Dif fan controller needs cutoff switch

[fufanu180]

Is there a way to keep the fans from coming on until i want them to come on?

I'm asking because when it's cool like this in the morning i want to keep the fans off until the thermostat opens or else the fans actually work against me.

Some advice would be nice.

Maybe somebody already tried this.

[fufanu180]

No ideas?

Can I splice into the signal wires that go to The Sr temp gauge sensor?

Or do I just splice The power going to the controller?

My only worry with that is I'm not sure if the fan controller always needs a constant. THe reason why I say this is because when you first hook up the controller your need to put it at certain settings for recognition and then once they come on you can set them however.

so I wonder if I splice the power that maybe it erases that recognition and you basically have to start all over with the setup.

[slow92]

I have a diff fan controller and my fans don't come on until the desired temp has been reached, via the settings on the controller. If you wired the controller right it should be getting a signal from your water temp sensor anyways.

[fufanu180]

I have a diff fan controller and my fans don't come on until the desired temp has been reached, via the settings on the controller. If you wired the controller right it should be getting a signal from your water temp sensor anyways.


Oh no it's wired right. It comes on when I need it to but the only probem is that the temp in the motor is different from the temp in the radiator so the fans come on prematurely keeping the fluid cold in the radiator which doesn't allow the stat to open.

Thus making the car overheat.

[fufanu180]

I don't think anybody else has this problem. What am I over looking?

[2fast4y0u]

i cant get my DIF controller to work at all with the sr temp sensor. i have called them for support and still nothing works.
im thinking this thing is hit or mis. also can even get it to program properly

[fufanu180]

Water pump not circulating good enough?

[HPballer76]

set them to come on at a warmer temp then.. lol

[SHIFTrl240]

Take out your thermostat, then your fans won't turn on until the rad is hot.

:angel:

[fufanu180]

Take out your thermostat, then your fans won't turn on until the rad is hot.

:angel:

Good idea. my only concern, aren't thermostats quite critical?

[fufanu180]

Especially during the winter time.

I ordered a new water pump so hopefully it's just lack of circulation.

[slow92]

i would think that if your fans are turning on and the car is over heating then there is two causes. Either you don't have enough fluid in your radiator/slash motor. For instance if you drained all of the radiator fluid and then replaced it but didn't start the car and wait for the thermostat to open and add more fluid this will cause your car to overheat no matter how well your fans are working. Second, would be a blown head gasket. I have been running this fan controller for the past two years and I haven't had any issues with it. My car never over heats or anything like that. just my 2 cents.

[SHIFTrl240]

Good idea. my only concern, aren't thermostats quite critical?

Yes, of course. My answer was in jest.

Without your thermostat you wouldn't get to "operating temperature" in the winter for a long time, if ever, keeping your motor cold. Cold is not good.

[fufanu180]

i would think that if your fans are turning on and the car is over heating then there is two causes. Either you don't have enough fluid in your radiator/slash motor. For instance if you drained all of the radiator fluid and then replaced it but didn't start the car and wait for the thermostat to open and add more fluid this will cause your car to overheat no matter how well your fans are working. Second, would be a blown head gasket. I have been running this fan controller for the past two years and I haven't had any issues with it. My car never over heats or anything like that. just my 2 cents.

I blew a head gasket a few months ago because I did just what your first suggestion states. That and along with not bleeding the air completely out.

AND I'm not 100% for certain but I don't think it's a head gasket. There's no signs.

I took the thermostat out this weekend and it did just fine. it got up to 180 and stayed there. But I can't keep it out forever.

With your fan controller do you have it hooked up to the coolant temp sensor?

OR some accessory probe that's in the radiator?

[slow92]

it is hooked up to the coolant temp sensor. have you tried replacing the thermostat? I am just a little confused on what your problem is. You want to add a manual cutoff switch so your fans don't come on but then you said that your fans come on and your car over heats. If your fans are running and your car is overheating than it you have to have a problem either with your thermostat, head gasket, or water pump. Have you pulled your thermostat to see if it stuck shut or drained your oil to see if it is milky looking? To me it seems as if your fans are working correctly.

[fufanu180]

My problem is that when it's cool outside the motor heats up, so the fluid in the motor is then warm. TIe fluid in the radiator is still cool though until it etkkx mixes together. Within this time the fluid in the motor is just getting hotter. Since the coolant in the radiator isn't hot yet the thermostat won't open. even though the temp of the motor Is now 200. THe fans then kick on because of the heat and now THE coolant in the radiator is just staying the same if not getting cooler.

THere is no milky oil so I'm positive it isn't the head gasket.

Am I making any sense?

