Hi All -

I've searched and found this topic in other forums but not for my truck and not quite my issue.

My truck was hit on the front end - the radiator and AC condenser were smashed and had to be replaced. This means my AC system was completely empty since the condenser was cracked open.

I replaced the condenser and charged the system fully - it was empty since the system was open.

Ever since doing this and completing all other repairs - the radiator fans seem to only turn on in "high" and cycle on and off VERY frequently - I think they probably only turn off for 15-60 seconds before cycling back on. They don't seem to come on like this if I turn off the AC.

Based on what I read in non-Ford forums, I suspect I overcharged the AC system or a re-flash is needed.

Can anyone weigh in and confirm this or help point me in the right direction?

I dropped the truck off this morning at a local auto shop (not Ford) and asked them to check the pag oil and refrigerant (they will vacuum it out, measure it, and refill to the correct amount) but when I explained that my question was about the radiator fan and not the AC fan (my AC blows cold) the manager seemed confused and unsure of what they needed to check or do. This is why I'm posting here, if I need to trouble shoot myself or just take it to Ford I will - I just need it checked and back ASAP because my wife is days away from having a baby and I need to know my truck is 100%.

Truck is a 2015 F150 CCSB. It has the max tow option but I don't know if that would automatically make the fan cycle on so much. Based on the other threads I read, I think the AC may be overcharged even though I thought I charged it exactly when I charged it.

Thanks in advance.

 

It is possible that you have trapped air in the cooling system from being drained during the crash, which isn't letting the coolant circulate properly.
Does your coolant temp gauge start displaying the actual temp after driving for a while? If so, how hot does it get?

 

I have the factory digital gauges that I can change but I only see a gauge without actual temperature. I haven't seen a configuration/setting I can change to display the actual temp vs just a gauge/chart.

The indie shop worked it in quick and it was low on refrigerant so it's possible I never filled it correctly/completely. They filled it and put UV dye in. Holding a vacuum so don't think I have a leak but will take it back in a few days for UV leak detection from the shop and see what they say. They did confirm that being low on refrigerant could cause my rad fan to kick on more frequently.

Will post an update after I have it checked for leaks in a few days.

 

The Trans Temp and Coolant Temp can both have the actual numbers display if you have the digital dashboard like in the Lariat and up. Those with needles cannot.
You'll want to look up Forscan for this. It can do many things for our trucks.

 

Thank you! I thought you meant it was a default setting vs Forscan function. I have forscan but have only used it to scan codes - I have a small list of settings I want to change so I will do this also as I have the digital gauges and not analog needles.

Thanks again!

 

Even without Forscan, your digital temp gauge will begin showing actual temps above the gauge once it gets above (approx) 226 or 228F.







.

 

interesting. I’ve never seen the temp on mine, which seems odd that it would
never hit that temp if that’s the normal operating temp? I live in south eastern N.C. and it was 106 today...

should I be concerned that I’m not hitting those temps? The gauges always just rise to about halfway on the bar... for engine temp and trans temp

 

It will only start displaying the actual numbers when it’s getting hotter than normal, which is in that 226-228F range.
It doesn’t show the temps when things are normal.

 

Oh now I get it. Thanks for clarifying. I thought that 226 was the normal operating temp and I should be seeing it most of the time. Now it makes sense because I don’t know when I’d ever have pushed it to that temp and not realized it or seen the gauge change. Thanks for your help and clarification!

 

Following up on this for anyone that was curious.

Went back to the shop for a black light check and have no leaks. The system was low (not by a huge amount) from when I did all the repairs and charged it from empty.

The shop filled it up but it made no difference on my fan. Fan still runs at max speed in frequent short intervals.

Should I go to Ford to check the programming on this or just leave alone? It's always been like this since i have owned it, I have zero temp issues, zero running issues, it's just kind of annoying to me that I don't know if it is supposed to be like this or not...

 

You know it pretty hot outside.
Could that be the issue?

 

It was doing this even before the weather warmed up. I don't think it has anything to do with the outside temperature, especially since it does this immediately even on a cold start.