Radiator Cooling Fans not getting power?? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

John Rambo · 05-31-2014, 09:51 PM

Hey guys, I know this is going to be one heck of a first post, but I recently turbocharged my BRZ by installing a Full Blown Base Kit. I installed the kit and flashed the car with the base tune and had a few issues with oil leaking from the pan and a return line from the turbo but I got those sorted and thought I was ready to enjoy my car.

However, recently I noticed neither of the two radiator slim fans are turning on. I tested the two connections with my multi meter and it seems neither of the fans are getting power, car on or off (with ignition in accessory mode), AC on or off. I checked the fuses, the fan relay, and it all seems good. The car was working perfectly before for a few gas tanks worth of miles and the fans were spinning before, so I am very confused and thought I'd come to the forum where I always lurk for help. It seems like it's unrelated from my turbo install, considering the fans were working before and after the install.

I am also getting code P0117, but I think this is just a result of my coolant that got really hot one time when I was sitting at a red light with the fans that weren't turning on (gauge on the dash went into the red)

It would be appreciated if you guys let me know what you think I should do to fix this! Thanks in advance

White64Goat · 05-31-2014, 10:00 PM

My first thought would be to take it back to whomever installed your FB kit and have them fix it (unless you did it yourself). If you did it yourself then I'd contact FB and ask some questions.

HapaHaole · 06-01-2014, 02:19 AM

Check your coolant temp sensor and make sure it's plugged in.

Reaper · 06-01-2014, 02:54 AM

How are you checking to see if they have power?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

John Rambo · 06-01-2014, 01:51 PM

I checked to see if they have power by using a multimeter and testing the leads on the connector to the fan, and then turning on and off the car and AC. Where is the coolant temp sensor so I can make sure it's plugged in? Can anyone take a quick photo of it so I know where to look? It can't hurt to check it but it wouldn't make sense for it to just pop off, because the car was running fine literally last week.

Reaper · 06-01-2014, 01:56 PM

did you check all three (3) relays to the fans? do they have power?

John Rambo · 06-01-2014, 02:28 PM

I didn't test to see if they were having power, I just swapped the relays with other relays in the fuse box and the fans didn't turn on and whatever I swapped the relays from still worked... would this be sufficient? How would I go about actually testing to see if they have power?

John Rambo · 06-01-2014, 06:19 PM

Okay, I have an update. So instead of the relays for the fans (fan1 relay and fan2 relay), I put paperclips and got 12v to show up on both fan connections, but the fans seem to have broken as they aren't spinning. I checked my stock fans with the connection and they work, so I solved part of the problem. My question now is why with the relays in do I not get 12v on either fan? Are they both broken? Or is the fan3 relay broken?

billwot · 06-01-2014, 07:13 PM

The fans are thermostatically controlled. The only run when radiator temps call for more cooling.

They also run when A/C is on (they function as condensor fans)

Reaper · 06-01-2014, 07:25 PM

yup fans aren't being triggered by the ecm. Which is probably because of your DTC. Sounds like you have a coolant temp issue and the car got hot enough to toast the fans. I had one die on the dyno and then it got hot enough pulling it out into the parking lot to kill the other one.

DarkSunrise · 06-01-2014, 08:18 PM

This may be obvious, but be very careful if driving around without radiator fans. Easy way to warp a head gasket or worse.

mike the snake · 06-01-2014, 08:20 PM

The thin Full Blown fans died on me quickly. My fans never made it off the dyno.

This is a good time to upgrade to the Spal fans, and FB radiator and shroud.

Contact FB. After switching to the FB radiator/spal fans/and shroud, my car's coolant temps are rock solid.

Also, even if you use the stock radiator, I suggest you move the radiator forward to gain some much needed clearance from the turbo and downpipe.

This requires a small amount of fab work but it's pretty easy.

Sportsguy83 · 06-02-2014, 11:48 AM

@Ironsquid

ThisGuy919 · 08-27-2014, 11:17 PM

Was this ever resolved? Having similar issue with the spal fans not turning on (Had to splice these into the wires though) just noticed it today. Will check for blown fuse in the morning. (Jdl kit)

05-31-2014, 09:51 PM	#1
John Rambo Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: Turbo BRZ Limited 6MT Location: Los Angeles Posts: 116 Thanks: 47 Thanked 48 Times in 25 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Radiator Cooling Fans not getting power?? Hey guys, I know this is going to be one heck of a first post, but I recently turbocharged my BRZ by installing a Full Blown Base Kit. I installed the kit and flashed the car with the base tune and had a few issues with oil leaking from the pan and a return line from the turbo but I got those sorted and thought I was ready to enjoy my car. However, recently I noticed neither of the two radiator slim fans are turning on. I tested the two connections with my multi meter and it seems neither of the fans are getting power, car on or off (with ignition in accessory mode), AC on or off. I checked the fuses, the fan relay, and it all seems good. The car was working perfectly before for a few gas tanks worth of miles and the fans were spinning before, so I am very confused and thought I'd come to the forum where I always lurk for help. It seems like it's unrelated from my turbo install, considering the fans were working before and after the install. I am also getting code P0117, but I think this is just a result of my coolant that got really hot one time when I was sitting at a red light with the fans that weren't turning on (gauge on the dash went into the red) It would be appreciated if you guys let me know what you think I should do to fix this! Thanks in advance

06-01-2014, 02:54 AM	#4
Reaper in orbe terrum non visi Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: violent Location: Mountains Posts: 1,747 Thanks: 279 Thanked 762 Times in 446 Posts Mentioned: 62 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	How are you checking to see if they have power? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk __________________ I have E85 where there isn't E85, that's my secret. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...t=reaper+build

06-01-2014, 01:56 PM	#6
Reaper in orbe terrum non visi Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: violent Location: Mountains Posts: 1,747 Thanks: 279 Thanked 762 Times in 446 Posts Mentioned: 62 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	did you check all three (3) relays to the fans? do they have power? __________________ I have E85 where there isn't E85, that's my secret. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...t=reaper+build Last edited by Reaper; 06-01-2014 at 02:07 PM.

