car wont warm up, ideas?
12-09-2007, 03:53 PM
#1
Big Poppa
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Mission, British Columbia
Posts: 4,499
car wont warm up, ideas?
so with all this cold canadian weather, my dang car wont heat up, makes it to the second tick on the temp guage. i know the problem, but how to remidy it. its my electric cooling fan, its wired to my ignition switch (properly, with solinoid). anyway it stays on the whole time, thus cooling my car really well. at 10 celcius it warms up a bit more, but requires temps of 15 deg or higher to reach and maintain proper cooling levels. so my question to all those out there. what to use to control the fan. i DO NOT want to use one of those things that goes under the upper rad hose. i hate them with a passion. what other products have you guys seen or heard of that operate a fan properly and reliably?? any ideas that work are welcome. thanks!!
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12-09-2007, 04:09 PM
#3
Über User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: lemont, Illinois
Posts: 9,532
i have mine on a switch, but it wont do you much good, because once you start to move the temp drops like a rock. i would know, its how my Z does in this weather. do you have a colder T-stat in it? id say replace it with oem till summer again.
12-09-2007, 04:11 PM
#4
You could wire in a switch. Or... there's a local kid I know that found at AutoZone / NAPA, a potentiometer probe thingy that will turn on signal to the relay at your preset temp. It has a probe you stick in the radiator fins.
I've seen on those big diesels the radiator covers... narrows down the surface area that is cooled.
I've seen on those big diesels the radiator covers... narrows down the surface area that is cooled.
12-09-2007, 06:22 PM
#7
Head Muckraker
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 9,221
If you have a spare port on your thermostat housing, you can wire a bypass into your ignition activated fan control to run off a temperature activated relay connected to a temp sensor in your thermostat housing.
Basically, the relay goes hot when you turn on the ignition, but the relay doesn't close to start the fan until the temp sensor trips at the preset temp.
Basically, the relay goes hot when you turn on the ignition, but the relay doesn't close to start the fan until the temp sensor trips at the preset temp.
12-09-2007, 09:23 PM
#8
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
My Pulsar's factory electric fan wouldn't turn on so I wired up a switch. During the winter I never turn it on even in slow traffic.
In your case the cardboard would probably work or just unplug the fan. Drive that way for week and watch your temp. If it ever gets too hot for some reason then you just have to pull over and plug the fan in.
In your case the cardboard would probably work or just unplug the fan. Drive that way for week and watch your temp. If it ever gets too hot for some reason then you just have to pull over and plug the fan in.
12-22-2007, 05:05 PM
#9
eff good grammar
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Deadford OR
Posts: 1,578
thermo switch, drill hole in radiator, tap, install with teflon tape, you wire, i would assume you could runthe positive lead through the thing before it gets to the fan but i am not so sure.
90 degree F isnt too hot but its usually mounted on the cooler side of the radiator try for 110F 120F.
90 degree F isnt too hot but its usually mounted on the cooler side of the radiator try for 110F 120F.
12-23-2007, 09:53 AM
#11
Big Poppa
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Mission, British Columbia
Posts: 4,499
i put in a new t-stat, its better now, but i found a switch that goes in the coolant, so i gotta grab one and try it. they are 20 bux, so its worth a try. then i can do a writeup for those who run electric fans. my biggest prob is the 280zx housing doesnt have many ports to install such a sensor. im thinking the bypass hole on the side, its a 3/8 npt hole, so hope the sensor is the same. they are just a temp controlled grounding switch, so just hook it up to the ground side of the relay switch, simple crap!!
12-23-2007, 12:50 PM
#12
Über User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: lemont, Illinois
Posts: 9,532
yeah, stop being a noob and do a sweet write-up on that t-stat switch. cause i got my relay just ran to a standard switch inside my car for the fan, i was going to use a temp switch, but i couldnt figure out what the hell the switch does, if it turns into a ground at a certain temp so all i would have to do is run the relay ground to it.... or what....
12-23-2007, 01:45 PM
#13
eff good grammar
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Deadford OR
Posts: 1,578
Originally Posted by SHADY280
....but i found a switch that goes in the coolant, so i gotta grab one and try it. they are 20 bux, so its worth a try.....
is the switch you found adjustible or no?
12-23-2007, 05:13 PM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sprague River, Oregon
Posts: 176
Maybe you could run the car down to a radiator shop and have them add a bung to the tank on the radiator for the sensor/switch to screw in to (basically like an extra drain plug fitting). Would most likely only cost $20 or so to have them do it, and that would also put the switch closer to the fan helping to keep the wiring job clean and short. Just a thought.
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