cooling fans issues

[9092dsm]

i have a 90 talon tsi and the previous owner wired up 2 aftermarket slim fans to come on with the a/c button since owning the car the first plug on the harness to the fans melted around one of the pins so i replaced with a new harness plug and now same thing happened but this time with a new harness no luck in the fans powering on would i be able to just run a 25 amp toggle switch and run the fans or would i need some sort of relay thanks in advance

 

[randman2011]

I would always recommend a relay. You may be able to get by without one, but why risk it when relays are so cheap? You are intending to essentially redo all of the wiring between the fans and the switch inside the car? If the harnesses keep melting, it sounds like you may want to reconsider how they're routed as well or secure them better than the previous owner did.

 

[9092dsm]

I would always recommend a relay. You may be able to get by without one, but why risk it when relays are so cheap? You are intending to essentially redo all of the wiring between the fans and the switch inside the car? If the harnesses keep melting, it sounds like you may want to reconsider how they're routed as well or secure them better than the previous owner did.

I was planning on using a toggle switch inside the car to power the fans on and skip the stock wiring all together.

 

[1990dsmkid]

My slim fan is wired directly to a toggle switch and Ive had no problems and its been like this for over 2yrs now. You should be fine wiring them to a switch just watch how you route the wires so they dont melt or get caught in something

 

[randman2011]

I would run the wires through the firewall to a relay inside the car, then do whatever you want with the switch. High current switches tend to be more prone to failure (I'm looking at you, Volvo window switches!) and running everything through a relay means that you don't have to worry about arcing or spot welding the switch closed.

 

[9092dsm]

okay sounds like that's what I'm going to do thanks for the help i really appreciate it.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Definaltely run a relay. My 90 had a fan wired directly to a toggle inside and it had enough draw on it that the toggle quit working this last week. It is for a 3rd (yes 3rd) fan so I am ok but will replace it and use a relay to handle the load not the switch. Just a suggestion.

 

[9092dsm]

Definaltely run a relay. My 90 had a fan wired directly to a toggle inside and it had enough draw on it that the toggle quit working this last week. It is for a 3rd (yes 3rd) fan so I am ok but will replace it and use a relay to handle the load not the switch. Just a suggestion.

ya i'm defiantly going to use a relay with it im looking at a 25amp toggle so hopefully that should do it.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

With a relay, you could run a 1 amp toggle switch, since it is only turning the relay on or off, not much draw. You can save a buk or two and apply it to the relay price (4-5 buks). Just for information. It is always good to run a high amp draw item with a relay. Do I do it.....sometimes to get by I will not run one to start with but I know it will burn out soon if it see's a large amp load.

 

[Puff0725]

Just to touch on the subject. Relays are normally used in situations where something draws a larger amount of current like PIAA fog lights, a brake controller, so on and so forth. As long as you run a fused link with a toggle switch you'll be fine. However if you are set on running a kit with a relay several different off-road light company's that you could by a kit from if you didn't feel like making your own. If you have an questions man let me know.

 

[mean4g]

I would always recommend a relay. You may be able to get by without one, but why risk it when relays are so cheap? You are intending to essentially redo all of the wiring between the fans and the switch inside the car? If the harnesses keep melting, it sounds like you may want to reconsider how they're routed as well or secure them better than the previous owner did.

+1. Fans draw a lot of current. A relay is certainly the safest and preferred way.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Info - the 20 amp toggle I bought last night to temorarily replace the one running my fan got very warm running one factory fan. That is why I am going to put a relay in line, to cut out the draw on the toggle switch. They shouldn't get warm/hot during use and mine was last night. I'm digging out my relay tonight.