06-01-2014, 07:25 PM	#10
Reaper in orbe terrum non visi Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: violent Location: Mountains Posts: 1,747 Thanks: 279 Thanked 762 Times in 446 Posts Mentioned: 62 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	yup fans aren't being triggered by the ecm. Which is probably because of your DTC. Sounds like you have a coolant temp issue and the car got hot enough to toast the fans. I had one die on the dyno and then it got hot enough pulling it out into the parking lot to kill the other one. __________________ I have E85 where there isn't E85, that's my secret. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...t=reaper+build

06-01-2014, 08:18 PM	#11
DarkSunrise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 22 BRZ (Previously 13 FR-S) Location: USA Posts: 5,797 Thanks: 2,186 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,221 Posts Mentioned: 48 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	This may be obvious, but be very careful if driving around without radiator fans. Easy way to warp a head gasket or worse. __________________ "Never run out of real estate, traction, and ideas at the same time." 2022 BRZ Build 2013 FR-S Build

05-31-2014, 10:00 PM	#2
White64Goat Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 BRZ CBS LTD MT, 02 WRX Location: Fred. Co. Md. Posts: 2,351 Thanks: 65 Thanked 1,113 Times in 628 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	My first thought would be to take it back to whomever installed your FB kit and have them fix it (unless you did it yourself). If you did it yourself then I'd contact FB and ask some questions.

06-01-2014, 01:51 PM	#5
John Rambo Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: Turbo BRZ Limited 6MT Location: Los Angeles Posts: 116 Thanks: 47 Thanked 48 Times in 25 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I checked to see if they have power by using a multimeter and testing the leads on the connector to the fan, and then turning on and off the car and AC. Where is the coolant temp sensor so I can make sure it's plugged in? Can anyone take a quick photo of it so I know where to look? It can't hurt to check it but it wouldn't make sense for it to just pop off, because the car was running fine literally last week.

06-01-2014, 02:28 PM	#7
John Rambo Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: Turbo BRZ Limited 6MT Location: Los Angeles Posts: 116 Thanks: 47 Thanked 48 Times in 25 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I didn't test to see if they were having power, I just swapped the relays with other relays in the fuse box and the fans didn't turn on and whatever I swapped the relays from still worked... would this be sufficient? How would I go about actually testing to see if they have power?

06-01-2014, 06:19 PM	#8
John Rambo Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: Turbo BRZ Limited 6MT Location: Los Angeles Posts: 116 Thanks: 47 Thanked 48 Times in 25 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Okay, I have an update. So instead of the relays for the fans (fan1 relay and fan2 relay), I put paperclips and got 12v to show up on both fan connections, but the fans seem to have broken as they aren't spinning. I checked my stock fans with the connection and they work, so I solved part of the problem. My question now is why with the relays in do I not get 12v on either fan? Are they both broken? Or is the fan3 relay broken?

06-01-2014, 07:13 PM	#9
billwot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: '11 Cayman , '14 Camry, '11 Tacoma Location: Eastern NC Posts: 509 Thanks: 57 Thanked 396 Times in 198 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	The fans are thermostatically controlled. The only run when radiator temps call for more cooling. They also run when A/C is on (they function as condensor fans)

06-01-2014, 08:20 PM	#12
mike the snake Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Norcal Posts: 1,592 Thanks: 1 Thanked 623 Times in 378 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The thin Full Blown fans died on me quickly. My fans never made it off the dyno. This is a good time to upgrade to the Spal fans, and FB radiator and shroud. Contact FB. After switching to the FB radiator/spal fans/and shroud, my car's coolant temps are rock solid. Also, even if you use the stock radiator, I suggest you move the radiator forward to gain some much needed clearance from the turbo and downpipe. This requires a small amount of fab work but it's pretty easy.

08-27-2014, 11:17 PM	#14
ThisGuy919 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: North Carolina Posts: 201 Thanks: 77 Thanked 24 Times in 19 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Was this ever resolved? Having similar issue with the spal fans not turning on (Had to splice these into the wires though) just noticed it today. Will check for blown fuse in the morning. (Jdl kit)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: Robispec Radiator (Massive radiator and liquid to liquid oil cooler in one)	Sportsguy83	Engine, Exhaust, Bolt-Ons	15	05-27-2014 01:18 PM
What would improve overall/global cooling more: Oil Cooler or Performance Radiator?	fooddude	Tracking / Autocross / HPDE / Drifting	22	04-15-2014 12:48 PM
Question for Subaru veteran repair and ecu guys:radiator fans	Huehuecoyotl	Engine, Exhaust, Transmission	11	04-14-2014 07:19 AM
Bleed air from radiator/cooling system?	OnionTou	Engine, Exhaust, Transmission	2	03-28-2014 09:54 PM
APR Radiator Cooling Plate Carbon Fiber w/ TRD Intake Subaru BRZ 2013-2014 / Scion FR	RallySport Direct	Engine, Exhaust, Bolt-Ons	0	02-27-2014 06:25 PM

User Name		Remember Me?
Password