3.4L 5VZFE with Electric Fans (99 4Runner)

4RunAmok

4RunAmok

Explorer
I'm thinking of getting these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOYOTA-4RUN...ltDomain_0&hash=item19cd52f729#ht_1100wt_1140

Has anyone else done anything similar? OR With these in particular? These are FF Dynamics (who?) fans, and I think a custom shroud...

Do I even NEED a shroud? The other dual fan options sell for less than HALF of this one, and they attach directly to the radiator..

Long story short, I need a new water pump (will be number 3 now, previous two both genuine Toyota), and I've heard that the weight of the fan messes with the water pump bearing, and causes failures, or some such deal. There are other advantages to the electric fans...

What say you?
 
keezer37

keezer37

Explorer
This fan is mounted in the shroud of a 4.0 Tacoma. Not vehicle specific anyways. You do not need all that other metal around it. This worked just fine. I bought it from Hayden Cooling through Amazon or Napa, can't remember. I mounted it in the existing shroud as I did not like the idea of strapping it directly to the radiator. I believe it was to be strapped to the front of the radiator so I just reversed the wires so it would spin the other way.
If you decide to look into this further, I can dredge up the info for you.

RadiatorElecFan.jpg
 
4RunAmok

4RunAmok

Explorer
Yeah, that's the other thing about that kit, it comes with everything to be able to adjust the fans to operate at a desired running temp, I run around 200 constantly right now, and figured I'd dial it in at 190
 
zidaro

zidaro

Explorer
I have been running flexalite E-fans for years. They have proven valuable to me and never let me down. I ran this one in my tacoma and now it is in my 87 runner that is getting a Lexus V8 conversion (yet to prove if it is effective there, but feel it will be more than adequate):

http://www.amazon.com/Flex-lite-675-Toyota-Electric/dp/B000CNHGIE

I do suggest switching the fan controller out for a variable speed unit that is much more reliable and has all the features you may want like ac, switched (for water crossings), more solid state.

http://www.amazon.com/Flex-lite-31165-Variable-Control/dp/B000CNN3LS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_2

More directly though- having a shroud is VERY important for focusing the draw across the entirety of your radiator. otherwise, you are simply only pulling air across the small area your fan is over. when you really need cooling, you wont be getting all it offers. That is why you will never see an oem setup w/o one. they size the radiator, fan, shroud as a system to be effective. Its one of the main reasons you see people dissing on e-fans, its cuz they dont install them correctly then ***** about it.
 
zidaro

zidaro

Explorer
keezer37 said:
RadiatorElecFan.jpg
Click to expand...

Digging this shroud with the reservoir mounted on it! Good example of how the fan will only be pulling from the area the fan is covering though. needs to have that area sealed between the fan and shroud.

Pullers are the way to go too!
 
keezer37

keezer37

Explorer
Caoboy said:
Keezer, what are you using for a switch?
Click to expand...

I used Hayden's 3651 fan controller which is not a radiator probe type but a sensor to be put in the coolant flow. At the time I read somewhere that they were more accurate than the radiator probe type due to crap/corrosion build up on the radiator probe and I had a convenient place to install the sensor so I went that route. However, the potentiometers on mine kept shorting out. I've lost two of them. Probably my fault. I should have taken better precaution protecting them when mounting them in the engine compartment.
I've pulled the electric fan some time ago because of these controllers. I could not find a quality substitute. The radiator probe zidaro linked looks pretty good. I could probably just cut the probe and solder my sensor in. Still, if and when I tackle this again (I hate working on electrical) it will all be better protected from the elements.
There was also a big time trust factor with me. I obsessed with watching my temp, worried that the fan wouldn't kick on. So much so, I installed a small LED in the cab so I knew when it was on. That helped but I never did get comfortable with the whole setup.

Where I put the sensor in the coolant stream on the 4.0 engine was in a small coolant line that is just on top of the thermostat housing using a brass T block. If I remember right, this small coolant line went to warm the intake.
 
keezer37

keezer37

Explorer
zidaro said:
Good example of how the fan will only be pulling from the area the fan is covering though. needs to have that area sealed between the fan and shroud.
Click to expand...

I thought I was gonna have to fill it in but there was zero change in temp on the Scan Gauge from having the mechanical fan on. This engine has always run 186-191 so I just dialed in the pot and left it. I had no desire to put my metal fab skills to the test.
 
4RunAmok

4RunAmok

Explorer
The Flex-a-lite fans and it's controller is actually more than the other fans. But I've heard of Flex-a-lite fans, we use them at work for k-9 units...the FF Dynamics I have not.

I just noticed the Flex-a-lite fan comes with a controller as well, I'm ordering that one right now.. :) At least I know they stand behind their stuff.
 
4RunAmok

4RunAmok

Explorer
I ended up NOT immediately ordering this, cost-shock set in..

I can't get over price comparing these two... I will probably side with the Flex-a-lite fans.

I asked a question on the ebay auction one I posted, and the bastage has never responded, and THAT above all, will make me spend more someplace else!
 
C

Caoboy

Adventurer
It's a big electric fan, and since Taurus's are crap cars, they are always in the junk yards, so the part is cheap! :D
 
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