Thermoelectric Fan Switch Question

Coyote1 · July 27, 2015, 01:15:34 AM

New to the forum after having just bought a 84 V30 for my grandson. Very clean good running bike w/22k on it. One issue is that the thermo switch for the fan has been bypassed with a on/off switch. The PO said it was part of a recall. Is this correct? Can a new Thermo Switch be installed? Any info would be appreciated.

lragan · July 27, 2015, 08:38:16 AM

Welcome, Coyote 1. I am sure there are folks here familiar with the first generation Magnas that can answer you question, but I am just happy to see that your BS detector is well and active...

TLRam1 · July 27, 2015, 10:15:53 AM

Coyote welcome,

Maybe something to the recall but I am not the one to ask. It is not unusual for many to use an ON/OFF manual switch for the radiator fan on the older Magnas.

Personally I would try to source out a switch that would work but maybe that is "easier said than done" and that is why many use a manual ON/OFF switch on older Magnas.

SkyRide · July 27, 2015, 11:25:14 AM

Coyote,

You are lucky, this it the right time of year to test the cooling system.

No recall, but some people feel the need to turn the fan on manually. My PO did; but I disconnected it.

If you have wires connected to the thermostatic switch (TS), the on/off switch is wired in parallel with the TS so that either switch can turn the fan on. With the manual switch off, the TS should operate normally. It could be the PO installed the manual switch because the TS was not working.

If you don't have wires on the TS, the only control you have is the manual one; you probably need a new TS.

Leave the manual on/off switch off and your temperature gauge will tell you everything about the coolant temperature. The white background is narrow on the left side for 20% of its length. As the engine warms up the needle moves to the right side of this narrow band and stays there a while; that is where the thermostat (not the TS) opens and regulates the temperature. As the engine heats more, the thermostat is fully open and can't do its job. When the needle gets to vertical or a little farther, the fan comes on to add cooling, so the needle doesn't go up anymore.

It might be hard to do, but see if you can find a street in Texas in the middle of the afternoon in July that has stop and go traffic and street lights. The only time my fan comes on is when riding on a near 100 degree day and waiting at a stop light or in very slow traffic. If the fan comes on you are good to go. The fan will stop after you get moving a while. If the gauge starts to get near the red area turn the manual on/off switch on; your TS is bad.

Rick Frankenberger

BA · July 27, 2015, 04:15:22 PM

I bought a V30 with an inoperative thermostat fan switch about 10 years ago, but sold it when I bought my 99 3rd generation Magna. I did a little research back then and if I remember correctly a radiator fan switch from a Civic fits the V30.

Jerry G Turner · July 27, 2015, 08:30:31 PM

Look in FAQ part 1 and it has a list of fan switches that should work.

Coyote1 · July 28, 2015, 03:28:14 AM

Thanks, I have read that the switch is problematic but nothing on a recall. I also read that a Civic switch will work although at a little cooler range. As suggested, I'll check to see if it is actually working and/or disabled.
Been checking it out a little more and it is in need of a tune up. Got a little work to do but nothing major so I'm happy.

rrodscott · January 25, 2017, 07:52:14 PM

My v30 had the same problem and I replaced the fan switch with one from a 84 civic and it worked fine. The old connector wouldn't work but I used butt splices to connect the wires to the poles on the switch. Out of habit I removed the fan switch from the power circuit for the fan and used it to trigger a relay that in turn powers the fan. I also installed a bypass switch and a 12vdc LED that illuminates when the fan is active. Also replaced the analog gauge with an LCD gauge that is much more precise.