[Andres_G]

i cant get my DIF controller to work at all with the sr temp sensor. i have called them for support and still nothing works.
im thinking this thing is hit or mis. also can even get it to program properly

Amen brotha. i can't get this crap to work at all! I even hooked up a switch to override it and still nothing! Anyone else has something else that would work?

[JDMRIDDAZ]

a fan controller is a completely overpriced and uneccessary thing...
all u have to do is run the fans thru relays and ignition....
a thermostat breaks i.e locks shut...i cut the center out to allow flow restriction..
there r two types of bad head gaskets ..
water into oil leak...or
combustion into water....
u can test the combustion leak with a simple tester..
if ur car over heats and u r sure it not leaking any where u have heater hooked up..
every time u open water system...
u need to take special care with bleed it properly..
cause theres plenty of places air pockets can hide...
does the overheating rise and lower due to driving speed?
if so air pocket...if not ..w/p..thermo..water leak..or combustion

[fufanu180]

a fan controller is a completely overpriced and uneccessary thing...
all u have to do is run the fans thru relays and ignition....
a thermostat breaks i.e locks shut...i cut the center out to allow flow restriction..
there r two types of bad head gaskets ..
water into oil leak...or
combustion into water....
u can test the combustion leak with a simple tester..
if ur car over heats and u r sure it not leaking any where u have heater hooked up..
every time u open water system...
u need to take special care with bleed it properly..
cause theres plenty of places air pockets can hide...
does the overheating rise and lower due to driving speed?
if so air pocket...if not ..w/p..thermo..water leak..or combustion

I replaced the water pump on friday and tried to bleed out all the air. My driveway is super steep so i just parked it on my driveway and let the car idle. The air never stopped bleeding out. I'm thinking its a leak in the headgasket and it's getting into the coolant.

And yes the car does rise in temperature when I increase speed, or when there's load.

So now that I think I figured out where the source of my problems are I just have to fix it. My question is, can I seal the leak up with something but at the same time prevent sludge or anything of that nature from building up in the motor?

[fufanu180]

Amen brotha. i can't get this crap to work at all! I even hooked up a switch to override it and still nothing! Anyone else has something else that would work?

When you first install the dif fan controller there is a small setup that you have to do. You need to turn fan 1 to 0 and fan 2 to 2, I think. Apparently in the instruction manual it requests that you do this for some recognition purposes or something like that. I'm not exactly sure but if you did not do this setup than that might be the culprit.

[Andres_G]

I did the setup. I got nothing.

[2fast4y0u]

i have talked to the guys at DIF on the phone while working with the fan controller and still couldnt get it to work properly. they told me they would call me back and never did...that was months ago.
piece of shit in my book.

[florante rea]

since dif fan controller customers are getting nothing but trouble i need a feedback on hks unit.

[fufanu180]

Well I guess I'm at least greatful that I didn't get a dif lemon. Haha.

[negrosx13]

how long did you allow the system to try to bleed???

I do everything by the book but...
I let my car idle for about 10mins and pour coolant then rev the motor to about 2-3k to force the system bleed itself clear and pour in more coolant..It works everytime

[fufanu180]

how long did you allow the system to try to bleed???

I do everything by the book but...
I let my car idle for about 10mins and pour coolant then rev the motor to about 2-3k to force the system bleed itself clear and pour in more coolant..It works everytime

Although I didn't rev It, I did let the car idle for at least 15 minutes while lightly squeezing the upper radiator hose to help with the process. AND still bubbled.

[negrosx13]

also i run flex-lite fan controller

[fufanu180]

also i run flex-lite fan controller

Does that make a massive difference? Haha.

[negrosx13]

Although I didn't rev It, I did let the car idle for at least 15 minutes while lightly squeezing the upper radiator hose to help with the process. AND still bubbled.

you have to let it keep throwing out air bubbles,bleeding the coolant is most pain in the ass thing to do..also opening the bleeder on upper water neck( ka or sr ) and reving the motor lightly to force the coolant to move. Help to seek the air pockets in the system

Sounds bit crazy to rev the motor while pouring coolant,but works.

[slow92]

it sucks everybody is having so many problems with this controller. I wired it up as per the instructions and it runs my altima fans perfectly. I have a nismo thermostat and one fan kicks on according to my "A" setting and the second kicks on according to my "B" setting. I have been running it for 2 years now and I use to live in Savannah and I didn't have any problems with keeping my engine cool.

[JDMRIDDAZ]

do u have the heater hooked up?
did u turn it on while bleeding?
u need to use the hose wit a little strength to blow out bubble if u do that
it should blow them out quick...not 15 min...
get combstion tester u can find them for 50 buks and lower..
to be 4 sure..
if thats the case redo ur head gasket and shave head slightly
use indian shellac on it...
when redo gasket v8 guys use it on 1000 plus hp motors to ensure it doesnt blow...

