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Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:24 pm
by JL
So this idea started a few weeks back when I was trying to figure out where I was getting a squeak from under the hood. I started the H2 for a few moments with the main drive belt disconnected (testing the AC belt..) and first thing I noticed... how nice the H2 sounds without that gigantic fan going all the time!!



My plan is to get a fan shroud with blades and motors like what's used on the 2008-09 H2s and then a fan controller to fire up the electric fans. Other GM products seem to have used the same fans so getting a hold of these at a decent price is definitely doable, estimating around $200 for all brand new parts? There are few fan controllers out there but roughly speaking you're looking at $100 for the controller so the whole endeavour isn't even that pricey! There are always a few odds and ends, pigtails for the fan motors and whatever else I haven't considered yet but absolutely this could be done for under $500. The job overall seems straightforward and something I'd be able to rig up in the garage... Most people doing this seem to be doing it for economy reasons as getting rid of the big clutch fan is just one less thing for the motor to spin, but mostly I am just after the driving comfort and reduced cabin noise!



With some fan controllers you also get the benefit of variable fan speeds so they don't just fire up full speed ahead every time they come on, they'll gradually ramp up the fan speed as temperatures increase so again nice to have the noise kept down as much as possible.



Anyone moved their H2 from a clutch fan to electric? Anything I should be worried about or consider further before going ahead with this? In my looking around it seems like one controller (depending on the specific model of course) should be fine to power two electric fans as long as you're a careful shopper and buy something that will actually work for your application, but a dual controller setup might even be worth considering!



Any input is appreciated!! Image

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:28 am
by whitehumh2
I have looked into it and considered it. Flex-A-Lite makes a kit specifically for the H2, it comes with the fans, shroud and all needed wiring and sensors. However one thing I have seen on citiboy's 2008 H2...he is the only one that ever had broken and missing blades after a day of offroading...and none of us ever heard or saw anything! While there are advantages to the electric fan set-up I haven't done the modification yet...I was planning to replace the radiator and the fan as an assembly when it eventually fails. BE-COOL and GRIFFIN both make bolt in kits for the H2. I think it is a great mod that will also improve your mileage along with reducing the noise and making sure your H2 runs nice and cool! Sounds like a lot of benefits to me!

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:57 am
by citiboy
I always break something after the off-roading <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... oflmao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rotflmao:' /> ........actually my h2 is like new after the warranty replaced all these <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ght_on.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':right_on:' /> ....front upper and lower balljoints, inner and outer tierods, front cross member support, sway bar end links and support brackets, power steering gear box, belt tensioner, fan blade, 2 rear caliper with pads & disc, 2 front headlight and LF flasher housing (condensation), rear back-up camera (condensation) repair front diffy twice for leaking, replaced front crankshaft seal (leaking), replaced 2 side mirrors assembly (vibration at high speed) replaced sunroof (noisy when opening and closing) battery (failed on load test) BCM, reprogrammed TCM due to harsh shifts on 2nd gear, repaired and reseal all front and rear roof markers (water leaks inside) and i'm still waiting for plaza bodyshop to call me so they can fix the rust on the rear quater panel (they already paint the spare tire carrier and the trailer hitch because is rusting).....and they still can't figure it out why my TCS and Stabiltrak is working at these conditions: tranny in 1st gear transfercase in 4LOW, rear diff. LOCK....now if i'm stock and give gas...the TCS & Stabilitrak flashes on the dash and it won't give me any power at all. They said, they can't reproduce the problems <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... lleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' />,...i told them to put it on the lifter and lift it up until all the wheels are safely off the ground or take it off-road and get stuck.....well, they don't want to do it...don't know why <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... adbang.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':headbang:' /> .

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:02 am
by citiboy
Oh, did i mentiond about my POS warn winch, which died on me when i needed the most......boooooohhhh <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... adbang.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':headbang:' /> they repaired it under warranty......anybody wants to buy my winch, its on portable cradle.

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 1:36 pm
by johnnyspikesH3
[quote name='citiboy' timestamp='1320152229' post='32018']

I always break something after the off-roading <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... oflmao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rotflmao:' /> ........actually my h2 is like new after the warranty replaced all these <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ght_on.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':right_on:' /> ....front upper and lower balljoints, inner and outer tierods, front cross member support, sway bar end links and support brackets, power steering gear box, belt tensioner, fan blade, 2 rear caliper with pads & disc, 2 front headlight and LF flasher housing (condensation), rear back-up camera (condensation) repair front diffy twice for leaking, replaced front crankshaft seal (leaking), replaced 2 side mirrors assembly (vibration at high speed) replaced sunroof (noisy when opening and closing) battery (failed on load test) BCM, reprogrammed TCM due to harsh shifts on 2nd gear, repaired and reseal all front and rear roof markers (water leaks inside) and i'm still waiting for plaza bodyshop to call me so they can fix the rust on the rear quater panel (they already paint the spare tire carrier and the trailer hitch because is rusting).....and they still can't figure it out why my TCS and Stabiltrak is working at these conditions: tranny in 1st gear transfercase in 4LOW, rear diff. LOCK....now if i'm stock and give gas...the TCS & Stabilitrak flashes on the dash and it won't give me any power at all. They said, they can't reproduce the problems <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... lleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' />,...i told them to put it on the lifter and lift it up until all the wheels are safely off the ground or take it off-road and get stuck.....well, they don't want to do it...don't know why <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... adbang.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':headbang:' /> .

