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How to troubleshoot and lower activation temperature of '96 JDM electric fans?

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Old 08-14-17, 08:26 PM
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How to troubleshoot and lower activation temperature of '96 JDM electric fans?

I have never seen or heard my fans running. I suspect they might not be working, but I've never let the temperatures get up to 100C. I don't want to find out their broken the hard way.

I'd also like to lower the activation temperature, but I've heard that late-model JDM cars can't use FC thermoswitches because they don't have thermoswitches to begin with.

Any ideas?
Old 08-14-17, 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Valkyrie
I have never seen or heard my fans running. I suspect they might not be working, but I've never let the temperatures get up to 100C. I don't want to find out their broken the hard way.

I'd also like to lower the activation temperature, but I've heard that late-model JDM cars can't use FC thermoswitches because they don't have thermoswitches to begin with.

Any ideas?
I also own a '96 JDM FD. Fans kick on before 100C.
Remove your AC relay, turn AC on in the car on setting 1. the fans should go on full blast.

PM me and i can send you the Manual update for the 96-98 FD (its in Japanese) fans are controlled a little bit differently.
Old 08-15-17, 01:17 AM
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Originally Posted by DnlCappy
I also own a '96 JDM FD. Fans kick on before 100C.
Remove your AC relay, turn AC on in the car on setting 1. the fans should go on full blast.

PM me and i can send you the Manual update for the 96-98 FD (its in Japanese) fans are controlled a little bit differently.
My car doesn't have AC. Its been fully gutted except for the blower fan and heater. I'm not sure if I have an AC relay, though.

Send me that file. I am fluent in Japanese.

What temp does yours kick on at? My car has a PFC but the Commander doesn't show any fan temp settings.
Old 08-15-17, 02:09 AM
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All the info is in the service manuals.

Fans by Tom Kinsman, on Flickr
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Old 08-15-17, 05:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Valkyrie
My car doesn't have AC. Its been fully gutted except for the blower fan and heater. I'm not sure if I have an AC relay, though.

Send me that file. I am fluent in Japanese.

What temp does yours kick on at? My car has a PFC but the Commander doesn't show any fan temp settings.
You'll need a datalogic to change temp setting.
Commander alone cannot access detailed setting.
Old 08-15-17, 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Ceylon
All the info is in the service manuals.

Fans by Tom Kinsman, on Flickr
Whoa! I've never seen this. If I'm interpreting this correctly, Mazda lowered the fan activation temperature from 105C to 101C on the 96 models, for no accessory load condition. But the high temperature is still on at 108C.

Then for A/C operation, low speed up to 101C, medium speed up to 107C, high speed for 108C and higher. For 92-95, low speed was up to 105C, then medium speed from 105-107, then high speed at 108C.

Valkyrie, can you interpret what this is saying since you are fluent? There seems to be some additional conditions mentioned that I don't understand. Either way, Mazda smartened up and kicked the fans on at a lower temperature. I bet this resulted in fewer coolant seal failures.
Old 08-15-17, 02:22 PM
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That's actually the wrong table I posted. I misread the question earlier, the table I posted applies to December '98 and onwards cars only, hence the reference to 280ps cars. The December '95-'98 cars lost the thermoswitch for an extra ecu input. The activation temps remained the same as earlier years with the new ECU input triggering at 108 degrees C, just like the thermoswitch.
Old 08-15-17, 05:55 PM
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https://mega.nz/#!VdcB3IwT!QZ-2uTMmk...kSk4-n95MmHzgQ

link to download the 96-98 supplementary manual.
figure everyone should have easy access to it.
Old 08-15-17, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by arghx
Whoa! I've never seen this. If I'm interpreting this correctly, Mazda lowered the fan activation temperature from 105C to 101C on the 96 models, for no accessory load condition. But the high temperature is still on at 108C.

Then for A/C operation, low speed up to 101C, medium speed up to 107C, high speed for 108C and higher. For 92-95, low speed was up to 105C, then medium speed from 105-107, then high speed at 108C.

Valkyrie, can you interpret what this is saying since you are fluent? There seems to be some additional conditions mentioned that I don't understand. Either way, Mazda smartened up and kicked the fans on at a lower temperature. I bet this resulted in fewer coolant seal failures.
Basically.... the fan temperature controls are extremely convoluted.

The fan activation temperature depends on electrical load, whether the AC is on, and boost pressure.

There's even a circuit mode on 280 HP cars that's activated if you do four hard pulls in 90 seconds that activates for 35 minutes and pins the fans to high.

The fan will be off until the car hits 97 C or 101 if the AC is off and there's no electrical load.

It'll be on medium above 108 or when the temp sensor is broken or disconnected.

It'll be on high at 110 and above, unless it's in circuit mode (280 HP cars only), in which case it'll be at high after 101.


With AC on: Less than 101 is slow, 101-108 is medium, and above 108 is high.

Last edited by Valkyrie; 08-15-17 at 07:22 PM.
Old 08-15-17, 10:17 PM
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I plugged the harness for the air conditioner evaporator temp sensor that I had removed back in, and now I can get the fans to turn on by using the AC button.
Old 08-15-17, 10:58 PM
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Since everything is already gutted and a bit of a dog's breakfast anyway, would it not be worthwhile rewiring it with a new thermostat with opening/closing temps of your choice?
Or just bypass that altogether and use a manual switch?




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