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I searched the forums and found three part number 61311378073. The picture I'm finding with that part looks like it screws into the block. Can i run the fans and the stock temp gauge in the dash off this one sensor? If so, how do I wire that up? The sensor has three pins. Also, the fan I have is only one speed. I'm assuming that will change how I wire this switch.
But no, it is only a switch - Off or On. And you need to run it through a relay, or the fan motor will kill it in short order.
The link isn't working, but I guess if you saw something with three terminals, then it's a kit with a relay. The gauge needs its own temperature sender, and a computer-controlled vehicle will have yet a third temperature-sensing device exclusively for the ECU/computer.
I was kind of looking at a real fan switch like that for my Mustang, and came to the conclusion that BMWs are a good donor because they're one of the few with SAE threads - everything else is metric... But I ended up getting a probe-style sensor and switch, and sandwiched the probe against a radiator hose instead of poking it through my radiator core.
FooFees, I have been putting together information & pieces to add a Taurus fan. I plan to screw the BMW temp switch in the top of my 400 thermostat housing. Typically that is where a thermal vacuum switch goes. attached is a word doc with pics and numbers that I have found. I hope this helps.
#61318361787--BMW temp switch 180*/195*
#61311378073--BMW temp switch 195*/210*
#61131378412--BMW 90* angle connector
#61130007445--BMW 90* green connector wires 2 required
#61130007446--BMW 90* green/black connector wire for ground
#1398845--------VOLVO dual fan relay, sorry no info on connectors(YET) except for the wires coming out for the temp switch high/low. Mine were completely disintegrated so I ordered 2 new wire assemblies and stuck them in the old connector.
#3523813--------VOLVO white wire assembly for temp switch 2 required.
First off, excellent info and great job on finding the broken link he was looking for.
Originally Posted by JD Q
FooFees, I have been putting together information & pieces to add a Taurus fan. I plan to screw the BMW temp switch in the top of my 400 thermostat housing. Typically that is where a thermal vacuum switch goes. attached is a word doc with pics and numbers that I have found. I hope this helps.
Careful. The BMW uses 14 mm x 1.5 (metric) threads on its sensor. It's not a direct connection to the top of the thermostat housing on the 400.
I plan on running this same switch too, but you'll have to get an adapter that's 3/8" NPT bottom end (for the thermo housing / water neck), then 14 X 1.5 for the female side (top end where the sensor goes).
#61318361787--BMW temp switch 180*/195*
#61311378073--BMW temp switch 195*/210*
#61131378412--BMW 90* angle connector
#61130007445--BMW 90* green connector wires 2 required
#61130007446--BMW 90* green/black connector wire for ground
#1398845--------VOLVO dual fan relay, sorry no info on connectors(YET) except for the wires coming out for the temp switch high/low. Mine were completely disintegrated so I ordered 2 new wire assemblies and stuck them in the old connector.
#3523813--------VOLVO white wire assembly for temp switch 2 required.
Excellent info - I've been planning this set-up for over a year now... just haven't gotten around to it.
EDIT: One last tid-bit of info.
BMW dual thermo switches are NOTORIOUS for failing... and they're darn expensive to boot...
Take care when wiring everything up and use some in-line fuses so you don't burn up an expensive BMW thermo switch.
On the bottom of post #119 of the link supplied they talk about a hex bushing to tap instead of the housing:
Brass hex head bushing, use for BMW temp sender. All you have to do is tap it with a 14mm x 1.5 tap. This brass fitting is short and no need to drill out just tap it.
On the bottom of post #119 of the link supplied they talk about a hex bushing to tap instead of the housing:
Brass hex head bushing, use for BMW temp sender. All you have to do is tap it with a 14mm x 1.5 tap. This brass fitting is short and no need to drill out just tap it.
I have gotten a lot of help on this forum, I try to give back to the good bunch of people here.
I personally wouldn't tap the thermo housing for a 14x1.5 thread. That's wayyyyy too unique of a thread to find another temo sender that's going to fit the same new threads.
Instead, I would put in a 3/8" NPT reducer/bushing in the thermo housing, and tap the female (top of the bushing) end with a 14x1.5 tap.
How many times have you seen a set of 14x1.5 threads? This is the first for me. Auto parts stores don't generally carry a 14x1.5 tap either - it's something you likely can't find on a shelf.
Here's the latest. I have all the wiring mocked up with gator clips and twisted together just to make sure everything the fans turn on and off like they're suppose to. The following pictures are of the directions the company emailed to me, what I'm assuming is suppose to be a ground and The therm switched in The thermostat hosing. (Thanks for that idea you bunch of genius'). The black wire with a loop connector(mentioned NO WHERE in the directions) is attached to the black wire that runs to the thermo switch. When I have that loop grounded, the fan runs when the key is on and doesn't run when the key if off. When that loop is not ground my stock temp gauge got all the way to "H" and the fan had not turned on. I'm currently sitting in the truck with the key on, engine off, watching the temp gauge slowly fall while the fan runs to see if the fan will ever turn off. I'm lost and don't know what to do. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated right now.
That is the best (IMO) switch out there. You can also get a slick little 90* cap for the wires coming off the bmw switch. As the other guy said, you don't need the volvo relay with only a one speed fan, but use it any way. It is cheap, will handle ample amps for your fan, and their easy to find and wire. If you think it might help, I'm a long time forum member who happens to be a writer. I have a book on amazon about e-fans that I'll send you for free if it will help. It has all the part numbers, amp draws, etc., that you'll need.
Shoot me a pm with your email, and I send you a free copy via amazon, no strings, no catch. Here's a link to the book for you to check out:
I searched junkyards for four months and the only Volvo relay that was still there was dry rotted and crumbled when I tried to remove it. That and only being able to find a one speed fan is why I went with the cheap relay kit from Amazon. I just searched Amazon for the Volvo relay and found one for $10 but it doesn't come with the connectors. Even I bought that, I don't know if it would fix my current problem of the fan running all the time or not at all. Do straight blade connectors for on the Volvo relay?
You might want to test the fan switch. I don't think they like getting hot - I've killed a few in my Toyota.
There is another school of thought which places the switch near the lower radiator hose, rather than the upper/thermostat housing. The reasoning behind this is that it makes the fan run a little less, as it would turn off the fan sooner based on radiator temperature, rather than waiting for the engine to cool down. The rationale is that if the radiator has come down to the 'shut-off' temperature, that the engine will soon follow, so why keep running the fan for that extra 30 seconds or whatever?
But I like this lower location, because it's more likely to keep the switch submerged in the event of coolant loss, than would a location at the top of the engine. My Toyota loses coolant and its switch is relatively high on the engine, and it's been eating those switches - so I leave the switch unplugged, and it defaults to the fan always on, which is a smart little fail-safe.
I pulled the trigger and blight the new Volvo relay on Amazon for $10. It did NOT come with the connectors, it's literally just the relay. Does anybody know where I could buy the connectors or will blade and billet connectors work? I've checked with the local parts stores, ebay and Amazon, all I can find is the relay.
