Re: [DML] Cooling fans and the ignition

[Joe Angell <jangell@xxxx>]

> It sounds like your relay is sticking. The circuit that starts the
> relay is activated with the ignition switch but the wire going to
> the relay to run the fans is "hot at all times". Get a heavy duty
> relay from John Hervey (40 amps). Both fans take a full 22 amps at
> run (11 amps each) and nearly 40 amps to start them. That is a lot
> to take away from the starter circuit - especially if your battery
> is low or marginal.

I checked and found I do have a 40 amp relay in there, which is a 
replacement for another 40 amp that we thought was faulty last week.

I noticed that if I have the AC on (which causes the fans to run) when 
I start the car and the car is cool, the fans turn off so the starter 
can get power.

However, if the fans are running because the car is hot, the fans stay 
on when trying to start, and the starter won't turn over.

My FanZilla should be here early next week, so maybe I'll get lucky and 
that will fix the problem. But I'm also considering putting a 
transistor on the control line to the fan relay from the starter relay, 
automatically disabling the fans entirely when trying to start the car. 
Should be a pretty straight-forward fix. In any case, I have some 
cooling issues (need a new radiator) which is why this is coming up in 
the first place.

Thanks for the help!

-- Joe