Radiator fan & fan switch...

Here's some good repair guides for your Tercel :) Look here for help first!
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takza
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Post by takza »

Found that all radiator fan switches (OEM) are not alike.

The fan switch (original?) from my '83 will only run the rad fan in warm weather when idling offroad....while the switch from the '84 parts car tends to run the fan more often....running it at times when just driving down the road under some conditions. This is with the same engine, thermosat and radiator.

Also noticed that the rad fan from the '84, though it has 60K less miles use...has a lot more end play in the bearings than the fan from the '83....probably indicating that it has run more and has worn the bearings more. It still runs OK....without extra noise.

So there is a difference in the OEM fan switches which shows up in the condition of the fan they control?

I have an indicator light inside under the dash showing when the rad fan is running....an LED works OK.

FYI....the fan switch is set up so that if it malfunctions...the fan will run all the time...assuming it still has power.

*** have since found that it might be possible to control the temp at which the fan switches on/off by adding a resistor to the circuit...one guy used a used a 100ohm, 1/4 watt resistor on another car...a variable resistor (rheostat) would also work...but you could only INCREASE the on/off temps with this method....***
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shogun
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Post by shogun »

are the thermostats the same it could change too, i had a flexalite fan in my car, believe me that it is money well spent, the car wokerd very nice even racing at sea level in temps up to 39 degrees celcius
tercel 4wd custom suspension, under drive pulley, vented brakes, cold air intake, and plenty more to come
Typrus
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Post by Typrus »

39C is.... ?
Where can I get a Flexalite, how hard is it to mount, how much do they cost?
My current wiring scares me. See, every time I've tried to plug the sensor on the rad. back in, it winds up dying after a while. No overheat condition and the fan DOES come on, just that it winds up dying. I can't figure that out.
RIP 10-07- 1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 4wd Wagen 6 speed

RIP 04-05- 1986 Toyota Tercel SR5 4wd Wagen 6 speed

1st Terc- 1987 Tercel SR5 4wd Wagon 6-speed, Sadly cubed

1985 Tercel Standard 4wd Wagon w/ 3-speed auto, Living a happy life in Boulder last I knew
3A-C Power
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Post by 3A-C Power »

I have not used the temperature sensor much because it rarely turns the fan on. I should put a different one in but for a while I've had the fan on all the time. All this constant fanning meant I had to change the brushes on the fan motor.
shogun
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Post by shogun »

i bought the whole thing in summitt racing i just ordered the one that fits all over the radiator, the kit has a sensor to activate the fan, the wiring was made new, old wiring does not work in racing, fixing it to the radiator as a breeze the guy from the rad shop just welded a couple of nuts to bolt in the fan.
tercel 4wd custom suspension, under drive pulley, vented brakes, cold air intake, and plenty more to come
takza
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Post by takza »

3A-C Power wrote: I have not used the temperature sensor much because it rarely turns the fan on. I should put a different one in but for a while I've had the fan on all the time. All this constant fanning meant I had to change the brushes on the fan motor.
I put the old one in the new (used) radiator because it rarely runs the fan....only when maybe 75F or more and offroad crawling.

That fan draws a lot of power...don't know how much....the alt has to provide it.

I had an Escort once and I swear the fan never came on at all...so I added an adjustable switch....mostly a waste of money though.
Give a boy a gun-give a biatch a cell phone-and pretty soon you almost got yourself a police state.

Orwell said: War is peace! Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength...

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3A-C Power
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Post by 3A-C Power »

If you're lucky enough to have the 10 amp fan motor, it works out to .16 horsepower.
takza
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Post by takza »

Any info on how much HP the AC uses? Now that's noticable.....
Give a boy a gun-give a biatch a cell phone-and pretty soon you almost got yourself a police state.

Orwell said: War is peace! Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength...

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