I have got the FAL Monster 270 fans hooked up as pullers. My problem is when sitting in traffic, my truck begins to overheat and the air conditioner starts blowing hot air. I have set the VSC damn near its lowest setting to force the fans to come on. I don't think they are running when in stop and go traffic or sitting still in drive and idling. This really sucks since it only happens when sitting or in traffic. Anybody had this problem? Is the VSC bad? Any help is appreciated.

Just to add: The fans have been working great since I installed them about three months ago (new).

Thanks,

Jim

 

Before you drive in traffic, you should have set and tested the fans in your driveway.

Double check your wiring.

Did you connect the radiator temp probe to the right terminals ?

Did you connect the fan power wires up properly with regards to polarity ? If backwards, they won't work effectively. Remember, the fan wire that is BLUE is negative; the BLACK wire is positive (stupid Flex-A-Lite)!!

Good luck...

 

Yeh, set and tested when I installed them three months ago. Just starting having the problem I described yesterday. They have been working fine. I am thinking the controller is going south on me.

 

What's the cfm rating on each fan? I had dual 16" e-fans on my truck, I was told that they were the correct fans for my application but I had the same problem, they weren't cooling the engine properly and the truck would overheat. After making some calls to the distributor and the manufacturer, I found out that in fact they were not the correct fans at all. They were rated at 2000 cfm each and Permacool said that wasn't even close to what I needed, especially in the Phoenix summer weather. Just cover your bases.

 

Dual 15" blades moving 5500 CFM!

 

Sounds like the A/C problem is seperate, how's it do w/o A/C on? You should be able to hear them if they come on. I'm thinking there is something more to this, bad stat maybe or something unrelated to the fans. Hard to say, but many say the VSC controllers aren't the greatest so something else to look into as well. The fans run 3300 cfm's at 60 percent and 5500 cfm's at 100 percent, coming on 10 degrees higher than temp setting. I don't think mine have ever been 100 percent but I'll bet they're loud. Wish I could help more but good luck just the same.

 

I can tell you for sure that 3300 cfm isn't going to cut it but more info is needed. What truck do you have? engine? Where do you live? Have a pressure check done on your rad just to make sure. I live in Phoenix, AZ. hotter than hell. In this climate, with a blower, I'm not sure any e-fan would cool enough. I checked my rad, and changed the stat to a 170* turned out it was just the fans so I'm back to the stock fan and clutch. I hate it but it keeps it cool. I am surprised that your running 15" fans, most run 16's.

 

Turned the AC off and the fans did not come on. They should have since I was sittin in traffic, air temp outside was about 99 degrees. Today I drove it and they worked fine until I pulled into my driveway. Fans shut off, no lights on the VSC were on and suddenly the led's light up and the fans come on. I'm leaning to a bad controller.......but not sure.

Thanks for your help,

Jim

 

I think one (light) should be on always, the second turns on with the A/C and I think there is 1-2 more, not sure. Maybe the thermistor probe or it's wire is crap, or like you say, the controller itself is ****. It was around 98-99 degrees here around Detroit, humid too and the old truck ran only slightly warmer than usual, in that the fans just cycled a bit more. You may still be covered under FAL warranty, find out.

 

I think at 3300 CFM the fans are only running and 60%. As temp increases the speed of the fans increase, therefore increasing the CFM until it reaches 5500 at 100%. It's been pretty hot here in Alabama, 98 degree days are typical with a couple of 100+ days thrown in. Given this, I think they run at 100% or pretty close to 100% most of the time. That's a good suggestion on the rad. Don't think there's a problem with it since it cools back down as soon as I start moving down the road. I've got a 99 F150 4X4 Lariat with a Lightning blower setup and custom tune. Thermostat is stock Lightning or 180 degrees, about four months old. Have not had one problem since it and the fans were installed. Just started happening. From looking at old posts on this board and a couple of others, there seems to be plenty of failures due to the VSC.

Thanks for your help,

Jim

 

Hey, thanks for your help and suggestions. When working correctly, I too always had one light on, LED 4, which I believe stays on, and indicates the controller is active. When I turn the AC on and the clutch engages, I have LED's #1,3,4 on, LED 1 being the fan signal and 3 indicating AC operation. Once again, this is when they are working right. I popped the hood today after driving it and the fans were off, no lights at all were on. I was thinking the LED 4 stays lit all the time since it is the ignition signal! While watching it run, LED 4 lights up and the fans came on. I'm going to contact FAL and see if they will send me another controller. The fans are less than six months old.

Thanks again,

Jim

 

You may also want to install two LEDs inside the cabin showing that voltage is at the Fans.
Connected right at the fans, the LEDs will show that the fans are in operation. During high speed driving, the fans rotate and feed back voltage to the LED - shows that the fan bearings are not frozen up.
Radio Shack makes nice 12v LED indicators for a few $.

Fritz

 

Thanks Fritz,

There's a Radio Shack right down the road from me. Heading that way in the AM.

Thanks,

Jim

 

Dixie99 -

If you end up needing a new controller, check out this link:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=231354

This controller is way better than the FAL unit and it is around the same price too...

 

Yeah,

I was looking at these too, as I don't want any E-Fan troubles.

Does anyone know the temperature range of these controllers? I was looking here:

http://www.customstreetdesigns.com/4062-FAN-PWM.htm

http://www.jaycorptech.com/showprodu...?productid=155

But it doesn't give the MAX temp range.

Thanks!