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-   ERA---Speak with Bob Putnam (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/era-speak-bob-putnam/)
-   -   Cooling fans stopped working (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/era-speak-bob-putnam/123451-cooling-fans-stopped-working.html)

DanEC 11-03-2013 10:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevins2 (Post 1270525)
Hi Dan,

Hope you find that problem. I assume you've started from the beginning and checked all the connections. Hopefully it something easily corrected.

Regards,

Kevin
Yes, there is a thread back there about 6 months ago that I started on the no-charge issue and I had all the usual suspects jump in to help out. Two voltage regulators, an alternator bench test and a bunch of multi-meter testing later I pretty much ended up with only one suggested option left - wire a resistor across the red warning light terminals to try and trigger the regulator into action. Like so much else, I just haven't gotten to it yet.

ERANJ is also having the same issue with his ERA unless he has managed to correct it the last couple weeks.

I'm glad you don't have that issue to deal with. You should be getting on the road in no time.

Dan

kevins2 11-03-2013 01:19 PM
Hi Dan,

Yes, I've been very fortunate that things have gone as smoothly as they have. I have one more issue to deal with. My right turn signal works with the steering wheel off but when I put the wheel on, it doesn't work. If I pull the steering wheel out just a bit (I do mean just a bit, probably 1/64") it starts working. I'm going to fiddle with the steering column adjustments and see if I can figure out what's going on. Other than that, I need a side view mirror and need to put the wipers on and I'm ready for inspection. I've put 36.4 miles on it so hopefully it will remain stable.

Regards,

Kevin

mrmustang 11-03-2013 03:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevins2 (Post 1270570)
Hi Dan,

Yes, I've been very fortunate that things have gone as smoothly as they have. I have one more issue to deal with. My right turn signal works with the steering wheel off but when I put the wheel on, it doesn't work. If I pull the steering wheel out just a bit (I do mean just a bit, probably 1/64") it starts working. I'm going to fiddle with the steering column adjustments and see if I can figure out what's going on. Other than that, I need a side view mirror and need to put the wipers on and I'm ready for inspection. I've put 36.4 miles on it so hopefully it will remain stable.

Regards,

Kevin
Kevin,

Pull your dash and watch how your wiring loom is run, check for a pinched wire or two. It is a rare occurrence on an ERA, but I have seen it happen. This would explain why your fuse blew, and why you have an issue with your turn signal.


Bill S.

kevins2 11-03-2013 03:49 PM
Hi Bill,

I've been under the dash and organized the wiring with cable ties. But, good advice, so I'll check it out.

Thanks,

Kevin

DanEC 11-03-2013 04:16 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevins2 (Post 1270570)
Hi Dan,

Yes, I've been very fortunate that things have gone as smoothly as they have. I have one more issue to deal with. My right turn signal works with the steering wheel off but when I put the wheel on, it doesn't work. Kevin
That is truely bizzare. The steering wheel screws go into the hub and end up no where close to the switch mechanism.

kevins2 11-04-2013 11:55 AM
Well, as I posted in #22 above, I fiddled with the steering column regarding the right turn signal problem. Actually, Bob at ERA gave me the specific advice to confirm I was on the right track. Since the signal works if I pull the steering wheel out just an almost immeasurable amount, I loosened the bracket that connects the upper steering column to the lower column and moved the shaft out just a bit to provide some clearance between the steering wheel and the turn signal mechansim. It is now working.

Rick Parker 11-04-2013 09:53 PM
3 Fans on 1 circuit is a poor idea. All the fans coming on line at the same time will create a huge surge of required current. Split the circuit, nuf said. Or just let the front ones spin in the wind.

