Re: thermostat and fan switches

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Kyle:

If your Spider engine is slow in reaching normal operating temp, it's not 
the cooling fan, be it engine-driven or electric.  Check the thermostat.  I 
don't recall what year your car is, but I know the pre-Bosch injected cars 
have a spring-loaded flow restrictor in the coolant bypass hose.  Perhaps 
that's missing, installed backwards, or defective.  You can check the gauge 
by grounding the wire from the sensor, which should cause the gauge to read 
full scale.

As for a switch, any decent auto parts store should have a good one 
available, usually a generic type with a capillary tube temperature 
probe.  Most of that type are adjustable, and can be had for perhaps 
$20.  Most OEM-type switches are installed into a threaded bung in one of 
the radiator tanks.  If you have a NAPA store nearby, they have a catalog 
with countless such switches listed, giving on/off temps and thread 
size.  If you go that way, you'll need a bung soldered into your 
radiator.  I bought the switch for my car from www.jegs.com made by 
Painless, and it switches on at 185/off at 170.  Such a switch should be 
installed in the bottom tank of the radiator.

Regards,

Dean W. Cains
Lutz, FL
'74 Spider Veloce


At 01:50 PM 3/12/2002, you wrote:
>Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 18:14:36 +0000
>From: "Kyle Chenier" <klyde67@domain.elided>
>Subject: thermostat and fan switches
>
>i want to change to an electric fan so that the spider will warm up quicker
>(like in less than 2 hours running). where can i get a temp switch for it
>though? i have an electric fan (10") and mounting hardware, just not a good
>switch. i can get an adjustable one, but would a standard always @ 180
>degrees type be better? if so, what car has one that i can pilfer? please
>let me know off digest.... hard drive keeps crashing, and i'm way too far
>behind.
>
>kyle in dallas

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