[fufanu180]

you have to let it keep throwing out air bubbles,bleeding the coolant is most pain in the ass thing to do..also opening the bleeder on upper water neck( ka or sr ) and reving the motor lightly to force the coolant to move. Help to seek the air pockets in the system

Sounds bit crazy to rev the motor while pouring coolant,but works.

I can try it once more but I'm pretty sure I did it almost perfectly. And I did indeed use that bleeder screw. Bubbles are appearing somewhere in the system. I'm thinking there's a leak somewhere. the radiator is aluminum and is actually bowing up and the over flow coolant tank is filling completely up because of this pressure that is causing the radiator cap to open.

[2fast4y0u]

it sucks everybody is having so many problems with this controller. I wired it up as per the instructions and it runs my altima fans perfectly. I have a nismo thermostat and one fan kicks on according to my "A" setting and the second kicks on according to my "B" setting. I have been running it for 2 years now and I use to live in Savannah and I didn't have any problems with keeping my engine cool.

what settings are you using for youe set dials?

i do exactly what the directions say and with the dials set to 0 and 4 i get 4 pulses....perfect! then disconnect the power and set dials to 0 and 2, and reconnect power, i get fans running!!! FUCK! .

[Andres_G]

what settings are you using for youe set dials?

i do exactly what the directions say and with the dials set to 0 and 4 i get 4 pulses....perfect! then disconnect the power and set dials to 0 and 2, and reconnect power, i get fans running!!! FUCK! .

I also get through the programming fine... i get my 4 pulses as well. You mean you have your udials to 4 and 4 when you get your 4 pulses... anyways, I set it to 0 & 2 as well then reconnect power but unlike you, my fans won't turn on. Wtf?

[xiaphin]

I cant even get them to pulse. Mine just come on constantly when power is reconnected to B+ after connecting the manual switches and setting the dials per instructions say. All my wiring is good except for maybe the AC trigger. Where did you guys tap into for this connection? I did pin 41 off ECU for AC switch. Right or wrong?

[Andres_G]

#41 off the ecu? Where is your controller mounted?

Anyways, mine is mounted on top of the fuse box and I just tapped into the connector that is running to the compressor for the AC trigger.

Don't be surprised if you have a bad unit, I've returned two for warranty and the third one seems to be working fine now. (Knock on wood)

[xiaphin]

Controller mounted in glove box along with all my other controllers, like so.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z50/xiaphin/1990%20Fastback%20SR20%20Build/Interior/IMG_6372.jpg


My A/C compressor isnt on the car right now so I figured #41 would work. Here is a diagram. Do you have to have this wired in to properly setup the fans? Directions arent clear on whether the car has to be running or not either. I assumed just ignition switched on which is what I tried, but if its a POS then how to figure this out?!?


http://www.s-chassis.com/resources/wiki/images/6/60/ECUS13SR20DET.jpg

[Andres_G]

Me think the instructions are confusing you, much like they confused me. (I had to call FRsport 3 times!)

Confusion#1. On step #4 the AC input needs a constant 12V (hooked up to the battery) not hooked up to the actual AC trigger like I thought.

Confusion #2. On step #7 it says to "disconnect the switch wires and connect all wires." What it doesn't say is to unplug the constant 12V that was on the AC input.

The actual AC trigger wire is not needed to program or under normal operation of the unit. But if you like to run your AC then go ahead and hook it up. Quick way to find out if #41 off the ecu is the right one is to check for 12v when you hit your AC button on your climate control.

FYI, But you do have to have the 12V IGN trigger hooked up when programming ( I didn't have mine hooked up and it wouldn't program)

I didn't have my car running when I programmed mine. I did not have my ign to the ON position when I programmed. Instructions don't say to have it on at all.

Oh, and nice set up you got there. Although it might be a pain if you have to reprogram the controller.
Let me know how this goes for ya.

[xiaphin]

Did like you said but with the ignition switch off and got it to pulse. After programming, turn ignition on once and they dont come on, like they should. Turn ign again and they come on WTF. Car isnt running yet so no reason for the fans to come on when ign is switched. Gonna check that #41 input for ac later today although it has nothing to do with the fans not functioning properly.

[Andres_G]

So did you get them pulsing?

Yes, my ignition was off when they were pulsing.

On mine, sometimes when I unhook the battery and reconnect it...I turn the IGN to ON and the fans come on, take out key and they stay on. The only way they turn them off is if I turn the IGN to ON and turn it back OFF. WEIRD....

[xiaphin]

Yes got them to pulse. Fans came on after i switched IGN on off and then on again like 5 min later. Didnt try your on off again trick. and #41 off ecu has 12v with IGN on. So its not good for the AC trigger.