e-rad fan wires really hot

[uss2defiant]

I should check mine. I put that same Dorman in a few months ago but never noticed any issues. I'll check the wiring tomorrow when I get to work. The old one still worked but the shroud was in rough shape and the screws connecting the fan to the shroud were roached.

Yeah, if you could see whether your wires are not scalding hot to the touch that will be great. Thanks!

I think I'll be ordering a replacement relay.
Wished someone from the forum was from Tucson that I could borrow their relay to debug the issue.

 

[uss2defiant]

I should check mine. I put that same Dorman in a few months ago but never noticed any issues. I'll check the wiring tomorrow when I get to work. The old one still worked but the shroud was in rough shape and the screws connecting the fan to the shroud were roached.

Are you using a MOPAR fan relay or aftermarket one?
Thanks.

 

[ltd02]

Yeah, if you could see whether your wires are not scalding hot to the touch that will be great. Thanks!

Okay, sorry for taking so long but no access at work and a long day. So, I checked after drive to work and after drive home. Lots of DC traffic so plenty warm enough for fan to do some work but wires were not very warm. No warmer than the shroud itself and other plastic components in the vicinity.

Are you using a MOPAR fan relay or aftermarket one?

Yes, Mopar relay replaced a few years ago at a dealer after the original failed in traffic on my way to work. The rest is too painful to recall but involved HG replacement.

 

[uss2defiant]

Okay, sorry for taking so long but no access at work and a long day. So, I checked after drive to work and after drive home. Lots of DC traffic so plenty warm enough for fan to do some work but wires were not very warm. No warmer than the shroud itself and other plastic components in the vicinity.



Yes, Mopar relay replaced a few years ago at a dealer after the original failed in traffic on my way to work. The rest is too painful to recall but involved HG replacement.

No worries. Just checking itself is a great help to me. Thanks again.
I'm suspecting there's a bad wire or something else I can see that's melted.
Time to start pulling more stuff apart.

I'll still order a replacement anyways. I know it's probably not smart to start throwing new parts if it may not be the problem but finding the time to pull it apart too isn't easy either.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed one way or another.

 

[tjkj2002]

Start doing voltage drop tests from the fan relay to the fan motor(fan must be running,turn on the AC).A high voltage drop,as checking the Ohm's,will tell you of a bad wire.

 

[uss2defiant]

Update.

1. voltage drop, resistance check, harness wiring good.
2. running with or without SSD fan relay, wires still get hot => SSD fan good
3. wired e-rad fan directly to battery instead of through wiring harness, wires hot

Observations:
1. I noticed that the e-rad fan side wires also get super hot first then the harness side slowly get hot.
2. Once powered off, the wires cool almost instantaneously.

This really points to a defective fan but just to be sure this isn't some weird jeep thing.

I need help.
Please please do me a solid. After your normal drive home/work/etc, with the jeep still running, please pop the hood and perform a heat touch test on the wiring on both the harness side and the fan side. This means the wiring on the left of the connector (harness side) and wiring to the right of the connector (fan side)

For those who helped me with the heat test on your own liberty, did you do that test with the jeep still running? If not, do you mind helping out again?

Thanks!

 

[ltd02]

I need help.
Please please do me a solid. After your normal drive home/work/etc, with the jeep still running, please pop the hood and perform a heat touch test on the wiring on both the harness side and the fan side. This means the wiring on the left of the connector (harness side) and wiring to the right of the connector (fan side)

For those who helped me with the heat test on your own liberty, did you do that test with the jeep still running? If not, do you mind helping out again?

Thanks!

Did it again. Wires were slightly warm (engine running) but nothing I'd consider abnormal. Checked both sides of the connector. :shrug:

I'm thinking yours may be FUBAR.

 

[uss2defiant]

Thanks for checking again!!
My clamp meter came in today so I can look at the current being drawn by the fan.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Checked mine today. They were the same temp as the ambient air temp in the engine, not hot at all.

 

[uss2defiant]

Thanks HJ!

 

[uss2defiant]

Update:

Made a test wire from the extra pins when I replaced the melted connector and powered the new fan directly. Was drawing about 13.5 amps. According to the dorman tech support, OEM fan draws 19 amps. I don't know whether that's nominal or max but I'll shoot him a follow up email.

The fan draws about 13 amps through the wiring harness. In both cases the fan's wires(fan side only) were warm but not super hot. This is typical during short tests.

I'll need to give it another round of test after my wife gets home later that way it's up to temperature and will see whether anything changes with the additional heat stress.

 

[uss2defiant]

Update 2: testing w/ the engine at temperature.

current draws were the same as it were in the morning.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

I'm really scratching my head now.
bleh.....
We'll I'll let it run and see whether the connect melts.

Thanks to all those who've contributed and helped me double check on their own jeeps.

Now to look into the A/C issue.

My high side pressure is fine but my low side is high.
55 psi low side and 275 psi high side but blowing at 60F at ambient of 90F.

 

[uss2defiant]

Sweet deal. Just did a 3 hour drive. Checked the wiring half way in the journey.
Feels just fine.

Now to tackle the possible AC issue, transfer case, transmission skid, o-ring replacements for ****** line pressure sensor, new lower ball joints.

Thanks for all the help again!

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Sweet deal. Just did a 3 hour drive. Checked the wiring half way in the journey.
Feels just fine.

Now to tackle the possible AC issue, transfer case, transmission skid, o-ring replacements for ****** line pressure sensor, new lower ball joints.

Thanks for all the help again!

Well done!


Bob

 

[jelcojedi]

hot harness

recently 2 homes in daytona Florida burnt down their garages due to that same problem with Jeep Liberty>>>>>>>>>Check for recall>>>>>>>.

 

[uss2defiant]

thanks bob! im really hoping it's good. knock on wood. ill keep my eye on it the next few weeks.

now i can finally work on the ****** skid plate i bought from ya!

 

[uss2defiant]

soooo yeah.......
It was all good during the last oil change but the connector around the ground pin is slightly melted. Not as bad as the first time around.
FML........

Now it's the real test with the summer heat and the e-radiator fan running.

I'm replacing the fan relay which I should have the last time but I doubt that's the issue.

I'm open to any ideas.

 

[ltd02]

I'll check mine tomorrow AM. I have the aftermarket Dorman fan and the upgraded relay. Mines been in a whiles and I know its been running off and on when needed. I've seen it and heard it. I'll post back tomorrow.

 

[uss2defiant]

I'm getting the dorman e-rad fan changed out later as one.
The manager at autozone was okay with me getting it switched.
I've been there sooooo many times now for this jeep.
sigh......

 

[ltd02]

Pulled the connector apart and all looks fine on mine. Where is yours melting? Is it visible on the outside or only on the inside of the connector? The fan wires are pretty robust and the connector blades are substantial too. I used a little dab of dielectric grease upon reassembly. The connector is a tight one to separate.