To anyone who has done the flex-a-lite electric fan mod for a 3rd gen, have you had any problems with overheating at all? These fans pull 2500 cfm, as opposed to pushing as much as 8000 cfm with a belt-driven. Just want to know if any of you have had any problems w/it at all?

Al

 

No. Never on either of my Toyota's (98 Tacoma sold). Keep in mind I drive in 120* heat in the summer, and go off-roading often.

They work great.

 

Cool, that's exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for. Anyone else have anything to report, good or bad, regarding these fans on 3rd gens?

 

I overheated once right after installing so I adjusted the t-stat on the fans so they activated sooner. No problems since. I'll let you know about mid-July how they work

 

Al-

Do you know what the actual cfm of the stock fan is? Like you I'm worried about over heating and that's the only thing holding me back.

 

Also, don't those fans put a big stress on the alternator? I've read of cases where people with stereos have problems with the alternator after installing flexalite fans...

 

I asked the Flex-A-Lite ppl about cfm and their reply was that the stock fan pushes up to 8000 cfm.

And there will definitely be alternator draw at 19.5 Amps, so I could see it interfering with a hefty stereo setup.

 

Soooo.... They don't know either?

19.5 amps.. yikes. our stock alts are only rated at 75 amps right?

 

2nd Gen alts are a mere 60a.

 

Those with a heafty stero system should just look into getting a capacitor installed to help take the load off of the alt.

Also, are there larger alt's available?

 

Try here.

My application wasn't listed, but I emailed Tom there and he responded quickly. $200 for 120a. I'm getting mine powder coated when I do it for another $25.

 

I run a 1000 watt 9 speaker system with the fans and have noooo problems. I even have a volt meter mounted on my A-pillar. When at idle sitting at a stop light for awhile it draws abit but nothing for everyone to get excited about

Paul

 

I'm running the Flex-A-Lite fans and was also concerned about the amperage when I first got them. I've had them now for a few months and they're running fine. No perceivable difference in alternator (and I have a multi-amp stereo setup also) and engine temperature hasn't increased at all.

 

Hi Al;

In regards to overheating, I haven't had any problems at all.

In regards to power, I do have an interesting symptom, but I'm pretty sure it's the alternator (or the voltage regulator). When the fans kick in, I don't get any light dimming or stereo issues, but (ready for this?) my gas gauge starts to steadily fall. Once the fans turn off, it climbs back up.

Cool huh?

But again, I know it's the alternator or the embedded voltage regulator. Measured voltage with the engine running is only 12.4v. I need to swap it out, but the lack of cash flow at the moment won't let me do it.

 

So that's why my gas mileage sucks so bad!

 

i purchased a 140 amp alternator for 235.00 dollars from mr.alternator last month, because i installed 210 flx electric fans, a 600 watt amp for base and 4 off road lights, the off road lights are 320 watts total, with the high out put alternator, and all the lights on, the ac on and the fans running, the off road lights where dimming at idle, and i was getting a reading from the battery from my digital meter less then 12 volts, i removed the high out put alternator and had it tested at a place where they rebil starters and alternators, the alternator was producing 14 volts and 140 amps under load. i installed my stock alternator which is 80 amps, and ran the same test as before, at idle and all the lights on, ac on, electric fans on. the off road lights did not dim, i was getting almost 13 volts at the battery, at high idle i was getting 14.34 volts at the battery. so if your stock alternator is 80 amps you should be fine running extra electrical load.:pig:

 

The only time there seems to be a slight dimming is when the fans initially kick on. Then all is fine.

Even in Phoenix these only run when I am sitting. Once I get going they dont run.

Here is another cooling idea for added protection. FYI.

 

I had a flexalite on my '94 until the fan motor siezed one very hot summer day and almost blew my 22re in heavy LA traffic. I have a habbit of keeping an eye on the temp gauge so I caught it right away. Getting home was an experience that day. I have been happily running the stock fan ever since and would not go back to that POS. It would also come on in the middle of the night when the truck was cold!

dmode

 

LA hot?

 

Interesting. Did you find out why the fan motor seized? Was it just faulty, was it too hot, was there gunk from offroad trips in there, etc.?