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Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Yahoo Message Number: 102091
I have a 1998 Country Coach Allure 36' with 325 HP ISC Cummins.  I've been experiencing high temperature indications (red light on analog dash gauge) on some long grades towing a 4k+ toad here in Northeastern Arizona.  Outside temps have been in the mid-90's or higher.  I don't have any other indication systems other than the analog dash gauges.  I have been able to back off the throttle and the temp drops and light goes off within about 15-30 seconds.  Coolant levels look fine, but I'm not sure how old the coolant is from the previous owner since a year ago.  I have topped it off once or twice with standard 50/50 mix ethylene glycol/water in the past year.
 I've had the good luck to park next to another CC owner (lylewet) here at Monument Valley and we've thought through some possible ideas, but we're not sure how the fan controller works on this '98 model ISC.  The fan is turning while the engine runs.  This is our 11th day in a trek from SC and did not experience this until the last few legs of our trip.
 Can anyone pitch in about the type and operation of this cooling fan for my coach?

Thanks,

Rob McDaris
ltcolmac17

Re: Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102103
If you have one of the last 10 Allure built for 98 with the ISC 330 you have a wax control valve to run the fan as I remember.  I only had an issue once with over heating pulling my Grand marquis  up steep

grades at over 105 degrees  that the red light flashed for a second or two.    I turned off the dash air

and ran the genset to power the roof airs instead  and that further reduced the over heating potential on

a couple of other trips where the needle climbed above the normal indication.    TWI 98 Allure 30255.

Re: Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102111
My coach number is 30146 with the 325hp, so I think it's an earlier '98 build. I experienced the same red light several times today from NE Arizona to Albuquerque. I basically managed the temp with downshifts and lowering RPMs to stay below 210-ish.

Can anyone contribute their knowledge of a closer build number?

Thx,

Rob McDaris
ltcolmac17

Re: Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102295
Another late 90's CC owner confirmed this has the mechanical thermal wax valve that is hard/expensive to come by.
 Has anyone swapped their's for an industrial hydraulic solenoid valve with a manual switch on the dash to activate the valve open when the dash gauges climb or prior to long grades activate the valve preemptively?

Thx,
Rob

Re: Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102296
I've read of a few owners of CC's and other coaches that have splice a cockpit switch inline down to the fuse panel below the driver seat. It is just another tool in the tool box.

I've been nursing along an sporadic valve too, working better now that I cleaned the harness. If ti goes out, I think I'll take a good look at the Source Engineering solution. It's not as sophisticated, which actually maybe a good thing, and KISS does make future problems a rarity. The costs are within the same range, a bit more, then replacing the existing fan controller with a like unit. But, as so many have had multiple failures, some very close together in years of usage, I'd be more interested in a 'one time fix' when the time comes.

Best of luck to you, and keep an eye on those temps if you go to 'manual cockpit switch control!'.

Smitty
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102297
Smitty:

I've run a wire and spliced a cockpit switch into the controller, works great. I would advise running the wire from the controller and not the fuse panel, because the fuel heater is on that fuse as well as the controller.

John Beach

06 Allure 31309

Re: Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102302
The late 90's models like my '98 Allure have no controller, as the fan speed uptick is totally dependent upon the thermal valve properly working - which mine does not. My idea adds something totally new to the hydraulic feed to the fan hydro clutch.
 Although the original design was simple, I would rather depend on "manual switch" vs another automatic device that may fail and possibly even stick open and run the fan on high all the time.

It's just an idea, but hope someone else has the same.

Re: Engine Fan Controller Type and Troubleshooting

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 102306
I too have installed the bypass switch on my control panel. I did not run a separate wire from the controller. I figure I won't have the fuel heater and fan on high at the same time.
Two years now, works great, no problems. It's an easy install.
I do activate when approaching steep/long grades and when, on occasion, the controller just decides to act up.
RJ

2005 Inspire #51264