Radiator Fans Always On

[jman1200]

So my SHO has always had this "feature" since I bought it. I posted somewhere about this before but never dug into it but now that Winter is here and that I sometimes need to sit in the car waiting for my son to finish soccer practice, I want to try to fix this.
Reason I say that is because it seems the thermostat doesn't open when the car is idling with the rad fans on when below freezing temperatures, and the cabin doesn't get any heat unless I start revving it.

I read that the main causes for this are:
- Fan relay stuck
- Faulty AC high pressure sensor
- Fan module
My AC works fine so I started looking for the fan relay but I could not find it anywhere. I assumed it could be built into the fan control module so last night I decided to give that a few taps, just in case.

I took it back to stock as it was suggested it could be the tune. The engine was cold and the fans were off for the first time (I've noticed). Unfortunately I did not check at what coolant temperature setting the fans started to cycle.
Loaded my 87 octane tune that allows me to leave the 3 bar map sensor on during Winter and checked again. The fans were off again when I first started the engine. Not sure if this was because the engine was really cold or because me tapping the module.

Today I started monitoring the coolant temperature using the torque app. Fans started running shortly after I started driving but don't know yet at what temp.
I left the car idling for a bit and noticed the temp didn't go below 203 F, with the fans constantly running.

Tonight I'll spend some more time to find out at what temp setting they are coming on/off.

Anyone know what this magic number should be?
Anyone knows if there is a fan relay somewhere?

 

[stripSHO]

IIRC the factory sets the fans to come on at 210° coolant temp. They'll also come on based on refrigerant pressure or transmission temperature, can't remember the settings off the top of my head. Relays should be in the underhood fuse box. I can positively identify them when I get home tonight if needed.

I'm fairly sure the heater core receives flow regardless of whether the thermostat is open or closed. It sounds to me like an air pocket in the heater core. Is the coolant reservoir full?

 

[jman1200]

Good point, thanks. I'll check tonight.
Can yellow Prestone be used on this vehicle? IIRC got some of that at home.

I checked the fuse/relay box and there is nothing there, just the 80 amp fuse.

 

[luigisho]

It depends on what year and which fluid it came with from the factory. There was a change over during the production years from green to orange. I would say if it's green no, and if it's orange..I'd stick with orange, but I think you can mix yellow with orange. They are both organic based coolants. The green is inorganic and doesn't play as well with others.

 

[stripSHO]

Sorry I didn't see earlier you have a 2010. My 2016 has (3) radiator fan relays in the battery junction box. No idea about yours.

Color is completely irrelevant. It's just dye. Follow the owner's manual spec and make sure the bottle matches. You can't go wrong that way!

 

[jman1200]

So level was a bit low but not much.
Was planning on let it cool down to determine at what temp they are turning on but daughter just disappeared with the car...

 

[RandR10]

If you're running the defroster it will cycle the AC to dry the air. Whenever the AC is on the fans run continuous. Try seeing if that makes a difference.

 

[6500rpm]

^^^This. Turn your climate control completely off and drive it and see if the fans only turn on when engine temperature demands it.

 

[jman1200]

Thanks for the suggestion but that is not it. I've checked before with the system in other modes than defrost.

So tonight I waited for the engine to cool down, took it back to stock and tried again.
The fans came ON at 212F and cycled as never before. It is definitely a tune issue, with the 87 octane tune the fans come ON around 170F which is way too low, that is why these things are always running. Same with my 93 oct tune.

So I'm pleased to see that there is nothing wrong with the vehicle but frustrated that this is not something I'll be able to fix... unless I buy a new tune I can use during Winter, and who likes to throw money at an 87 oct tune...

 

[bpd1151]

Curious......

I'm unaware of any tuning vendor to date, that would charge you (or others) for a tune revision. Part of customer satisfaction/retention.

Especially this case, where it involves something as simple as setting a parameter for when the fans are set to turn on/off.

Notice I didn't ask who your tuning vendor is, because that's neither here, or there.

That said, confident you have the problem isolated specifically to a tune issue, perhaps reach out to said vendor, and after explaining the circumstances, request a change.....

And on their dime. Not yours. Good luck!

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[SM105K]

Curious......

I'm unaware of any tuning vendor to date, that would charge you (or others) for a tune revision. Part of customer satisfaction/retention.

Especially this case, where it involves something as simple as setting a parameter for when the fans are set to turn on/off.

Notice I didn't ask who your tuning vendor is, because that's neither here, or there.

That said, confident you have the problem isolated specifically to a tune issue, perhaps reach out to said vendor, and after explaining the circumstances, request a change.....

And on their dime. Not yours. Good luck!

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IIRC....JMan bought the car with the tunes already. If that is the case then most tuners will not roll over the tunes for the new owners. I completely understand why if that is the case. However, if Jman bought his tune, then there should not be a charge for a tune revision.

 

[jman1200]

That is exactly the case.

I once contacted the tuner with a question and although I told him who I bought the car from, he said he didn't have my name on file.

 

[SM105K]

That is exactly the case.

I once contacted the tuner with a question and although I told him who I bought the car from, he said he didn't have my name on file.

Sounds like you need to pay Torrie for his services, or move on to another tuner. Personally since you have a couple of tunes for various octane levels that you seem to like, I would pay Torrie and have him shore up the tunes brother. If you had a 13+ I would recommend the GH AO tune, however you cannot advantage of that.

 

[SHOdded]

Sounds like the tune has the fans set to turn on early. Useful if you drive in hot weather or are perpetually stuck in rush hour. Simpler that trans or engine cooling mods I guess.

 

[jman1200]

I understand that logic for the 93 tune but for the 87... I think something was missed or carried over from another base tune.
I'm planning on getting another tune when Summer comes, but it will be from someone else.
If it keeps bugging me I'll return it to stock and swap the MAP, not looking to throw any money at a low oct tune.

 

[bpd1151]

Makes total sense.

I was unaware you purchased the car with the tunes already installed in it.

Thus my previous suggestion.

When the time comes, that you decide to purchase new tunes, be sure to highlight the concerns you had with the fans, so that the newly purchased files are tailored to your wants/needs, and then go back to enjoying the $h!t out of your SHO!



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[stripSHO]

That's BS they won't fix what they screwed up in the first place. It would literally take them less than one minute to open both your files, change the setting to something appropriate, save, and email them back to you along with typing a note of "sorry I broke your heat. Please keep us in mind for any future tuning needs."

 

[bpd1151]

I kind of agree with you strip.....

But that said, at what point does a vendor decline tuning support?

I would think any (& all) vendors wouldn't necessarily be obligated to remedy any issues to owners that happen to purchase the vehicle 2nd hand, and with their tune on it.

Regardless of how simple the fix may be (which in this case, I agree should/would be a relatively easy fix).

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[SM105K]

If I was a tuner, I would not support a second hand customer. You gotta pay to play the game.

 

[jman1200]

That is the easy way out and many vendors/manufacturers go by that. Is it fair? maybe, maybe not. The vendor got paid so why should it support its product regardless of who has it? but the reality is that tons of things have non-transferable warranties... but service, IMO, should be provided.
I never expected much when I asked but maybe a "let me look into it... yes, it will cost you X" or "I'll fix it for you" ... that is how you gain a future customer and build business relationships. I agree 100% that something like a tune revision is out of the question, help finding a related issue and maybe fixing it for a fee, should be considered.
I never went back to the tuner after I got that reply 10 months ago and maybe he was crazy busy back then so let's not judge anyone.