Author Topic: Installed M44 electric fan (Read 9629 times)

tjts1 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 30, 2007, 12:51:37 AM »

Quote from: dude8383;26827

I will be wiring this up to switch on automatically soon.

Driving the car in this heat, I didn't really want to take any chances!

So for temporary purposes this will be more than sufficient.

Heres a little trick I learned. Instead of having a manual switch, hook it up to to be switched on and off by the brake lights in addition to the existing fan switch in already in the radiator. In real world driving, you only really need the electric fan when the car is not moving or in stop and go driving.

This is the fan I'm about to install this weekend. Its a 2 speed Volvo 940 turbo fan with relay. Cost me $12 at the JY. Its a puller fan that fits behind the radiator to replace both the clutch fan and the AUX fan. I will use the existing temp switch to control it in addition to an In dash switch for emergency. I just have to trim the shroud on one side and its good to go. In this pic you can see the side facing the radiator.

Comes with its own 2 speed relay.

D. Clay · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2007, 12:39:49 PM »

I have good source of junk yard parts from one my oldest friends and former stock car and TransAm/GT1 racer. Unfortunately it's now all light trucks and SUV's. I regularly check for an electric fan for the E30. Jeep Cherokees are good but most are too large. Still looking. The price is always right though.

tjts1 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2007, 02:27:01 PM »

8 pounds of dead weight. The only way I could figure to get it out without removing the radiator or the bumper was to cut it in half with chain cutters and remove it piece by piece. I've never seen this aux fan run even when the AC was switched on. I still have the clutch fan in there (weighs 3 pounds) which will soon be replaced by the volvo fan (see previous post). The metal frame around the fan is made of cast iron, hence the weight.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2007, 04:31:43 PM »

Where is the radiator temp switch? I'm not entirely sure how one would hook up to it. Anyone care to explain

tjts1 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:39:34 PM »

Quote from: gearheadE30;26905

Where is the radiator temp switch? I'm not entirely sure how one would hook up to it. Anyone care to explain

Upper right hand corner of the radiator, just behind the headlights. You'll see some wires sticking out.

dude8383 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 22, 2007, 05:51:32 PM »

Quote from: tjts1;26917

Upper right hand corner of the radiator, just behind the headlights. You'll see some wires sticking out.

My fan doesn't turn on!

I must have surely wired this up wrong.

I have power coming from the battery and the other two going straight into the temp sensor on the radiator.

tjts1 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 22, 2007, 09:12:45 PM »

With the ignition on (engine off) unplug the wires from the temp switch and stick a jumper between the 3 pins. Try every combination. If it doesn't turn on, check fuses and the rest of your wiring.

sumyungguy · « **Reply #22 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:15:24 PM »

The fan switch wires are all grounds, the switch closes the ground loop for high and low.

kowalski · « **Reply #23 on:** November 23, 2007, 02:29:51 AM »

i just used an external temp that i can adjust. just feed the wire into the the radiator tube and the fan kicks in when the coolant gets to hot. i've had it for over 3 years, and i did a write up on it somewhere on here.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2007, 08:41:49 AM »

Well, I now have my fan (volvo 840 turbo) and it looks like it will be a tight fit. I'm hoping to have it done by the end of this weekend, but we'll see. I'm planning on using the stock wiring for the aux fan, because the wiring is already there and the wire looks to be heavy enough gauge to run the big fan. An interesting note, mine does not have its own relays, just 3 wires on 3 separate plugs.

dude8383 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 23, 2007, 10:43:35 AM »

Quote from: gearheadE30;38200

Well, I now have my fan (volvo 840 turbo) and it looks like it will be a tight fit. I'm hoping to have it done by the end of this weekend, but we'll see. I'm planning on using the stock wiring for the aux fan, because the wiring is already there and the wire looks to be heavy enough gauge to run the big fan. An interesting note, mine does not have its own relays, just 3 wires on 3 separate plugs.

Thats how mine was...these wires were going to the aux fan right?

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 23, 2007, 04:09:31 PM »

yes, I'm just going to splice them in.

dude8383 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:01:52 PM »

Quote from: gearheadE30;38229

yes, I'm just going to splice them in.

You will splice the wires coming from the volvo fan into the wires that are coming from the aux fan?

tjts1 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 23, 2007, 10:29:18 PM »

Quote from: dude8383;38234

You will splice the wires coming from the volvo fan into the wires that are coming from the aux fan?

Thats how I have mine setup. It works great. The volvo fan has both low and high speed built in so all you need to do is provide it power. The volvo fan completely replaced the aux fan.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 24, 2007, 04:24:50 PM »

Quote

You will splice the wires coming from the volvo fan into the wires that are running to the aux fan?

Fixed, but yes. I think this is what you meant anyway.

tjts, I think my fan might be different than yours as the wiring is the exact same as the aux fan. I know a lot of the volvo fans have built in relays, but this one does not. would be pretty nice if it did, though...

BTW turns tout that this is from an 850 turbo, not a 840 turbo. Dunno if it makes a difference though.