Fan thermo switch; is this right? (cheap FIX?)

[taunusrainer]

I am very sure Your local Ford or GM dealer can match it up if You show him the fan switch, 8$ is reasonable, 100$ is crazy.
CU
Ray

[jacknj]

Okay, I finally got it.

...

The replacement Honda part and even the after-market ones are expensive ($45 to $100!). The one in my Ford does the same job for $8.

Roady - for those of us still looking, what year/model ford? for 8$ i'd love to replace mine.

thanks man!

-j

[Roady]

Ooops. that was misleading.

I meant that the one for my Ford is $8. Not that it's the one that fits in the GL.

I'm haunting the local parts stores now to find one that might work. Someone mentioned that the one from an Escort 1.6l Injected would work. But the one at AutoZone does not have a long sensor like the GL one does.

I'm still looking, anyone else have any idea which one?
.

[05c50]

I stumbled across a listing for a universal thermstatic switch in the JC Whitney catalog. It says that it's adjustable from 170-240 degrees. I think it's about $20. Might be something to look at.
....Paul

[taunusrainer]

But the one at AutoZone does not have a long sensor like the GL one does.

It has to be the right thread and the right switch temp, nothing else matters.
Guess it would be quite a business to offer machined adaptors for the 8$ Ford switches...

JC Whitney

has this one
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Sear ... rchbtn.y=0
but it won't fit into the thermostat housing

CU
Ray

[alan hawke]

Thermo switch to suit a 1989- 2001 suzuki swift..... or..... 1996-2004 suzuki Alto will fit, same heat range ,same thread pitch . i have been using one in my bike for last twelve months or so works fine.

[tyring59]

Honda seem to use the same switch on more then the goldwing. Once I look it up in a online parts cat and it was the same number from 75 to 87 goldwings. I forget which other Honda's used it.
Anyway great info from the car guys because I ve been asking for years and no one seem to know if any car ones would work.
Went and bought a used one for 25 bucks.

[octane]

Honda seem to use the same switch on more then the goldwing. Once I look it up in a online parts cat and it was the same number from 75 to 87 goldwings. I forget which other Honda's used it. .

The following Hondas use the same switch:

[rcmatt007]

I bet honda charges the same thing regardless of the model.... but it isn't only mother-honda that scr3ews you parts... I needed a thermostat for our saturn car once.... nobody, except saturn, made that kind of thermostat $$$$$

[Roady]

It took a while but I finally got the bike running again and can finish this thread. I don't think that I'd do it again like this but it works and I'm pleased.

I did some research and got indications that a fan switch from a Geo Metro, 3-cylinder (1.0L) matched the threads and temp rating. I couldn't get one locally so I found the part on RockAuto.com for $8.23 + $6.29 shipping. Click the Part Number Search tab and put in the mfg. and number.

Details:
1994 Geo Metro 1.0L 993cc 61cid L3 TBI
Radiator Fan Temperature Switch. Mfg: Beck/Arnley, Part# 2011614.
(I see they're offering the closeout switches even cheaper now.)

The Geo switch does not have the long probe that goes into the thermo housing. It also has a different connector. So I fashioned a pigtail from 4 inches of wire and bullet connectors. Then I shrink-wrapped it all and stole a black rubber foot off grandpa's cane and here's the finished product.

[attachment=0]geothermo.jpg[/attachment]
I couldn't find any specs on what wire is which so I just chose one side to be green and one side to be white/red (I think those were the colors). I figured if it didn't work I could switch them.

Amazingly, it works! Fan comes on when it should and all is well.

UPDATE: Though this switch worked I ended up replacing it with an OEM switch (about $80) when I later replaced the water pump and head gaskets.
.

[WingerDave]

Just a little bit of info..............

The fan switch off of a 1980 Honda Civic is the same range and, basically, exactly the same unit BUT..... a smaller thread (2mm smaller). It's also about a 5th of the price. One way of commanding a high price.

The American Escort was built on a Mazda 3 chassis (as was the Australian Mercury and a few other cars of that period) Talk about Globalization !!!!.

There are even Nissan Bluebirds from the late 80's with BMW front suspension....... problems with supply between Japan and the assembly plant in England.

Dave.

[Roady]

If I could find one with the same connector that would solve the problem. But then it'd have to have the same size thread, eh?

Wouldn't you think it would be easier if more mfg's used the same parts to do the same jobs.

Sheesh! Guess they like to make more money, eh?
.

[rcmatt007]

Wouldn't you think it would be easier if more mfg's used the same parts to do the same jobs.

or put things like light switches and windsheild wiper switches in the sma eplace.... naw, would be to easy

[RB]

Not to high jack the thread but..a PO permanently wired the fan tot eh ignition somehow so it comes on where I turn the key on to start the bike. I'd like to put a switch in the wire so I can at least turn it off when starting the bike. What I need to know is where the fan wires hit someplace easy to get to on the frame so I can wire in a switch and place it in a handy location.

I figure I can cut in anyplace to do this..but having trouble tracing/finding the fan wires..I can see them coming out of the thermo unit but they disappear behind that metal sheet behind the radiator..when do they come out????

This is on an 80 1100

[AttilaB]

I as well did the RockAuto part #2011614. After a little soldering & crimping and such, took her out for a spin and lo and behold - the fan turns on when she's supposed to!!!