[/quote] Wow ! Did you drive it under water,as a sub ? I can't believe you have had this much problems with your vehicle also it being a 08 . You mentioned nothing in your posting in regards to switching to a electric fan ! I don't see all theses things going wrong with out severe abuse . I think your dealer has done enough for you . Imho .

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 2:07 pm
by whitehumh2
[quote name='johnnyspikesH3' timestamp='1320168997' post='32045']

Wow ! Did you drive it under water,as a sub ? I can't believe you have had this much problems with your vehicle also it being a 08 . You mentioned nothing in your posting in regards to switching to a electric fan ! I don't see all theses things going wrong with out severe abuse . I think your dealer has done enough for you . Imho .

[/quote]



His 08 comes stock with the electric fans!

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:06 pm
by Khamul
[quote name='citiboy' timestamp='1320152229' post='32018']

I always break something after the off-roading <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... oflmao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rotflmao:' /> ........actually my h2 is like new after the warranty replaced all these <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ght_on.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':right_on:' /> ....front upper and lower balljoints, inner and outer tierods, front cross member support, sway bar end links and support brackets, power steering gear box, belt tensioner, fan blade, 2 rear caliper with pads & disc, 2 front headlight and LF flasher housing (condensation), rear back-up camera (condensation) repair front diffy twice for leaking, replaced front crankshaft seal (leaking), replaced 2 side mirrors assembly (vibration at high speed) replaced sunroof (noisy when opening and closing) battery (failed on load test) BCM, reprogrammed TCM due to harsh shifts on 2nd gear, repaired and reseal all front and rear roof markers (water leaks inside) and i'm still waiting for plaza bodyshop to call me so they can fix the rust on the rear quater panel (they already paint the spare tire carrier and the trailer hitch because is rusting).....and they still can't figure it out why my TCS and Stabiltrak is working at these conditions: tranny in 1st gear transfercase in 4LOW, rear diff. LOCK....now if i'm stock and give gas...the TCS & Stabilitrak flashes on the dash and it won't give me any power at all. They said, they can't reproduce the problems <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... lleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' />,...i told them to put it on the lifter and lift it up until all the wheels are safely off the ground or take it off-road and get stuck.....well, they don't want to do it...don't know why <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... adbang.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':headbang:' /> .

[/quote]





Sounds like alot - (is actually) but I found there are alot of basic mods you should do before taking a stock H2 offroad... tie rods, pitman arms, sway bar links, and ball joints... do these in a dvance and you'll be fine. I must admit my back-up camera died and I miss it - I don't trust the dealer to figure it out though so will replace with an alpine mod for my stereo as will have a larger screen anyways and I can also have it on all the time if I want.



I've replaces front calipres, rotors and pads - one of the reasons I try and stay out of the mud now, that and a starter, 2 alternators and I still have to replace the airconditioning pump in the spring.... H2's are rated for 24 inches of water..... so I figured I could do 48!!..... I was wrong........<img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... /blink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />



so really other than the camera - it's all been abuse from me I must admit..... Of course I never realized I had electric fans until now - never really paid attaention to it, of course with my exhaust - I can't hear anything anyways..... getting a resonator put on next week to cut the volumne down. Decided on this route over twinning....





As for the blades.... I think that was a fluke, as I've put mine through some serious poop.... never an issue with the fan....

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:25 pm
by citiboy
Khamul,





Did you ever experienced when your stuck, i mean really stuck (did you ever got stuck?) with these conditions: tranny on 1st gear, transfer case in 4LOW and rear diff. in LOCK mode (automatically the TCS and Stabilitrak will be ON on the dash). But when i depress the gas pedal (about 1/4 to 1/2) the TCS and Stabilitrak starts to work (i can see the indicator flash in the dash) when this happens i cannot get more rev of the engine thus won't give me proper engine power. GM here says it's normal to prevent over revving the engine. I hope you can try this out in your rig as we have the same year.



Thanks

Jim

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:28 pm
by citiboy
[quote name='johnnyspikesH3' timestamp='1320168997' post='32045']

Wow ! Did you drive it under water,as a sub ? I can't believe you have had this much problems with your vehicle also it being a 08 . You mentioned nothing in your posting in regards to switching to a electric fan ! I don't see all theses things going wrong with out severe abuse . I think your dealer has done enough for you . Imho .

[/quote]





I kinda abuse it a little <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... oflmao.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rotflmao:' /> .

Re: Anyone move to an electric fan?

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:09 pm
by JL
[quote name='Khamul' timestamp='1320181596' post='32054']

As for the blades.... I think that was a fluke, as I've put mine through some serious poop.... never an issue with the fan....

[/quote]



That's the main reason I was thinking of the 08 fans rather than aftermarket fans... You never seem to have any issues so might as well go with what's already been tested!