Electric Fans, Worth it?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

bottomline2000

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Posts
1,722
Reaction score
988
Location
Dallas, TX
Got a lot of time spent on my efan setup. I actually have an aftermarket set of Dorman fans for a '12 or '13 escalade from rock auto. I also have a factory set from an 05 yukon in a box in my garage that I pulled because I thought something was wrong with them. Turns out I just had a crappy lagging high output alternator that didn't make any power at idle. I haven't had that problem with my 270a dc power alternator but did have a problem keeping 40a relays in my Nelson harness. I finally rewired the harness to accept 70a-80a relays with the bigger blades and haven't had a problem since. I paid $250 for the factory fans from a yard, but I don't think they are any better than the $140 fans from Rock Auto. The ones from rock auto actually have more blades and seems a little quieter than the factory ones. My truck is weird and after two $600 alternators, 2 aftermarket harnesses, 2 sets of fans and finally rewiring a harness I have more invested in efans than anyone on this board because I hated that clutch fan and refused to give up on the efans lol.

You have an 03 which has better fan control than our older models. I would do a factory harness if you can find it with new dorman fans from Rock auto rather than used factory fans from a yard..Nelson makes a nice harness but i needed bigger relays to mae it work..your truck will work better in every way from heating up in the winter and cooling down in the summer without worry of burning down you truck because the clutch fan can't keep up. Power loss seemed to be higher with the clutch engaged and I just don't like the way they sound and worrying about them cooling in 100 Deg TX heat.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

Turbo Riv61636

TYF Newbie
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Posts
2
Reaction score
1
For all those who have done this swap, I recently completed mine and have noticed something odd about when the high fan 2 kicks in. Recently, in the mornings (50-60*), I put the defroster on and eventually switch to heat and notice that the high fan 2 will cycle on for about 5 seconds and then off and it repeats this process about every ten seconds. This is before the engine reaches operating temp and continues to do so once to temp. I verified the I tied into the correct a/c switch wire, per the LS1fans install instructions, so im baffled as to why this would be happening. Otherwise, this has been a great improvement.
 

bottomline2000

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Posts
1,722
Reaction score
988
Location
Dallas, TX
For all those who have done this swap, I recently completed mine and have noticed something odd about when the high fan 2 kicks in. Recently, in the mornings (50-60*), I put the defroster on and eventually switch to heat and notice that the high fan 2 will cycle on for about 5 seconds and then off and it repeats this process about every ten seconds. This is before the engine reaches operating temp and continues to do so once to temp. I verified the I tied into the correct a/c switch wire, per the LS1fans install instructions, so im baffled as to why this would be happening. Otherwise, this has been a great improvement.
Your defroster engages your ac compressor. The fan turns on to cool the condensor not because of engine temp. You will find the fans cycle with the clutch engagement of the compressor. It's normal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 

Turbo Riv61636

TYF Newbie
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Posts
2
Reaction score
1
That's what I thought at first too, but it does the same thing once I move the switch to regular heat.

So I figured it out, if the recirc or a/c button is on, the a/c compressor will cycle on and off. Guess that makes sense.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Tonyrodz

Tonyrodz

Resident Resident
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Posts
31,702
Reaction score
47,420
Location
Central Jersey
For all those who have done this swap, I recently completed mine and have noticed something odd about when the high fan 2 kicks in. Recently, in the mornings (50-60*), I put the defroster on and eventually switch to heat and notice that the high fan 2 will cycle on for about 5 seconds and then off and it repeats this process about every ten seconds. This is before the engine reaches operating temp and continues to do so once to temp. I verified the I tied into the correct a/c switch wire, per the LS1fans install instructions, so im baffled as to why this would be happening. Otherwise, this has been a great improvement.
Once you installed the fans did you have to get it tuned to turn the fans on? I bought a set of fans, now I have to get the harness from LS1 FANS also. Could you post up some pics of the install. Was it a direct fit once you pulled the clutch fan out? How hard was it to get the old fan out? Tia.
 

dhulsey779

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2014
Posts
181
Reaction score
114
Location
Phila
Once you installed the fans did you have to get it tuned to turn the fans on? I bought a set of fans, now I have to get the harness from LS1 FANS also. Could you post up some pics of the install. Was it a direct fit once you pulled the clutch fan out? How hard was it to get the old fan out? Tia.
When I did mine it was a direct bolt up. I purchased my harness from Nelson Performance, and it was super easy to install and was $89 for the kit. de5b63aa6580e356a719f44c7faf431b.jpgBB performance sent me a tuned ECM in which it already had the fans programmed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Tonyrodz

Tonyrodz

Resident Resident
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Posts
31,702
Reaction score
47,420
Location
Central Jersey
When I did mine it was a direct bolt up. I purchased my harness from Nelson Performance, and it was super easy to install and was $89 for the kit. de5b63aa6580e356a719f44c7faf431b.jpgBB performance sent me a tuned ECM in which it already had the fans programmed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice! I can't wait to do mine. Nelson Performance still sell them?
 

Rocket Man

Mark
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Posts
26,006
Reaction score
50,868
Location
Oregon
Nice! I can't wait to do mine. Nelson Performance still sell them?
www.LS1fans.com has them for about the same price and I feel they're better quality but either is probably fine. They (LS1fans.com) also sell overdrive pulleys for your alternator which is a good idea since you'll see your voltage drop when the fans kick on. The pulley upgrade adds output to your stock alternator.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,705
Posts
1,872,885
Members
97,521
Latest member
Chaos49090

Latest posts

Top