Car won't run in Az......

[azfordman]

Okay...so some assistance will be required. Wiring the fan to a switch in the dash is not going to work without a relay.... I have looked everywhere and cannot seem to find one on my car. The Contemporary manual has not proven to be very helpful. Does anyone with a Contemporary know where the relay for the fan is located or what it looks like??? The sensor switch on the radiator does work....so since the fan stopped working the problem has to be with the relay. I could just rewire the whole thing, but no since in reinventing the wheel if there is a relay already in the car. Thanks.

[patrickt]

If you can't find the relay, or it's not on there to begin with, the Omron relay that I used in this thread Cool Modification - For Pusher Fans Only, Though will easily handle your fan's amperage, easily mounts to something like your footbox, and has easy screw-on terminals to work with. That last point makes a difference, believe me.

[azfordman]

I finally got the fan rewired the right way. Picked up a relay and an inline fuse from a stereo shop and have it all hooked up. The fuse was a 30 amp, and it blew out after a couple of runs. Just replaced it with a 40 amp fuse and will have to see. Any ideas of how large of a fuse I should be running? I've tried several local parts stores and no one seems to know. The relay is 50 amp. I have no idea what the fan is out of or what it's specs are, it is only marked with a 12v sticker.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by azfordman

Any ideas of how large of a fuse I should be running? I've tried several local parts stores and no one seems to know. The relay is 50 amp. I have no idea what the fan is out of or what it's specs are, it is only marked with a 12v sticker.

A 50 amp relay is fine. Regarding your fans, most of the larger puller fans draw in the neighborhood of 15 amps at 14.6 volts (that's what my large heavy duty puller fan pulls). My pusher fans draw 10 amps at 14.6 volts. As your voltage goes down (like to 12 volts) the current will go up. The initial draw of current to motor driven devices, like fans, will surprise you. It is often three to four times the regular amperage draw. When I throw all of my fans on at the same time I get a momentary amperage in the low 90s. That doesn't last long enough to blow a fuse though (and I use a circuit breaker anyway).

[vettestr]

I went back and looked at your fan and a 15 amp load may be about right but it is awful quick and easy to measure so you know for sure. I also recommend you use a circuit breaker that self resets instead of a fuse. A resetting C.B. is a little more bang for your buck. The fuse rating about 25% higher than the normal load should be about right. A diode on the relay or across the load helps to protect the contacts of the relay.

[azfordman]

I discovered the blown out fuse problem tonight....there are times when power is put to the fan that it will not start spinning, but a quick tap on the blades with a screwdriver will get it started..... Guess that means it is time to buy a new fan.... (Will be the third fan in less than a month) I will try to find the post here on Taurus fans, but any other suggestions? If I recall the dual pusher fans are quite pricey, so a basic puller fan will most likely be the way to go. Thanks.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by azfordman

(Will be the third fan in less than a month) I will try to find the post here on Taurus fans, but any other suggestions? If I recall the dual pusher fans are quite pricey, so a basic puller fan will most likely be the way to go. Thanks.

Three fans in one month?!? Make sure the wiring connections are not "iffy" that then go from "iffy" to "bad" when the current draw increases. That could be behind your fan failures.

Originally Posted by azfordman

If I recall the dual pusher fans are quite pricey, so a basic puller fan will most likely be the way to go. Thanks.

My pushers are mostly for the looks. The puller does the lion's share of the cooling.