Ritzy4Runner

iTrader: (1)

Ok for those who have done the Taurus/Sable/MVIII fan install, I recently acquired a complete fan with the harness and this strange looking 'block' with what look like relays, resistor/diode. Anyway here it is so may be someone here knows just what it is. I have already been to the Ford dealer, they have no idea and it is not listed on the electrical diagrams, I looked with the parts guys but they do list it by part number and it costs $100!






Thanks all

mjwalfredo

It looks kinda like a 40 amp and a 25 amp fuse.

Yeah, I have no idea, sorry

mastacox

It looks like it could be either a set of circuit breakers/fuses, or relays. Either way, when I installed the Taurus fan on my '92, it just had the bare wires coming from the fan motor, so I would just dump the "mystery box" and wire straight to the motor.

You could of course ohm either side of the box to try to see if it is open or closed. That might tell you whether it is fuses or relays. The fact that it has the same number of wires going into and coming out of the box makes me think it's probably fuses / circuit breakers. Probably a 40amp for high, and 25 amp for low (which is useful information for people wondering how much power the fan pulls).

Hilux808

Can someone fill me in on this? Taurus fan? Are we putting ford parts on our Toyota's???

mastacox

Older Ford Tauruses come with a stong electric fan on their V-6 models. Because they are easily found in junkyards for under $100, they are a popular electric fan conversion for people that want to convert from a mechanical fan to an electric one. Flexalite fans cost $250+, so its a budget alternative that fits a 2nd gen 4Runner's radiator pretty well, and can fit inside a 3rd gen's fan shroud with some simple modification.

This is a popular modification for Mustang, Camaro, and Bronco guys as well. An electric fan will net you an extra 1-3hp and somewhat better throttle response, but more importantly for drag racers and off-roaders, it can give you full cooling capability even when your engine is idling. You will have cooler temperatures while off roading or driving in stop and go traffic, and your A/C gets a lot colder as well since you have more air flowing through the condenser.

Search for Taurus Electric Fan on here and you will find threads from several people that have done this modification.

mt_goat

The Ford fans are some of the most powerful electric fans avaliable and you can get them for as cheap as $25 usually. My 95 Taurus fan has been going strong for 13 years (the one on my car). The one on my truck is fine too.

Hilux808

Hey thanks guys, i'll have to look into that mod.

1eye

What your looking at is part of the "Engine Cooling Fan Motor Wiring Harness Circuit Protection Modification". Ford had a Safety Recall on their engine cooling fan in the mid 90s. It was to help prevent the wiring circuit from overheating and possibly causing a electrical fire IF the fan became "jammed". I think it was Recall 95S22. Sorry, thats the best my old memory can remember about doing them.

mt_goat

Oh man, I want one now. I'd keep it on there Ritzy.

mt_goat

So its really a $100 inline fuse.

Ritzy4Runner

iTrader: (1)

Interesting, I think I will just keep it but I was also wondering if maybe this also had the diode network for fan freewheeling. Will have to check it out a bit further. I also found out that this particular "box" is only on the '95 while I was at the dealrship trying to figure out what it really was. And I got the fan at a local yard for $25. Will have to set up my relays for the hi and lo speeds along with the fan selector switch. I'll post more pics when I do the job and finish up the wiring.
Thanks

Ritzy4Runner

iTrader: (1)

Another thought has come to mind, what about the issue of the diode? Is this really a necessary item? Where do you actually need to mount it? If the lo speed is in operation but is not running, do I need to have a diode for each speed? Not really totally sure of where this diode needs to be mounted either. Anyone with experience with this is welcome to chime in with a response. Thanks again

mt_goat

This link as some info on installing diodes for a relay, don't know about fan freewheeling though. I am using diodes on a lot of my relays, they came that way, it just adds a little extra protection against power surges traveling back the wrong way.
http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm

mastacox

I'm just using a DCC Controller on my fan, better way to control an electric fan IMO.

mjwalfredo

Me too. I am sure it is a lot more expensive way as well but it's nice.

mt_goat

Yeah me too, BTW it has a built-in system to control reverse voltage spikes and requires NO relays (big plus). Plus you have soft starts and variable speed, it only runs as fast as needed to maintain the set temp.

Now here's the down side, he's got limited production and during hot weather he gets so far behind on production he stops taking orders and even shuts down his website. Apparently that's the case now:
http://www.dccontrol.com/index.htm

infiltrator

LOL we stop at the fans and go no more... Unless you want to get the Taurus Oil filter too, and hold an extra quart of oil in your truck.

Funny story, my pretty much mother-in-law wants me to try to sell her old Ford Taurus. It has over 200,000 miles on it (with a newly rebuilt engine.. I didn't know she was gonna do it or I would have stopped her), a couple dents, its grey, and the TRANNY is now shot (won't shift past first).

I have been on Craigslist, and like 10 other places trying to sell this car. WITH the new engine, we are now starting to get callers with the price set at $650. Keep in mind this a '98!

I am praying that someone takes this hunk of junk because it isn't driveable and I just tried starting it, and maybe the alternator isn't working because it won't do anything... I also read in the paper once that the Ford Taurus was the worst car ever made. Maybe this is why you can find one in a junkyard so easily. If I end up parting this one out, ill take the Interstate battery that is in it, and the fan maybe... Oh yeah it has new tires too! hahaha.

hiloracerboy84

anyone use the volvo fans anymore? dont know how the taurus fan fits, but the volvo fan i have fits quite well in my 3rd gens shroud.

Ritzy4Runner

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the input guys. Still trying to determine what this really is doing so if anyone knows specifically please feel free to post

mastacox

Unless you adjust the activation temperature fo your controller even lower, you way have to move the tempeature probe to a hotter part of the radiator if the fan kicks on after the engine's temperture starts to rise...

I think I have my variable controller set at its lowest temperature setting which is I think 144 degrees. The temperature sensor is next to the engine coolant return at the bottom of the radiator, and works beautifully.