Fans on the 96... Done!!

[SSEiMan01]

I'm curious about my options to control the fans on my 96 SSEi. I have a 180 stat in it, and cruising it won't go past 180, just like my 01. But idling (say in a drive through) it goes up to around 200-210 and stays there until I've been cruising for a while again (highway). I have no mods that would require a tune besides that, and I don't plan to at any point. How can I get the fans to come on and go off automatically (read: no toggle switches) maybe an aftermarket sensor and relay somehow? I'm just wondering, not a major issue with winter coming but I want to do it anyway so it's done. Thanks in advance!

[95naSTA]

Auto parts stores have aftermarket temperature based auto fan switches. The sensor just slips into the fins on your rad.

You may want to wire it in differently so that they also come on with the a/c though.

[SSEiMan01]

That's what I was thinking Mike (I work at an AAP). My thought is though that if I do that and don't change the PCM settings that the AC will still override and turn them on like normal, or am I thinking wrong?

Edit: I see what you're saying. If I wire it in as such then the AC will override like normal. Should be simple enough I would think?

[94SilverSSEi]

I'll be watching to see if you figure anything out Will. 1996 always did that, I thought there might have been something wrong but seemed thats how the car always ran so nothin to worry about. My new 1994 does the same thing so I think it must just be something to do with these cars. 1994 sometimes even get to 220 at idle. (starts to scare). Just kick the AC on and it goes back to 200.

Now my SE never goes over 200. Is it possible it has soenthing to do with tw different gauge style as well or do the supercharged car get that much hotter?

[Franksdad]

That's what my car was doing when I needed my uim and lim replaced, id def at least entertain the idea that it may be an issue.

[00Beast]

His car is S/C, and the fans don't kick on till 210-ish. That's the stock setup for it...

I agree with Mike.

[Pontiac1]

These gauges are not the most accurate. Mine is off by ten degrees.Those temps seem pretty normal for these cars though.I think the low speed fan is commanded on at 212 and high is 220 or so.

[SSEiMan01]

Even still. At 75 on the highway the gauge never goes past 180. Then at idle sitting for a minute it jumps right up.

I'm going to go take a trip to work after I eat I think.

[95naSTA]

That's what I was thinking Mike (I work at an AAP). My thought is though that if I do that and don't change the PCM settings that the AC will still override and turn them on like normal, or am I thinking wrong?

Edit: I see what you're saying. If I wire it in as such then the AC will override like normal. Should be simple enough I would think?

If you bypassed the high speed fan relay (physically at the relay using it's power/ground) with the aftermarket temp relay so they were in parallel, it would work like stock but have your new pre determined temp.

[SSEiMan01]

We'll see how this goes. Going to wire it in with the high speed relay wiring later tonight or tomorrow and I'll post how it works. This unit is adjustable, so I'll go use the live data scanner at work to adjust it properly.

Mike, to clarify would I just take power and ground from the high speed relay, or disconnect it totally, or? This is a three wire unit, one being a chassis ground, so I know two wires will come from that relay but a hint as to which ones and how would make it easier for me.

Edit: Upon examination this is a two wire unit. Sorry for the confusion.

[95naSTA]

So you're good to go then?

[SSEiMan01]

I'd still like some clarification on the wiring, just so I'm sure. I don't know if I'll get to putting it in today, most likely Sunday. Schoolwork. :/

[95naSTA]

I googlized for a fan relay diagram for a 96 and came up with this.. Nothing on the page verified it was for a 96 but looking at the engine code designations, it's definitely a 95 and likely identical.

What you would want to do is:

[SSEiMan01]

I think I understand, I'm just tapping into those wires and leaving the high speed relay in tact, correct?

Thanks for the diagram.

[95naSTA]

Yep. No prob.

[SSEiMan01]

Awesome! Thanks again, I'll post pictures and results when it goes in.

[SSEiMan01]

I don't know why, but I have this innate talent to make easy projects rocket science.

I wired it all in as per the diagram (wires 85+86) and the fans won't go on where I have the controller set. I got them to turn on with the other two wires (large red and black 30+87?) but they were on the whole time the temp was above the setting (until I moved the setting higher), and when I turned the car off they stayed on regardless of temperature or time. So I'm lost again.

[95naSTA]

The fans staying on after the car is turned off is my fault since my diagram bypasses the ignition +12v signal that would turn the stock fans off at key off.

Can you upload the aftermarket wiring diagram and/or instructions?

[SSEiMan01]

Sorry for the *shoot* quality. All I have to take it with at the moment is my phone. And the original quality of the instructions is crap too. Hence why I can hardly decipher it.

[SSEiMan01]

Also, this is the controller unit. It only has two contacts, a positive and a negative.