Hey guys, I have a 90 GXL 5 spd, which doesnt come with an electric fan. This car is my daily driver, I use the A/C almost everyday. Do you guys think it is a wise idea to mount a stock fan in front of the radiator working off an on off switch to provide the car with addition cooling? Or do you guys think it is a waste of money?

 

I thought all A/C equipped cars came with electric fans?
Get an electric fan and fit it in front of the radiator. Wire it via a relay and fuse direct to the battery. Switch the relay by splicing into the wire for the compressor’s magnetic clutch. This way it’ll run when the A/C does, just like the stock fan. This improves the A/C's efficiency at low speeds, and helps with the additional load the A/C puts on the cooling system.

 

Jason, my plan is to run it off an on/off switch. I am going to wire a lighted LED under my water temp gauge

 

Why bother? You'll have to run wires in the cabin (PITA) and operate 2 switches to run the A/C. Remember the KISS principle

 

Jason, its not just for a/c. I do run my car in rush hour traffic I tried to avoid using my a/c in traffic jam at all cost

 

That should never be necessary, that's what the main fan is for. I drive my car everyday too, and every day I get stuck in the same crappy crawling traffic. I regularly run my A/C under these conditions without problems. If it does overheat in traffic (A/C on or not) something is wrong, and I doubt an electric fan will fix it. Cooling systems should run automatically and not require you to flick a switch if you think it's getting hot. There's too much risk you'll miss it or forget and boil your engine, potentially killing it. Don't band-aid it, fix it! Sorry if this sounds like a nag, just don't wanna hear about a steaming 7 on the side of the road!
The fan for the A/C is still a good idea though.

 

I disagree....I run an electric on a manual switch. Sire some people dont like it, but I never forget to turn it on. And if you are in the habit of closely monitoring your gauges, you would catch the temp gage climbing if you did forget.

 

I slaped my J yard electric fan and went down the Advanced Auto and asked them if they had thermal switches and ******* **** they did. for 18 bucks you can get a switch that cuts on at a certain temp (adjustable.. at least mine was) and if you want it to come on when the AC is on, bypass the thermal switch to the compressors magnetic clutch like Jason said. That way, even when the AC is off, it will come on automatically when the temp rises and it will cut on when the AC is on regardless of the temp. Also, this is a big major *** stretch, if that thermal switch did ever fail (cant see that ever happening) you can just pop on the AC and your fan will come on.. sorta like a toggle switch. Hope this helps and sorry so lengthy man. Good luck homes

 

Dont get me wrong, Ia m going to keep the stock fan. I just want extra protection

 

All I'm saying is nobody's perfect and we can all forget or get distracted sometimes. Your cooling system should be able to maintain temps automatically, because the results of even one overheat could end up being very expensive. Hey, it's your car, and if you're prepared to take the risk, cool. I'm not.
Besides, in tmak's case, there's no need for any manual switch, my method's much easier and more reliable. In your case (I presume your stock fan's gone) a thermoswitch is so cheap and easy, why put up with the hassle of a manual switch?

 

Well dont i feel like an ***, i thought that you were just going to run an Electric fan, no clutch fan. Hey man, if i was you, i would get one very nice electric fan to handle everything, its nothing but gains. If anything it cleans out the engine compartment for easier working/cleaning. And i hear it takes off some drag for power, though i doubt its a big increase but any increase is better than decrease right?

 

Roy, after seeing so many electric failing causing engine to overheat. No thanks, i will stick with the stock fan, i just want an electric fan for additional cooling. I've heard at least 7 guys overhaet the motor because the electric failed or stopped working