Dodge Dakota ForumDodge Dakota PhotosDodgeDakota.net Membership
  Forums   Forum Tools
00:58:01 - 12/20/2024

General Dakota Board
FromMessage
00RTRC
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/01/2004
08:37:11

Subject: Auxiliary fan relay problem...
IP: Logged

Message:
I took my '00 RT on a 700 mile trip on Tuesday. I've had the truck 6 weeks, and this was the first extended road trip. On one tank, I just touched 20 mpg, which wasn't bad at all. When I stopped to fill up the first time, I noticed that the auxiliary electric fan stayed on while the engine was off and the key was out of the ignition. I figured that maybe it stayed on due to under the hood temps. However, it continued to stay on during the whole trip, and even with the truck sitting idle for 1.5 hours!

I figured it was the fan relay, so I pulled it out and the fan shut off. The relay was very hot and had a black scorch mark on one of the terminals. I drove the rest of the way home without incident.

I called my local dealer, and he had a replacement in stock for $10. So, after work yesterday, I drove over there and got into a bad traffic jam. It was 85 degrees with no wind. After about 20 minutes, the trucks temp went to 220. 10 minutes after that it went to 240! I didn't have the A/C on since the auxiliary fan was disconnected. I got worried and turned on my heater to the highest setting, and rolled down all the windows and opened up the rear slider. This took the engine temp back down to 200 degrees within 5 minutes.

What surprised me was that the mechanical fan could not keep the 360 cool with the A/C off. My old '98 Dakota fan (it had no auxiliary fan) would kick into a high temp mode and you could hear it pull the engine down when the temp exceed 220. My question is, did Dodge change the mechanical fan in the '00 and later trucks, so that they no longer have the high temp engagement? Is the auxiliary electric fan required to keep the engine from over heating? Thanks in advance for your replies, sorry for the long post.



.boB
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/01/2004
10:52:07

RE: Auxiliary fan relay problem...
IP: Logged

Message:
The belt driven fan should have kept the engine cool in those conditions. Check and make sure the fan clutch is still good.



pop
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/01/2004
12:14:05

RE: Auxiliary fan relay problem...
IP: Logged

Message:
Mine did the same thing, (00 4.7) relay stuck. Luckily I switched my fog lamp relay to the fan. My mechanical fan is the same, doesn't really cool the engine if driving stop & go. However I believe the electrical fan turns on if the coolant reaches a certain temperature.



peedee
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
 Email

7/01/2004
13:12:43

RE: Auxiliary fan relay problem...
IP: Logged

Message:
While this is not to resolve your problem, I am putting a link to a great site for automotive electronics. I keep this one in my bookmarks....

http://www.the12volt.com/index.asp



00RTRC
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE


7/01/2004
20:23:25

RE: Auxiliary fan relay problem...
IP: Logged

Message:
I have checked the fan. With the engine off and cool, I feel a fair amount of resistance when I spin the fan. What amount would be considered normal? BTW: I never have the "fan roar" in the morning when I leave for work, like I did with my '98 Dakota. I figured that Chrysler changed the mechanical fan when they added the electrical fan. Am I wrong? Thanks again for all of your responses.



daknblk
GenIII
 Email User Profile


7/01/2004
23:25:40

RE: Auxiliary fan relay problem...
IP: Logged

Message:
Well, FWIW I've got an '03 with plenty of fan roar in the morning. Still drives me nuts...
And there is a fair amount of resistance when I spin mine w/ engine off & cool.
So I'm guessing that they didn't change anything with them. From what I've heard, some the roar and some don't.


John
03cc w/ 3.9 V6

   P 1


Post a reply to this message:

Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages


Name:
Email:
Notify me when I get a reply to my message:Yes  No

Icons:            

          

Subject:
Message:
 



Home | Forums | Members | Pictures | Contact Us

This site is in no way affiliated with Chrysler or any of its subsidiaries.