Hey everyone -

http://www.clubrx.org/default.asp?id...ntent=41&mnu=3

Got my fan controller last week and wrote the review up today. Sorry for the lack of pics - I'll be getting some up soon. So far I'm VERY happy with it, it has tons of functionality.

Seriously, I would VERY seriously consider going with one of these over a traditional water temp gauge. It's $180 for the fan controller, which gives you temp reading from the ECU water temp sender and has peak/hold and warning (blinking display and beep). A good peak/hold/warning gauge can easily go for $150. And, you can totally control the stock fans, control an intercooler water spray, and add up to 2 more temp inputs (oil temp, air temp, etc.) to monitor with peak/hold/warning. That's just a good bang for the buck!

Questions/comments?

Dale

 

No comments?

Dale

 

Does it control the various speeds of the stock fans?


Havn't read the reveiw yet, Just making a comment. LOL

 

wow sounds like something very nice to have. I never did like my water temp gauge, paid to have it tapped into the thermostat housing, and paid for a new thermoswitch. I would have thought about purchasing this if the availability was higher

 

I might be able to set something up with the local shop I bought it from - I'll be dropping by at lunch, and I'll see if he can get them and if he could do a group buy or something.

Dale

 

How long did it take you to get the harness? How is the fitment of the harness loom in the dash area?

 

The FD-specific harness isn't really a harness - it's just simply a diode with two connectors on either end. You can get the same thing from Radio Shack for a dollar.

The wiring that comes with the fan controller is MASSIVE - like 8 feet of wire. I ran the wire from where I put the fan controller (under the radio) to the ECU behind the glove box, had TONS left over.

BTW, talked to the shop I bought the fan controller from - he talked with HKS today about doing a group buy or something. The availability isn't just in the US, it's also in Japan. They get 'em when they get 'em - I think there's a component shortage or something. He did offer to let forum members get them for $185 shipped, the only problem is you'll get them when the HKS boat with 'em inside shows up. Could be next week, could be 2 months. If you're interested, PM me and I'll give you the contact info. Jimmy (who runs the shop) is a very long-time friend of mine and honest as the day is long - he'll take care of you.

Dale

 

sounds good, can't wait for pic's

 

Sorry the harness I was talking about is that goes between the engine harness and the ecu.

 

Dale, nice write up on the HKS fan controller. Sounds like it's exactly what FD owners need in our struggle to keep our cars cool. However, i have a question for you: why did you spend the extra money to purchase a fan controller when you have a PowerFC that can control when the fans come on and at what speed? All you need is a datalogit and you'll have full control over the fans too, and you would've saved yourself around $200 plus the 3 month wait. Just curious as to why you spent the extra time and money to gain control of something you already had control over.

 

Sounds like a good product. Can you turn the backlight off when you don't want to read it?
Images at the HKS website:

http://www.hksusa.com/images/?id=1748

 

OK, question answer time -

I bought the fan controller in February, LONG before I got my PowerFC. At that time the PFC was a WAY in the future mod for my car - I ended up getting it because I found a smokin' deal.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the ECU has control over only *one* fan speed. Although, with a lower thermoswitch (like the FC thermoswitch) you can get the second fan speed to kick on earlier. So, with the PowerFC/Datalogit you can only control one of the fan speeds - the fan controller gives me control of 2. Also, I'm a bit nuts when it comes to Japanese electronics - I love electronic doo-dads. Too much Knight Rider when I was a kid .

On the Autosport wiring harness - I have a review of the harness on clubrx.org. When I ordered it, he had it in stock and ready to ship, and I had it in just a few days. I didn't have any trouble fitting it in there, and was even able to put the passenger kick panel back the proper way, with the end of it going around that white plastic spike. VERY pleased with that harness - I highly recommend it if you plan on adding any electronics that require tapping in to the ECU harness.

You can't turn off the backlight - it's always on. It's normally blue, changes to red when you're in setup mode or flashes red when it hits the warning temp. Also, you have to have it to read the LCD display. The good thing is the display is VERY easy to read, unlike the lousy display on my PFC commander . I believe a small piece of window tint on the lens will take care of the too-bright problem.

I've got pics that I should have a chance to add to the article today - check back soon.

BTW, I went ahead and got the extra temp sender coming . I couldn't resist.

