Recall Notice, FAN RELAY

[Bitsyncmaster]

I kept an eye on that when driving around today. It was quite hot today. The car kept its cool and the fans were working fine. I noticed that the fan fail light is coming on when the car is not in movement. It stayed off when the car was on the highway but came on when I stopped at a traffic light (engine still running). I stopped it in the garage and the light came on again. Initially flashing and then solid on. It stayed on for the 20 seconds after the engine was turned off and went off after that. I had a stopover at my friend Dave's and he checked with me the fans and they both came on and were working fine. I also checked the fuses in your fan module and they are both fine.

I am not sure what is going on.

You have an option to change the fan current compare value to a higher difference. What is your voltage at idle? Can you do a fan current measurement?

[Bitsyncmaster]

Is there a way we can apply this update ourselves?

Sending internationally is a royal pain in the...

I wish there was. I have to machine the edge of the potting off, solder on 5 wires, reprogram and then pot that area and paint.

Maybe a bunch of you in an area can send the units in one package.

[Tillsy]

Just a thought, perhaps future versions of your various devices could have a tiny port that one can plug into for uploading updates?

[Bitsyncmaster]

Just a thought, perhaps future versions of your various devices could have a tiny port that one can plug into for uploading updates?

I've thought of that also. If I mounted the micro on the lower PCB it would be easy but all my units have the micro on the upper PCB.

[vps3922]

You have an option to change the fan current compare value to a higher difference. What is your voltage at idle? Can you do a fan current measurement?

How would I achieve that? Where would I have to measure (best spots to connect current meter?)?

[Bitsyncmaster]

How would I achieve that? Where would I have to measure (best spots to connect current meter?)?

The best way to measure fan current is to use a clamp on current device. Then you don't introduce voltage drops so you read the real current that the fans draw (do with engine running). With that you would just clamp over one of the fan wires up near the fans under the car. I use a clamp device that converts to voltage and plugs into my standard meter but they sell self contained units. Look on Ebay.

I think they sell a meter that plugs into a fuse to read current also. That may be your second option to measure the current.

Most common meters will not handle more than 10 amps and even if it does you need heavy gauge test leads to reduce voltage drops.

Look on my web site for instructions to reprogram the unit options.

[vps3922]

The best way to measure fan current is to use a clamp on current device. Then you don't introduce voltage drops so you read the real current that the fans draw (do with engine running). With that you would just clamp over one of the fan wires up near the fans under the car. I use a clamp device that converts to voltage and plugs into my standard meter but they sell self contained units. Look on Ebay.

I think they sell a meter that plugs into a fuse to read current also. That may be your second option to measure the current.

Most common meters will not handle more than 10 amps and even if it does you need heavy gauge test leads to reduce voltage drops.

Look on my web site for instructions to reprogram the unit options.

Thanks! I will check the current programmed state of your module these days. I have a feeling that it is set to state 1 and might need to get switched to state 2.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I've shipped two returned updated units. I've marked the unit with a "B2" on the side so you don't see revision marking when installed.

There is a test you can do to see if your still at the old original software (All previous fan relays had no revision and all used the same original software). With your key on (engine not running), switch your AC on and then off, wait the 20 seconds until your fans turn off, then immediately turn the AC back on. If your fans don't come on your still not updated.

Why this occurs so seldom (if ever) is, if your AC is on the fans never shut off. If your AC is off the otterstat will not come back on within 20 seconds. So I would think it could only occur if your switching the AC on or off after your engine is up to normal running temp and it just coincides with the fans turning off.

[Kevin]

I got my relay back today, installed it, performed the test, all seems well! Thanks for the quick turnaround on this, and thanks for offering to correct the issue for us! Much appreciated.

[vps3922]

I wanted to update my settings on the Fan Fail module and noticed that one of the fans actually does not spin. So I am on a single fan at the moment and that explains why the light goes on. Damn! Dave G. said that both would spin, but they do not. Or it gradually got worse and now it stopped spinning.

Just wanted to let you know that your module seems ok and is in perfect working condition.