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Old 07-26-2011, 02:21 PM   #1
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Sanity check on cooling system fans

From reading this forum, I have learned that the main cooling fan should 'roar' and that the electric fans should turn on for a period of time after starting the engine and then go off.

I am not getting this. Is there some common point that I should check? I have checked the fuses for the electric fans and they look OK.
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Old 07-26-2011, 05:02 PM   #2
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bruceh,

Turn on your dash A/C and see if the electric fans run. They should. The engine viscous fan will go on for a minute or so when you first start the engine cold, and then go off.

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Old 07-26-2011, 05:03 PM   #3
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The electric fans "should" come on when the A/C is turned on AND when the engine temperature is "normal". The fans can come on (without the A/C being on) , IF the engine temp is too high, but cooling the motor is not their primary purpose. I'm not sure they are susposed to come on immediately after engine start, as you seem to think. You may see them moving after engine start, but that is likely to be because the fan that roars is pulling some air thru them, because IT is partially engaged upon startup.

If your fans do not run after the engine is warmed up AND the A/C is on, then its possible one or both is bad. If one runs, try switching the plugs to see if that causes the other to come on, but I think they are both fed power from a common circuit, so this may only prove that one is bad.
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Old 07-26-2011, 05:13 PM   #4
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Mine come on for a couple seconds when I first start the engine and with the AC on. I put an indcator light on the dash that shows me when the fans are running. Also a switch so I can manually turn them on, but they still also come on automatically.
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Old 07-26-2011, 06:14 PM   #5
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Sorry, I should have been clearer.

My fans are not running. What do I do about it?
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Old 07-26-2011, 08:01 PM   #6
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Bruce,

I would let the engine warm up with the AC on and then pull the electrical plugs on the fans checking for voltage. If you have voltage at the plug the switches are good and the fans are bad. If you do not have voltage then the switches are bad and you will have to track them down. I've not had to replace either so I can't help you with part numbers. There are some here that have found replacement fan motors that will slip right in your housings.
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Old 07-27-2011, 05:07 PM   #7
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Or run a jumper wire from any 12 volts to the fan wire, if the fans come on, they're good. That's how I installed my manual switch.
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Old 08-06-2011, 11:24 PM   #8
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Makes sense. One of those inexpensive plastic wands used to flush water heaters tanks might do the trick as well. Wouldn't have to worry as much about mashing the fins either. Thanks for the tip.

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Old 08-11-2011, 09:34 PM   #9
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Check this out guys, My service center told me that if I were to use a stream of water to clean out the radiator that I would have to direct the stream from the inside of the radiator out. They advised against flushing from the front because you are only going to impact whatever dirt is in there deeper into the core and plug it up even worse. I'm just relaying the message.
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Old 08-11-2011, 11:50 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bruceh View Post
Sorry, I should have been clearer.

My fans are not running. What do I do about it?
Either fix it yourself or take it to a shop and let them fix it.
There are fuses for the fans and relays that deliver the power to the motors. Have you checked them?
It is either the fan power or the motors, probably the fan power. The info for checking out the fan motors has already been given.
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Old 08-13-2011, 10:48 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DriVer View Post
Check this out guys, My service center told me that if I were to use a stream of water to clean out the radiator that I would have to direct the stream from the inside of the radiator out. They advised against flushing from the front because you are only going to impact whatever dirt is in there deeper into the core and plug it up even worse. I'm just relaying the message.
I'm not going to shoot the messenger, but I thought this was the way it was always done

BTW how do you get inside the radiator?

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Old 08-13-2011, 03:14 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Ron & Dee View Post
I'm not going to shoot the messenger, but I thought this was the way it was always done

BTW how do you get inside the radiator?

Ron
I can assure you that even a slimmed down version of DriVer cannot get there! I'm sure we all know he "meant" from backside towards the front...... I appreciate your sense of humor! Ed
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Old 08-13-2011, 07:08 PM   #13
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That's was a good one!
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Old 08-14-2011, 10:40 PM   #14
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I did take it to a Workhorse dealer and wrote up the results in 'Surprising Cooling System Fix'.
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