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View Full Version : How to Wire Electric Fans (92-97 Altima)


bmaddock
10-23-2014, 08:25 PM
Another spoonfed tutorial for the s-chassis community. I've been working on my KA-T walkthrough and decided to make a separate, dedicated thread for the electric fans because it seems like a common upgrade. If you can retain the mechanical fan, do so. When in fully functional condition, the mechanical fan is more simple and efficient. There's a few ways of doing this but here's the surefire way of having your fans on a switch and a relay.

Parts List:
- '92 to '97 Nissan Altima electric fans (~$30 at junkyard)
- 2 40A automotive relays
- 2 30A fuses
- 1 3A fuse
- 1 automotive switch
- 12 AWG wire
- 18 AWG wire
- Various male, female and ring terminal connections
- Heat shrink
- Solder
- Electric tape

All of those parts would likely cost around $80 total. You can't beat that price! This setup will wire the fans on a low speed only. I've ran my turbo KA just fine on low only with an aluminum radiator. You can chose to use the blue or green wire to to run them on low speed and both the yellow and black wires must be grounded. The relays allow the use of a direct 12V supply to auxiliaries without draining your battery. The switched 12V source turns on the relay when it receives a 12V signal. I would suggest using your cigarette lighter and either splice in or I took the connector off and installed male spade connections accordingly. Keep your fuses within a foot of the battery or 12V switched source, good rule of thumb.

I also had to cut and modify the shroud to fit in my S13. This isn't mine but looks very similar.
http://i.imgur.com/YapQkVM.png

http://i.imgur.com/9zeA9VG.png

Wire accordingly and solder your connections. If you have to, Google how to use a solder gun and heatshrink, stop being lazy. And just so we're all clear, http://i.imgur.com/6FMEWSr.jpg?1 is the symbol for electrical ground. You can use the negative battery post,a bolt threaded to the body, or your engine block.

For a daily driver I would look into running the fans on a thermoswitch as opposed to a mechanical switch. Also, if you choose to run them on high speed, consider four relays as opposed to two.


1998 Nissan Altima:
Dual speed
low: ~1200 cfm, Amp draw ~16.5A
high: ~1500 cfm, Amp draw ~22.5A

1995 Ford Taurus (3.8L)
Dual speed
low: ~2500 cfm, Amp draw ~23.75A
high: ~3800cfm, Amp draw ~46.5A

Turbo KA Tutorial => http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=572741

jedi03
10-23-2014, 09:43 PM
Not bad...i got mine running on two dual fan conttollwrs works amazing!

casten01
10-23-2014, 09:53 PM
Nice thread! will keep this in mind later on my build.

Dboyizmlg
10-23-2014, 10:13 PM
I like your diagram, looks legit!

I have my FAL fans kinda the same way, two relays one for each fan just like in your picture.

But, I have two toggle switches (one for each fan) that way I can switch one on at a time, this way I'm not working both fan motors on when I hit one swicth.

MR_GUTTI
10-23-2014, 11:42 PM
perfectly done thread!

korito727
10-24-2014, 05:00 AM
I like your diagram, looks legit!

I have my FAL fans kinda the same way, two relays one for each fan just like in your picture.

But, I have two toggle switches (one for each fan) that way I can switch one on at a time, this way I'm not working both fan motors on when I hit one swicth.


Why use two switches? Jw.

This thread is great btw. Super organized.

bmaddock
10-24-2014, 05:31 AM
Thanks guys, just trying to better our community with helpful threads as opposed to 'fix my car!' threads that have plaqued facebook groups and forums. Do people not understand these cars are damn near 20 years old? lol

Dboyizmlg
10-24-2014, 08:29 AM
Why use two switches? Jw.

This thread is great btw. Super organized.

One for each fan, that way I can turn on any fan I liked to.
Helps lengthen the life of the fan motors this way.

rastaman
10-24-2014, 09:26 AM
Nice very good write up..