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Old 08-14-2017, 05:43 AM   #1
alwhite00   alwhite00 is offline
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Cooling fan check?

I have a 2000 1500 nomad. How can the cooling fan be checked for proper operation? I was riding in town and it was about 70 degrees and the engine felt really hot. I have owned the bike for over 5,000 miles (under a year) and have never heard the fan kick on. No lights or anything came on but would like to verify operation.



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Old 08-14-2017, 07:50 AM   #2
jtascone   jtascone is offline
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Unplug the fan and run a paper clip between the two plugs. If the fan comes on, it's operating properly. If
You're light has never come on, chances are everything is fine. But if the fan isn't working, check the fuse BEFORE you replace the fan. It runs on it's own independent fyse. Don't ask me how I know this.
 
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Old 08-14-2017, 08:52 AM   #3
alwhite00   alwhite00 is offline
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Will do, thanks.
 
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Old 08-14-2017, 09:14 AM   #4
mbarr10   mbarr10 is offline
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On my 2007 1500 I had the temp sensor in the motor go out. But when the fan did not come on the bike hit peak temp and the Over heated light came on. The fan test was fine, just the temp sensor sending the signal to the fan. Not sure how to check that part.
That was the only part that failed in 10 years and 42,000 miles.
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Old 08-14-2017, 10:11 AM   #5
mrtelefoneman1   mrtelefoneman1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alwhite00 View Post
I have a 2000 1500 nomad. How can the cooling fan be checked for proper operation? I was riding in town and it was about 70 degrees and the engine felt really hot. I have owned the bike for over 5,000 miles (under a year) and have never heard the fan kick on. No lights or anything came on but would like to verify operation.
Your bike relies a lot on air flowing through the radiator cooling the coolant at speed. If the coolant coming from the radiator going back through the engine is not cool enough, the temp sensor will detect it, your temp light may come on and in long term, damage may result. During stop light to stop light riding, the sensor says "hey fan, it's too hot down here." Fan kicks on to help out and cools the coolant, thereby cooling the engine down. 70 degrees is not that hot so maybe no need for the fan. The long and short is that everything is probably working fine. I would still check the fuse, temp sensor and voltage going to the fan. Good luck.



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Last edited by mrtelefoneman1; 08-14-2017 at 10:14 AM.
 
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Old 08-14-2017, 11:25 AM   #6
VulcanJeff   VulcanJeff is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbarr10 View Post
On my 2007 1500 I had the temp sensor in the motor go out. But when the fan did not come on the bike hit peak temp and the Over heated light came on. The fan test was fine, just the temp sensor sending the signal to the fan. Not sure how to check that part.
That was the only part that failed in 10 years and 42,000 miles.
This is well after the fact, but maybe for future ref to you or anyone else? Temp sensor testing is detailed in the Fuel System (DFI) section of the factory manual. It appears the manual encompasses your bike as well as mine, so I will quote section and page numbers from the PDF. (The link to download manuals is elsewhere on the forum but holler if you don't already have the manual and can't find the link).

Fuel System > Self-diagnosis, section 2-72 (page 142 in the PDF).

A digital vohm meter with two decimal place readout is req'd along with two needle adapters for the leads.

Ma Kaw has provided a wonderfully comprehensive how-to section for running the self-diagnosis, reading/translating the codes, and testing the corresponding component. It looks so easy I bet a caveman can do it!
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Old 08-14-2017, 01:27 PM   #7
DragonLady58   DragonLady58 is offline
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On the fan just do a bypass, if she runs, fan is good. For the thermo switch, gotta get a boiler and mover to the stovetop. Continuity at about 215 and all is good.
In all my years, MaKawa has these thing coming on waaaay to damn hot.
What I did was install a flexalite adjust. elect. thermostat,
https://www.amazon.com/Flex-lite-311.../dp/B00029J3ZW
, wire it up from the same origin as the orig. fan circuit., it just runs in parallel with the existing system.
My fan now comes on at about 185, engine is alot happier, helps my bike run cooler....
Its fully adjustable, is built to withstand the enviro underneath the hood of a car....
Makes it a helluva lot cooler on my legs in 100 degree heat....
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Last edited by DragonLady58; 08-14-2017 at 01:31 PM.
 
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Old 08-14-2017, 03:43 PM   #8
hammer   hammer is offline
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I love that idea! Good one
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Old 08-18-2017, 07:51 AM   #9
alwhite00   alwhite00 is offline
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Well I was in heavy traffic yesterday and heard something different, reached down and sure enough the fan was on so all is well with my nomad.
 
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