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Volvo Electric cooling Fan

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Looking for an electric fan option to cool your radiator?

The 2-speed Volvo fan and relays have become a popular swap.

The fan you need is from a 1990's Volvo 740, 850 or 950 sedan or wagon. The 940 fan is the easiest to remove. It is held in with (2) bolts at the top, and clips at the bottom. Unlike the Ford Taurus fan, the Volvo fan can be removed from the shroud.

(Volvo 940 Wagon)

When you get the fan, you'll need the relays and wiring that come with it. If you don't grab the harness, you'll have a hard time hooking up the fan relay.

(2-Speed electric fan from Volvo 940)

Volvo Fan Relay:

The 2-speed Volvo fans came with relay part # 1398845. Some relays also have part # 3523872 (1992-1997 Volvo 850). 

These relays were replaced by P/N 9442933 . Part # 9442933 states that it is for a Volvo 740 (92 and newer), 940/960 (92 and newer), and 850 (all).

The fan relay is the heart of the system because it controls whether the fan runs on high or low. 

When mounting the Volvo relay, people have found that a Chevy S-10 relay bracket works, but you need to cut off the 4th tab.

Dual Temperature Switch:

There are (2) dual temperature switches commonly used are:

BMW:

The most common switch used is the BMW dual temperature switch:

These temperature switches have a M14 x1.5 thread.

14mm x 1.5 to 3/8" Brass Adapter:

Hollister Road offered a brass adapter so you can install this metric threaded switch in to a 3/8" temperature sensor fitting.

This is a brass adaptor for the BMW dual temperature switch and similar fan switches that have 14mm x 1.5 x 14mm deep thread. It turns the 14mm x 1.5 thread into a low profile 3/8" standard American pipe thread and lets you use a the dual temperature switches in one port on a non metric American intake manifold drilled for 3/8" pipe thread.

Hollister Road even offers the BMW temperature switch with the 3/8" adapter:

BWM Temperature Switch Plug:

In addition to the temperature switch, you'll need a plug to connect it to the rest of your fan wiring.

What you'll need is:

BMW P/N 61131378412 -- BMW 90° angle connector

Volkswagen:

Another option for a dual temperature switch comes from Volkswagen:

VALEO P/N 819769 - Open 95 C / 203 F - Close 84 C / 183 F - Thread Size: 22x1.5; Spanner Size: 29

You'll need a switch housing from a Saab 900 that will be installed in the upper radiator hose. There are a few different temp ranges available in the Volkswagen switch. The common Volkswagen switch turns on low speed at 195 F, and high at 215 F. See the chart at the bottom of the page for a list of vehicles using the Volkswagen temperature switch.

(Saab 9000 temperature switch housing)

(Saab 9000 temperature switch housing with Volkswagen temperature switch)

 

You can also find radiator hose adapters and heater hose adapters  

Wiring Up The Volvo Relay:

 

The harness on your Volvo relay will have (3) plugs. Looking at the (2) photos above from left to right they are:

 Red  - High speed to fan

 Green  - Low speed to fan

 Black  (not shown) - Ground

 Yellow  (or  white ) - High speed mode from temperature sensor (ground triggered)

 Yellow/Green (or  Blue ) - Low speed mode from temperature sensor (ground triggered)

 Large Red  - Power (+) from switched source

In the diagram above, the power for the fan relay was fed through a relay controlled by a switch. Most instructions will tell you to use a 12 volt switch source such as the ignition to only power the fan when the vehicle is running. 

However, it's better to run a wire from the battery to a fuse and then a relay. Put a switch in the vehicle that is fed from a 12 volt switched source, so that it will only have power with the ignition on. When you flip the switch, it activates the relay and feeds power from the battery to the Volvo fan relay. This switch would remain 'ON' at all times so that the fan will turn on and off as needed by the engine. THE PURPOSE of the switch is to allow you to turn the fan off during water crossings.

Volvo Dual Speed Fan - Homemade Relay Circuit:

Here is the equivalent relay wiring with two standard Bosch-style relays. Note the primary function is to allow the 2nd (low-speed) relay to disengage when the 1st (hi-speed) relay engages. The relays do not run simultaneously.

Vehicles Using The Volkswagen Dual Temperature Switch:

Vehicles Using
Model Engine Cc Kw Hp Cylinder Type Year
AUDI 100 (44, 44Q, C3)             1982 - 1991
AUDI 100 (4A, C4)             1990 - 1994
AUDI 100 Avant (44, 44Q, C3)             1982 - 1990
AUDI 100 Avant (4A, C4)             1990 - 1994
AUDI 200 (43)             1979 - 1982
AUDI 200 (44, 44Q)             1983- 1991
AUDI 200 Avant (44, 44Q)             1983 - 1991
AUDI 80 (81, 85, B2)             1978 - 1986
AUDI 80 (89, 89Q, 8A, B3)             1986 - 1991
AUDI 80 (8C, B4)             1991 - 1994
AUDI 80 Avant (8C, B4)             1991 - 1996
AUDI 90 (81, 85, B2)             1984 - 1987
AUDI 90 (89, 89Q, 8A, B3)             1987 - 1991
AUDI A4 (8D2, B5)             1994 - 2000
AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5)             1994 - 2001
AUDI A6 (4A, C4)             1994 - 1997
AUDI A6 (4B, C5)             1997 - 2005
AUDI A6 Avant (4A, C4)             1994 - 1997
AUDI A8 (4D2, 4D8)             1994 - 2002
AUDI CABRIOLET (8G7, B4)             1991 - 2000
AUDI COUPE (81, 85)             1980 - 1988
AUDI COUPE (89, 8B)             1988 - 1996
AUDI QUATTRO (85)             1980 - 1991
VOLVO 440 K (445)             1988 - 1996
VOLVO 460 L (464)             1988 - 1996
VOLVO 480 E             1986 - 1996
VW CADDY ? (14)             1982 - 1992
VW CADDY II Pickup (9U7)             1996 - 2000
VW CARAT (32B)             1979 - 1989
VW CARAT Estate (32B)             1980 - 1989
VW CARAT Saloon (32B)             1984 - 1988
VW CORRADO (53I)             1987 - 1995
VW GOLF ? (17)             1974 - 1985
VW GOLF ? Convertible (155)             1979 - 1993
VW GOLF II (19E, 1G1)             1983 - 1992
VW GOLF III (1H1)             1991 - 1998
VW GOLF III Cabriolet (1E7)             1993 - 1998
VW JETTA ? (16)             1978 - 1984
VW JETTA II (19E, 1G2)             1984 - 1992
VW JETTA III (1H2)             1991 - 1998
VW PASSAT (3A2, 35I)             1988 - 1996
VW PASSAT (3B2)             1996 - 2000
VW PASSAT Variant (3A5, 35I)             1988 - 1997
VW PASSAT Variant (3B5)             1997 - 2000
VW POLO (86)             1975 - 1981
VW POLO (86C, 80)             1981- 1994
VW POLO CLASSIC (86C, 80)             1985 - 1994
VW POLO Coupe (86C, 80)             1981 - 1994
VW SANTANA (32B)             1981 - 1985
VW SCIROCCO (53B)             1980 - 1992
VW TRANSPORTER / CARAVELLE III Bus             1979 - 1992
VW TRANSPORTER III Box             1979 - 1992
VW TRANSPORTER III Platform/Chassis             1979 - 1992

 

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