Electric Fan

[collegeexplorer]

I just purchased a Flex a Lite Black Magic 150 fan off of E-bay and will be installing it some time next week. I was wondering if someone who has already installed an e-fan could help me out. I am currently in Atlanta, and renting a room at a guys house, so I don't have all my tools or a lot of space to work in, so I need to get this to go as smoothly as possible to get it done and out of his way. I know that the a/c relay has to be wired to the compressor, but what wire does it get tapped into? I know i read that someone tapped into the red one and that was wrong, so the black one? Also, how do I wire it into the ignition? Is there a fuse in the front fuse box I can tap into or an open bay I can use? Thanks for any help and sorry if these have already been answered somewhere.

 

[n0xdw]

Instructions from Flex:1. Disconnect the battery - Negative terminal
2. Connect the “B” terminal to a high current 12V positive power source (i.e. battery, starter solenoid) using the thick red wire and in line fuse holder provided in the kit.
3. Connect the “G” terminal to ground (i.e. chassis, negative side of battery) using the thick black wire provided in the kit. (Do not install fuse at this time)
4. Connect the “+” terminal of the control box to a 12V positive (+) power source (i.e. fuse box), using the thin red wire and fuse taps (if necessary) provided in the kit.
Note: Attach this wire to an ignition controlled source to stop the fan when the vehicle is shut off
Note: Attach this wire to a non-ignition source to keep the fan running after the vehicle is shut off.
5. If you have air conditioning: with 3-way connector provided, pass the A/C clutch positive(+) wire (connected to the A/C compressor) through the connector. Place the green wire provided into the closed end of the connector. Crimp metal plate. Snap plastic cover into place. Attach green wire to the "C" terminal of the control box.
Air Conditioning Relay activates fan when A/C is turned on

In step 5 you will want to splice the green wire from the C terminal to the gv/wh wire circuit 321 that goes from the battery junction box to the compressor. Of course i am assuming you have a 99....

 

[collegeexplorer]

Thanks for the help! Yes, I do have a 99 with the OHV. Sorry i forgot to include that in the first post. Hopefully this will all go smoothly. Do I tap into a fuse that already powers something else? What fuse would be best for this?

 

[Afboy143]

Thanks for the help! Yes, I do have a 99 with the OHV. Sorry i forgot to include that in the first post. Hopefully this will all go smoothly. Do I tap into a fuse that already powers something else? What fuse would be best for this?

I tapped the fan into a fuse that loses power when the truck is shut off but gains it when the truck is on. (I forget which one, it was in the underhood box)

You need a special tool to remove the stock fan from the water pump pulley. Run a search for aldive's install thread. It has details instructions. Good Luck! These fans are LOUD

EDIT hereis the link
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75371&highlight=electric+fan

 

[collegeexplorer]

Thanks for the help, I guess I will just have to find a fuse to link into. I had tried to find one when I installed my fog lights, but all the fuses I tested had power all the time. Must not have tried enough. I thought this fan was supposed to be quieter than stock. Aldive's post mentions that it is a quiet fan when operating.

 

[spindlecone]

You need to run a wire into the cab,tap into the radio fuse.

 

[aldive]

You are going to love an e fan.

Good luck with the install ....

 

[collegeexplorer]

Yea, I'm hoping that this e-fan will be as nice as I've heard it is. A few people have mentioned overheating with it, but I don't offroad much, so hopefully I won't experience that. I'm looking forward to getting rid of the roar everytime I step on the gas. I'll post some pics and my opinion once I get it in. Thanks for all of the help!

 

[aldive]

I never had any heat issues even living here in the Sunshine State.

 

[Afboy143]

Ill try to post a video tonight of how loud the efan is.

 

[Afboy143]

Actaully here is a video clip of my old exhaust

http://www.afsupplements.com/sounds/driveway.avi

Notice how loud the fan is, its the same exact one as yours. It's not that bad. Its about as loud as the Merecedes are with the efan stock blowing

 

[collegeexplorer]

It still sounds like it is quieter than my sotck fan is. My clutch is currently locked fully on, so it is very loud under acceleration. I hate all the noise that it makes. I will appreciate a fan that doesn't change speeds with the engine i think. Thanks for the vid. I like your exhaust by the way. Nice and deep.

 

[wildbill]

I have done all the searching and probing and I have found some great write-ups on Electric Fans. Like the fine soul on a quest for 30 MPG I am also looking to improve my MPG but I am also looking for the HP that is lost in parasitic drag on the engine. Well it looks like all the electric fans have been put on V6 engines, I was looking at a Flex-a-lite 108 extreme that the fan manufacture recommends for a mountaineer with the V8. The depth of the fan is 4.5” I measured the distance between the water pump pulley and the radiator and I measure 4” so there is a half-inch that won’t fit. Has anyone installed this fan on a 1999 Mountaineer V8 configuration?

 

[boominXplorer]

I have done all the searching and probing and I have found some great write-ups on Electric Fans. Like the fine soul on a quest for 30 MPG I am also looking to improve my MPG but I am also looking for the HP that is lost in parasitic drag on the engine. Well it looks like all the electric fans have been put on V6 engines, I was looking at a Flex-a-lite 108 extreme that the fan manufacture recommends for a mountaineer with the V8. The depth of the fan is 4.5” I measured the distance between the water pump pulley and the radiator and I measure 4” so there is a half-inch that won’t fit. Has anyone installed this fan on a 1999 Mountaineer V8 configuration?

I use the Flexalite 180 on my 5.0. I also have their adjustable thermostat. For some reason if I leave it parked with the A/C on for more than 5 mins it will overheat. First time it happened I noticed the insolation around one of the sides was ripped. I got that replaced and just yesterday it overheated again. I pulled it out this morning and while I was pulling it out the insolation separated again. The insolation on this fan is crap. I ran my factory fan/cluch assembly for 2 years without the fan shroud with no problems. My factory fan is rated at around 3000 cfm and my flexalite is 3300 cfm I beleive.

 

[Afboy143]

I use the Flexalite 180 on my 5.0. I also have their adjustable thermostat. For some reason if I leave it parked with the A/C on for more than 5 mins it will overheat. First time it happened I noticed the insolation around one of the sides was ripped. I got that replaced and just yesterday it overheated again. I pulled it out this morning and while I was pulling it out the insolation separated again. The insolation on this fan is crap. I ran my factory fan/cluch assembly for 2 years without the fan shroud with no problems. My factory fan is rated at around 3000 cfm and my flexalite is 3300 cfm I beleive.

I have the 150 on mine which runs 800 CFM over stock and im fine.

One thing you might want to look into is a product called "Water Wetter". Run it with just water and you should be set. (Assuming you live in a state that doesnt go below freezing temps. If so, you should do half anti, half water wetter)This wont fix your fan problem, but hopefully itll fix your overheating issue. I heard about it from a mustang guy. I also heard people with the newer 240's use it because they are prone to overheating. When I ran it, the needle sits JUST below the water symbol instead of the middle like stock (I have stock thermo BTW)