Dale

 

really? how come in the Datalogit it allows you to set the temperature for each of the fan speeds; Low, Medium and High? As far as i know, the PFC can control all three fan speeds. i've never used a datalogit myself so i don't really know. i've seen people make the changes using the Datalogit. I'll have a more definitive answer after this weekend when bleung drops by to adjust my PFC fan speeds with the datalogit.

 

Hmmm yeah keep us posted, I would like to know. You can control everythng else so I would find it odd if you cannot chaneg the fan speed.

 

Hmm. From what I've learned of the stock fan control system, there are 3 inputs that make the fans get their 3 speeds. First is AC - one relay is triggered when you kick the AC on, that gives us one speed level. Second is the ECU - it controls 2 relays, but it's just again one speed level. The ECU trips the fans at a certain temp. Finally, the fan thermoswitch at the back of the water pump housing - thermoswitch grounds out, kicks on the last relay, and the final speed level. If all 3 of these inputs are tripped, you get high fan speed.

Now, the AC fan relay might be able to be controlled by the PFC, since the AC signals route through the ECU. But, I think that circuit requires the AC to be tripped - as in, the AC button is on and you're at 1-4 fan speed on the AC controls.

In the docs for the fan controller, it does show a second wiring diagram for later FD's where TWO fan control outputs are on the ECU. Tracing that wire to my '93 shop manual, it's like the switching solenoid valve or something - I'll have to check. It might actually be a cut wire for the PFC. Considering the manual was made for Japanese cars, they might have altered the fan control system in later FD's - like building the fan recall module into the ECU or something. I'll double check my '95 shop manual to see if it's there.

Again, I'm not doubting you, but it just doesn't make sense with what I've learned of the fan control circuit.

Dale

 

Hi Dale,

Just to quickly add, pivot sells a fan controller unit as well for the fd. Just in case you guys want some options. cheers

 

I had also looked at the Pivot - it's pretty basic, but it WILL do the job. Here's more on it -

http://www.prolightstar.com/electronic/pivfcg.html

Greddy also has a product called the Multi Switching System that will work as a fan controller -

http://www.greddy.com/prod_multi_switching_sys.htm

BTW, I got the pics added to the article .

Dale

 

hey dale, do you have a picture of it mounted in your car?

 

I'll have to get one. My car didn't come with the under-stereo pocket (damn previous owner!) so I got one out of a 626 in the junkyard. It's just a simple black open pocket, but it fits great and was like a dollar .

I've got it and my HKS turbo timer stacked on one side of the pocket. I had to do some Dremel work on the pocket to get it in there, though.

Dale

 

The datalogit allows you the following changes:

Fan vs. A/C vs. Temp:


Fan 1 - A/C off ........ (Set temp)

Fan 1 - A/C on..........(Set temp)

Fan 2 - .....................(Set temp)

As far as I know, it doesn't let you control the speed, just the temp & A/C control that the fan comes on. If anyone can add to or correct this, please do

 

Found the hks controller for 175

http://store.yahoo.com/phase2motorsp...ksfanspco.html

 

Hmmm - looks like with the Datalogit you do have control over 2 fan speeds then. The ECU is only physically connected to 2 wires that can switch the fans on. This controls the ECU's fan output and controls the input that's normally the AC input, so you could actually control that output while the AC is off as well as on. You wouldn't have control over the third input, the fan thermoswitch, but swapping in the FC thermoswitch will bring that to a more reasonable 95 degrees C.

BTW, my fan controller is still doing great. Stock radiator and everything, and on high 80s-low 90s days here in Florida with multiple short trips in traffic with the AC on full blast, the highest temps I've seen are 90 deg. C, with temps normally running around 85. This is a BIG difference from before the fan controller.

Wonder if Phase Trend can actually get the fan controllers, or the 5-7 days is just wishful thinking? The shortage might be over, who knows.

Dale

 

Sounds good Dale. I'm still running the stock radiator myself. I live in Charlotte, NC and I usually see about 87-90 C while driving. I sometimes get up to about 94 - 97 C sitting in traffic on hot days (in the 90's F ambient)

BTW I have my fan settings at 90, 95, 100 C respectively in the datalogit

 

I'd bring your temps down on the Datalogit. IMHO keeping temps between 80 and 90 is best for happy coolant seals .

Dale