patrickt 11-05-2013 06:06 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Parker (Post 1270762)
3 Fans on 1 circuit is a poor idea. All the fans coming on line at the same time will create a huge surge of required current. Split the circuit, nuf said. Or just let the front ones spin in the wind.
I agree 100%. It's a design flaw with the ERA electrical system. Even on paper there is virtually no "safety margin" in the circuit, much less in real practice. Splitting the circuit up with a separate feed and a separate relay adds quite a bit of robustness to it all. In its original design, if any one of the three fans' motors starts to bind up, you're going to blow the single fuse and kill everything -- that means being towed home. If the one relay that controls it all breaks, unless you're able to switch it out by the side of the road, you're going to be towed home. And those pusher fans will let you get through traffic without the puller. They're not the greatest, but they do make a difference at slow speeds. If my main SPAL puller fails, or the main relay fails, or the main circuit breaker for the SPAL fails, and I'm in bumper to bumper traffic, I just flip the switch and those pushers will keep me from overheating and I'll be able make it home. I really hate being towed home.:(

kevins2 11-05-2013 07:29 AM
I will think this through once again. Right now I'm focused on getting the car ready for the enhanced inspection and title/tag. Have that tentatively scheduled for the 15th, weather permitting.

Thanks for the info.

Kevin

strictlypersonl 11-05-2013 11:42 AM
If one of the fans initiates a blowing fuse, it's a simple job to disconnect either the front fans or the rear fan from the harness. The connection is at the left front corner of the engine compartment. It's not a bug, it's a (fail-safe) feature. :rolleyes:

mrmustang 11-05-2013 12:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by strictlypersonl (Post 1270806)
If one of the fans initiates a blowing fuse, it's a simple job to disconnect either the front fans or the rear fan from the harness. The connection is at the left front corner of the engine compartment. It's not a bug, it's a (fail-safe) feature. :rolleyes:
I remember having a similar issue when I first bought ERA234, the previous owner had installed the pusher fans and it turned out that one of those fan motors were not wound properly and when it kicked on it pulled enough juice to blow the fuse time and time again.

Bill S

kevins2 11-05-2013 02:33 PM
I drove the car quite a bit after the initial fuse blow and it hasn't happened again. Given that the initial fuse looked fine after it "blew", I'm not convinced it actually did - could have been a faulty fuse.

patrickt 11-05-2013 04:47 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevins2 (Post 1270827)
... I'm not convinced it actually did - could have been a faulty fuse.
http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/...ve1/2funny.gif

Wrap a ribbon around Bob's plug so you can find it in a hurry. You know, as steam is hissing out the hoses, the metal around the plug is searing your flesh when your hand touches it, and the SUV directly behind you threatens to push your baby off the road with its bull bar. And the little old lady in the Coronet is giving you the finger.:cool:

Grubby 11-05-2013 05:17 PM
13k miles and never blew the fan fuse. Yes I have the 2 pusher and 1 puller.

John

patrickt 11-05-2013 05:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grubby (Post 1270840)
13k miles and never blew the fan fuse. Yes I have the 2 pusher and 1 puller.

John
But he blew one on his first trip out the driveway....

DanEC 11-05-2013 05:31 PM
From Kevin's description I would suspect a defective or previously damaged fuse and wouldn't worry about it unless it happens again. Might be a good idea to keep a couple of spares in the trunk however.

patrickt 11-05-2013 05:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanEC (Post 1270843)
... and wouldn't worry about it unless it happens again.
Yeah, yeah, yeah... that's what Dick Cheney said after his first heart attack.:cool:

kevins2 11-05-2013 05:41 PM
Patrick, I know you majored in law but seem to have minored in drama, maybe even a double major? :LOL:

Your points are well taken but I'm suspicious of the fuse so will see if it happens again. The plugs are easy to get to and I have a box of fuses in the glovebox.

Actually, this is really good training to force me to constantly monitor the gauges since we have no "idiot" lights on these cars.

I'll report back if it happens again. Anyway, no problem to solve at the moment.

Thanks,

Kevin

DanEC 11-06-2013 11:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 1270844)
Yeah, yeah, yeah... that's what Dick Cheney said after his first heart attack.:cool:
Yeah, but they changed him out to electronic ignition and then eventially re-motored him. He never let it get him down. ;)

kevins2 11-08-2013 06:09 AM
Confirmed faulty fuse
 
I wrapped the bad fuse in a small cloth and used a pair of pliars to break the fuse open without putting any stress on the ends. One of the ends was not attached (the other end is very firmly attached and can't be pulled out by hand). The end of the filiment shows no sign of burning. In fact, it has a shiny coat of solder. So - cold solder joint.

Bottom line is you can't judge a fuse by its appearance :rolleyes:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...ictureid=11082


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