Here's my story.
My two core radiator started to leak from the junction of the end tank and cross tubes, so I put my original single core back in. The coolant was at .49v. I regrounded the efans all the way back to the battery with 10 ga, but no coolant change.
After a few weeks, the charge was at .28. I installed an aluminum coolant tank, still the same coolant, and a week later the charge was at .10.
Sounds like a grounding issue with the fans to me.

 

Since you guys are late to the game and appears you did not completely read the entire thread...Yes, I originally blamed the e-fans, but I think those were eliminated as the culprit back on page 1.

 

Hey Galaxy, I remember your problem. - I Didn't go-over the thread, don't feel like it - I don't recall you finding the culprit, if I remember right ?


OWNLOWF - Clutch bearings froze in my 98 , well close to it I think. I can barley spin it by hand. I can usually pull an empty trailer (1900 lbs gross) in OD/StockTune/355 x 9.75 Rear Gear/Beefed E4OD/ @ 71 MPH/ 2100 RPM without it downshifting on the hills (That's where the torques hot spot happens to be right now w/o a tune) . Use to get decent mileage empty tho.

I have to kill the OD now and run in tow - EMPTY.... ! - Looking into the MARK VIII package when I get her back home ( if I make it , 400 miles to go). I have to do something now and heard that's best kit for the older modulars.

Mark VIII E-Fan {kit}/ UD Pulleys/ - Then I better hit the Dyno down @ Livernois and get her dialed back in (If they can slip me in). I think that should keep me going for awhile ..

BTW - Why in the hell did you use your old coolant in your original single core. It's pretty much useless after it's charged I thought - sounds like you got lucky tho after waiting it out (didn't know u could do that) ... - Can't PM you ?

 

jbrew - My bad on reusing the coolant. I was busy / lazy then, and about the time I got back to it the voltage had dropped enough.

Galaxy - Call me forgetful. I read most of this thread back in the day, just bad memory.
Still, my results are as posted above.

 

yea - says u pm'ed me, I can't seem to open mine darmet !! - we are only 200 miles out now , - loaded: daughter has the wheel lol..- damn , she's in the 3 gear @ 3100 doing 76 mph .
that fans not robbing any power at 3100. I bet fluids just broke down inside the housing. 252,000 miles might have something to do with that.

 

Time for an E-fan.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

yea yea , I'm due. We just got back. I grabbed a 3' piece of 1/4" round stock to try to pinpoint a metal scratching sound when it's idling, it's real faint but I know somethings up. With one end as close to each pulley as I could get it- and the other end plugged into my skull somewhere, I tried to pinpoint the noise.

The alternator sounded like always (Like 5 10 ton boulders rolling down a 8% grade ) Water pump seemed fine ? (Thought that would be the culprit). Everything seemed okay except for the tensioner. It's loud! Doesn't really sound like it's bad, but it might be. I did replace the serp belt two weeks ago after I noticed the rib on the engine side was - No more (missing , gone, history)..? - Prolly just wear and tear, I can't recall when I changed it last.

Yea, the fan has to go I think. The fricken thing bit me when I was poking at the pulleys for a sound check. Yea those plastic ones sting like a b^tch when they nip yuh (counted my fingers 3 times over after that one )

So the fans suppose to revolute pretty close to a full turn by hand, engine off of course. I can turn it easy, but it won't spin more than an inch or so after I let go.

Exploring options - The MARK VIII kit ( ONE fan that doesn't pull enough juice to worry about and runs off ONE controller) is looking the best

 

You won't regret using the Mark VIII efan....mine has done the job better than expected. Many ways to mount and wire them, I trimmed the Mark VIII to fit in my stock F150 shroud very simular to this.........http://www.madenterprise.com/fanstuff.htm

I decided to make my own controller so to speak by using 2 80 amp relays and a flexalite t-stat switch. Be warned these fans will pull a lot of amps a start up and then ease out, I went through a couple of fuse blocks before I discovered some maxi fuses from of all places Walmart did the best job and haven't had a problem since.

After reading his thread I find myself making it a routine when I check my engine bay every so often to put the fluke in the coolant to check the voltage.

 

Thanks for the info -- ALLOT!! That will save me time. Had some saved at one time, but lost it!! - So, I planned to set time aside to investigate the procedure before going ahead with it.

I have MEGA and MAXI fuse blocks on this truck -

MEGA -



MAXI -



I think the 02' s have just the mini set ups -- "factory" .

 

Man....your engine compartment is waaaaay too clean! My 02 has the same mini/max distribution box.....but not your mega fuses. I'm taking it you added those to your truck some time ago.

Here is the dual fuses blocks for each speed of the mark VIII fan;



My dual relay set-up...one is on top of the other and mounted on the passenger side of the shroud;



The flexalite thermostat switch and I found a cover for, I mounted on the driver's side of the shroud;



And a shot of Mark VIII efan mounted in the shroud opening;

 

Mannn, nice pics!! Great Info!! Thanks for posting that. I stuffed this link in a folder so I can reference it out in the shop easily. I'm looking forward to doing this, but I have a few other tasks to do first (the kind that's not much fun ).

97 -98 Modulars and even the V6 power-plants have MAXI fuse's mounted front side of the harness plug cradle on the firewall. They changed that in 99, in fact they changed fuse type and locations many times over the years.

Yea , I keep it clean when time allows. Fortunately, it's either parked in the shop or garaged. Trying to get 300,000 out of this motor and I'm getting close. Just pulled a 600 mile run with it/ half of that was with a loaded tandem box trailer. A little on the heavy side, but she didn't use any oil. Never burns it empty. The engine usually will use a little pulling heavy - didn't this time around? I guess there's nothing wrong with that. :o