LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

LT1 Fan problems

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Old 02-24-2008, 11:53 PM
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Default LT1 Fan problems

does anyone know how to make the stock fans turn on earlier without installing a switch?
Old 02-25-2008, 12:05 AM
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You can get it tuned in but it wont make sense unless unless you have a lower thermostat .
Old 02-25-2008, 12:11 AM
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i just installed one for 180 degrees, but i think the problem is mine dont turn on at all, my friend said just to ask arond and to see if theres anyway you can adjust it to come on earlier, but it could be mine are just broken?
Old 02-25-2008, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by mtperformance
You can get it tuned in but it wont make sense unless unless you have a lower thermostat .
this is totally false. You can definitely benefit from lower fan temps with the stock thermo.

Last edited by infinitebird; 02-25-2008 at 12:20 PM.
Old 02-25-2008, 09:23 AM
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Turn on your AC, the fans will be forced on. If they dont come on, start tracing out the problem, bad fan, blown fuse, bad relay, broken wire, or no signal from PCM.
Old 02-25-2008, 09:25 AM
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180 degrees is stock.
Old 02-25-2008, 10:19 AM
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Wolfen, only way to turn on fans early is with a manual switch wired to the relays, purchasing a lower temp fan kit, or changing the settings in the PCM. As said previously Stock t-stat is 180* , but stock fans settings are 225 for low speed (or fan 1) and 235 for high speed (fan 2) early year cars ran fan #1 at 225*and then started fan # 2 at 235*, later years run both 1 & 2 at 1/2 speed at 225 and both at normal speed for 235. Turning on the air conditioning will force 225 * operation. As said in earlier posts, with a tune you have room to lower fan turn on almost 40F with stock 180 t-stat. http://shbox.com/1/fan_schematic_1995.jpg
Old 02-25-2008, 05:48 PM
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Like Bob said, wire in a switch, turn them on whenever you want
Old 02-25-2008, 07:37 PM
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Well he did not list the year of his car, but the 93's only have one speed fans, 94+ have dual speed.
Old 02-25-2008, 07:52 PM
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Smile fan switch

thats what i did was wire in a switch,manual operation for racing. it has a plug under the car so i can unplug it, and another plug on the stock fan wires for normal running. when i go racing i switch the plugs and have a toggle switch in my ash tray. i also hooked an indicater lite so i ca see if the fans are on or off. it's in the console where i can see it easy. this way i don't walk away from the car and leave the fans running. also i make sure as soon as i start the car, i turn the fans on. they stay on until i return to the pits. this is on a almost stock 94 LT-1 firehawk. with this setup, my temp very seldome goes past the first line on the temp gage. more consisant et's when the temp is down.............................RON
Old 02-25-2008, 07:54 PM
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TUNE IT or put in the manual switch. Thats your two choices. otherwise you'll have to rely on the wind and your AC switch.
Old 02-25-2008, 08:59 PM
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I bought the slp switch and do not regret it, I love the thing, and it was very easy to install.
Old 02-26-2008, 02:11 AM
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Originally Posted by infinitebird
this is totally false. You can definitely benefit from lower fan temps with the stock thermo.
No its not, if you have a 195-180 thermostat than it wont open till it reaches that temp ( if its working properly ) so than if you tune or switch the fans on sooner than its still not going to open the thermostat to flow coolant.If all you think you need to do is click the fans on sooner than your saying the thermostat doesnt do anything. Look at it like this if your driving down the interstate and a factory LT1 with OEM thermostat runs at 200-210 summer or winter and your fans arent even doing anything ,because the air rushing in from the lower air dam is more than the fans will ever produce, thats why if you dont have a lower air dam it over heats when driving over 40mph. Another thing if you are kicking the fans on to soon than you are also running the risk of burning up your fan/s motors because they are always going to be on.
Old 02-26-2008, 02:17 AM
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Originally Posted by mtperformance
No its not, if you have a 195-180 thermostat than it wont open till it reaches that temp ( if its working properly ) so than if you tune or switch the fans on sooner than its still not going to open the thermostat to flow coolant.
I never said you should set them to turn on sooner. You are correct that is a bad idea. However you said it didn't make sense to have it tuned for lower fan temps with the stock thermo, which is false as I stated.

The stock settings are WAY higher than what is needed for the stock thermo.

I typically set them 10-20 deg higher than the thermo temp, stock is over 45 deg higher.
Old 02-26-2008, 02:44 AM
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Originally Posted by infinitebird
I never said you should set them to turn on sooner. You are correct that is a bad idea. However you said it didn't make sense to have it tuned for lower fan temps with the stock thermo, which is false as I stated.

The stock settings are WAY higher than what is needed for the stock thermo.

I typically set them 10-20 deg higher than the thermo temp, stock is over 45 deg higher.
I can agree with that. But I still say spend the $35 on a 160 thermostat.
Old 02-26-2008, 03:01 AM
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Originally Posted by mtperformance
I can agree with that. But I still say spend the $35 on a 160 thermostat.
I say spend $12 on the 160 TStat. I don't know who ripped you off, but I have a bunch of stuff to sell you at over double the price!!!

And if you run a fan all the time on a car with a 180 or 195 TStat, it's not going to prevent it from opening heh Well, maybe in the winter. Our cars run hot anyways. 220-230F is normal on a stock car, and as stated, our stock TStat is 180f. You can do the math.
Old 02-26-2008, 03:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Formula350
I say spend $12 on the 160 TStat. I don't know who ripped you off, but I have a bunch of stuff to sell you at over double the price!!!

And if you run a fan all the time on a car with a 180 or 195 TStat, it's not going to prevent it from opening heh Well, maybe in the winter. Our cars run hot anyways. 220-230F is normal on a stock car, and as stated, our stock TStat is 180f. You can do the math.
Summit got me, SLP 160 it 29.95 plus shipping (not a big fan of the Mr Gasket stuff) . I never said if your fans kick on sooner it wont allow the stat to open,thats just dumb. I have a 160 and the fans kick in at 185 and off at 170 and sure as **** thats where it runs no matter if its 90 or -20.
Old 02-26-2008, 03:14 AM
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Originally Posted by mtperformance
Summit got me, SLP 160 it 29.95 plus shipping (not a big fan of the Mr Gasket stuff) . I never said if your fans kick on sooner it wont allow the stat to open,thats just dumb. I have a 160 and the fans kick in at 185 and off at 170 and sure as **** thats where it runs no matter if its 90 or -20.
Well, that's how I read this:

Originally Posted by You
so than if you tune or switch the fans on sooner than its still not going to open the thermostat to flow coolant.
Old 02-26-2008, 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Formula350
Well, that's how I read this:
Read it again ,I said it is not going to make your thermostat open sooner, in other words the thermostat will open at 195 or 185 or 180 or 160 or whatever it is rated at no matter when your fans turn on. So if you want your car (I dont car LT1, LSX or whatever) to run cooler your going to want a thermostat as well as turning your fans on sooner . Would you feel better if I put IMO after that statement .

Last edited by mtperformance; 02-26-2008 at 05:28 AM.
Old 02-26-2008, 11:56 AM
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Listen guys I dont know why all the recommendations on installing a switch, if its a street car, why bother with the headache of being sure they are turned on when you get in the car.

Are you guys able to wire it up to where you can turn it on early and still allow the ECM to do its job if the switch isnt flipped?

Ive got mine coming on at a lower temp from the tune, its the way to go.

Why do you want your fans coming on sooner?

We are just a bunch of bickering old ladies arent we? hah


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