Quote:
Originally Posted by toyotaspeed90
Key just needs to be set to "on" for it to turn on.
when I had my 7age in my 87 I heard it kick on all the time.... I had an unshielded header, though.
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Not true. This fan is triggered by a sensor in the engine bay when the ambient temperature reaches 168 degrees for more than 10 minutes I believe, and it is controlled by a fan computer behind the ecu in the trunk. If your fan is on all the time, you need to replace your fan computer. It is bad. When you turn you car on the engine fan should NOT come on if everything is working properly. If it does come on, then its in failsafe mode from a failed component, most likely the fan computer.
As mentioned you can pull the wire from the sensor in the engine bay to test the system. If it doesnt turn on after you unplug it, you have another problem and can test the fan itself by running 12v to it to confirm the fan itself turns and wiring works there.
If it does turn on when you unplug the fan wire from your sensor but doesnt turn on after Sitting idle for a while after a very spirited drive then you either have a relay, sensor (not as likely), or a fan computer malfunction (very likely). The sensor is testable with an ohm meter and some hot water but like I said its the least likely to fail in my opinion. The fan computer failing is probably the main cause of fail-safe (always on with ignition).
The fan is not loud, but you can hear it, and it draws a good amount of air (and dust) from outside to inside, so you should definitely be able to tell its on audibly if you are listening for it and by the feel of the air induction with your hand or hold a piece of paper against it and it will suck it to the car... cigarette would work if you smoke.
The haynes manual or BGB states all this a bit more eloquently, but thats the deal paraphrased.
side note: The cooling fan dummy light in the dash is ONLY for this fan. It lights up when the fan SHOULD trigger on but does not. It has nothing to do with the liquid cooling system.