Change temp that cooling fan comes on
 

After reading many posts I see the fan comes on by the grounding of the switch on the top of the right radiator at about 217 f. I see some guys have installed a switch to turn it on at will. Does anybody know of a switch that closes at about 190f. Why wait for the bike to get to 217f before action is taken, it would be a lot cooler on the legs in traffic.

Nissan part number 21595-01A00... switches on at about 195, off at about 185. Go to your local auto store and find the cheapest one. It should be around twenty bucks.

It has a separate ground terminal, so you'll have to run a wire to your frame, otherwise the thread pitch is the same and it just screws right in.

I watch my temp like a hawk, therefore I prefer to have a manual switch which I rigged with some parts from Radio Shack. E- mail me if you're interested in the specs I used. Pretty straight forward install.
Patton303@gmail.com. : )

I think once the engine is hot it's going to be hot. I'm not so sure you're going to tell much of a difference if the fan kicks on at 195° or 217°. But it will be interesting to see what you think of it once you do it! Keep us posted! :)

My thoughts
 

I think I will just go w/ the switch- a lighted one- so I don't forget it's on as the fan is pretty quiet. Thanks for the part # of the fan switch but not sure if that cut on switch is low enough. The temp on the gage- newer hawks- is the temp coming directly out of the eng at the thermostat. the temp the fan comes on 216f on the gage is really not the temp the fan switch is seeing , it is much lower, it is the coolest temp in the system after the radiators just before it goes back to the waterpump. I am curious, if anyone is about to do a coolant change and has the syst open, remove the fan switch. Place it in a pyrex cup of water on the stove hooked to an ohm meter w/ a thermometer in the water. Find out what the actual on/off range the fan switch operates. it won't be 216 on 210 off but lower.

So yes you will notice when it comes on early cuz it keeps it cooler. I have been obsessing over this for a year now.

The dilemma with the cute lighted switch is that it cant handle fan power without a relay. It will be cute for a minute & then melt at the worst possible time. You could just get a 30amp switch like I did.

I also got a low temp fan switch (90c). I tried an 80* one but the fan ran too much. Just make sure you DONT DEFEAT THE STOCK SWITCH. You will forget and kill the bike.

I could not find that nissan switch anywhere so got a honda one off fleabay.

Thanks for the input
 

I checked the wiring diagram, looks like the fan fuse is 10 amps so I bought a 20 amp switch. I tee'ed into the wire going to the orig. switch so it will still come on if I don't throw the switch. I also used the same gauge wire. I'll have it done in a few days, other projects going

That's what I did.... A 30 amp switch.... And presto....

Best bang for the buck
 

Great mod! easy and cheap with a big payoff. Temp has not exceeded 190 even sitting in traffic at 90 degrees. Turn it on when I think I will be stopped for a while and the bike never gets to uncomfortable. Fan shuts off w/ the ignition switch so if I forget to turn it off I won't run the battery down.

I have the switch but dont like the distraction so am going with the lower temp auto switch. Similar result but no distraction plus I can turn it on if I want.

I see what u mean by the distraction, right now it's cool a new switch to play with but if u can come up with a part # for a switch in that perfect temp range I would do it. I mounted the switch on the left side frame just behind the steering head on that black sticker. I can flip it w/out taking my hand off the throttle or brake. Thanks Smokin joe

Hey just thinking, would you have to change your oil weight because of a lower than factory setting operating temp? or is the difference too negligible to matter?

BTW canceled my order with Ron for the factory replacement after reading this thread an verifying it on other forums...

For sure no about the oil as its meant for the range of temps the bike will operate which is huge. (0-110*F).

Good to know. Thanks Joe!

Just replaced my Fan switch with a lower temp unit,
Niehoff TS25041 Coolant Temperature Switch
This is a 90C switch instead of the OEM 100C switch

http://www.remartautoparts.com/searchitem.epc
They also sell this part on ebay for a little more.
Niehoff TS25041 Coolant Temperature Switch New | eBay

Less than $15 to my door, comes on at 195F , off at 193F.
Stock switch would turn on the fan at 215F.

Remove the plug from the new switch, solder a couple of wires, ground one and connect the other to the switch lead from the wiring harness and it's good to go.

Do not use the o-ring that comes with the switch, use some Permatex automotive silicone gasket maker on the thread/seating area and let it cure before you fill up the radiator.

Thanks XB9
 

Just ordered the switch, Thanks for the info.

Aw man xb9fog, I paid way more for mine. This may make a good backup though. Mine comes on at 88*C but same idea. Not sure yet if 88 is too low but so far its good.

Question for xb9
 

Got my switch today. Put it on the stove w/ cup of water and a good thermometer and yes the switch closed at 195f and opened at 189f give or take. Now my statement is- this does not mean that is the temp range I will see on my digital gage. The actual temp this switch sees is after the coolant has gone thru the rad. The actual temp coming out of the eng near the thermostat is much hotter and that is where the sender to the gage is located. Now my question- what range do you see on your gage, I am assuming you have a newer bike.

I've not really looked at the difference in temp, but there's about a 10 second delay between when the gauges read the "on" temp on my bike and when the fan actually turns on.

It depends on how hot it is outside and how fast I'm moving for how much that temp climbs in that 10 or so seconds.

Yeah I have not seen a big difference between (in lag time) when my temp guage says 87ish (C) and the fan coming on(same moment). Also all these switches are rated at +/- 5 degrees so it is more of a range than a pinpoint. I do like the fan coming on earlier, keeps the bike ahead of the game so to speak.

on/off temp i posted above was actual from the dash temp digital readout on my '04,
idling, so no airflow through the radiator (until the fan kicks on).

Riding the bike, i don't see the temp exceeding 197F now. With the stock switch i would see an occasional 220F on a hot day.

So this is good for roughly a 20F reduction in temp

Thanks xb9Fog
 

installed the temp sw. you sugg. and fan comes on at 197 off at 195. I still have the manual switch I can turn on at any time but if I get lazy and don't use it my 03 bike never gets over 200 sitting in traffic on a 95 degree day here in Tampa.

Must be a lot of folks got the same idea. These seem to be temporarily unobtanium...

Took me alot of searching to find mine. No auto parts guys had it. Look on e bay.