon.

This was literally what I was talking about. We were on the same page to start off with. This is where a split valve/manifold system would come into play. Close one to open the other. Like a spigot splitter.

 

[Prime]

No. When I say "not using the air conditioning" I mean never ever again.

 

[Roadwarrior]

No. When I say "not using the air conditioning" I mean never ever again.

[video=youtube_share;4MpyHBoiTwk]http://youtu.be/4MpyHBoiTwk[/video]

 

[Muadeeb]

Using a valve will still introduce air into the AC system and release some refrigerant.

 

[Roadwarrior]

Using a valve will still introduce air into the AC system and release some refrigerant.

Hmm, well if we ever figure out how we could make this work I would love to run the system like this. One day I might just commit the AC.

 

[TJTJ]

LOL

ALL you do is use the AC compressor to compress AIR, its DISCONNECTED from the AC system itself, as its understood that the rig no longer HAS AC, etc.

So, its a belt driven AIR COMPRESSOR. You plumb the AIR lines and back flow preventers, oilers and manifolds and tanks, etc, to it, and you have a kick ass OBA system.

 

[Muadeeb]

LOL

ALL you do is use the AC compressor to compress AIR, its DISCONNECTED from the AC system itself, as its understood that the rig no longer HAS AC, etc.

So, its a belt driven AIR COMPRESSOR. You plumb the AIR lines and back flow preventers, oilers and manifolds and tanks, etc, to it, and you have a kick ass OBA system.

Totally get that. But you won't find me removing my AC to have an OBA compressor.

 

[xterraminator]

So I hooked my toggle switch into to the cooling fan relay and it works great. I can now turn on the fan when needed.