Aftermarket cooling fans 1997 Toyota RAV4 (episode 16)

[@LabCoatPaul]

Update: My fans burned up today! I drove around town a little bit and it was 100 degrees out. I got an electrical fire smell coming from the engine bay, and the fans were extremely hot. After running them 15 more minutes, the fan fuses blew and my car overheated.

[@wolfman175]

Man! Always impressed with your ingenuity and custom work! Great job!!

[@josesantiago863]

I don’t own a RAV4 but a got to say you make excellent videos. Cool RAV4.

[@garygomez6967]

Hey great videos, I have a 99 rav4 which I was about to sell but after watching these videos, I will just keep it and fix it as much as I can. :)

[@LabCoatPaul]

Oh no! That will be a lot of work! I've come to the conclusion there are 2 ways to own a RAV4: The smart way: Accept the fact the car is too old and everything is worn out. Fix only what you need to keep it running. The stupid way: Try to fix everything and spend a fortune on it. This is what I'm doing and it costs more than a brand new car.

[@Vreng77]

@@LabCoatPaul Were doing the exact same thing, already spent about 2.500€ for rust removal and Protection, and now about 4.500€ for fixing everything and New Tüv

[@jameshoward8544]

Awesome fan bracket mod. (2 thumbs up)

[@superdupersalem]

Love your work, as always.

[@almc-wi5vo]

The BEST!!

[@mackendyduvelson8449]

Perfect video

[@averywarenski6847]

Please make more videos! I got a 96 Ravy that I'm customizing and these videos are great!

[@LabCoatPaul]

Thanks! Yes, I will definitely make more videos. :)

[@averywarenski6847]

@@LabCoatPaul I'm in Salt Lake too! Maybe we'll see our custom ravy's on the road!

[@gvick15]

Hi Paul, in my RAV4 I realize that the fan on the left side of the car does not run upon start up but only the right one runs. Some told me that during cold start only one fan will work. However, yesterday I realized that even after driving for 45 minutes and the engine bay being hot after the drive the left fan was not on. Is the car designed to operate this way? Mine is a 1996 RAV4 4 door. 3SFE

[@LabCoatPaul]

Yes. I think that is normal. The second fan turns on with the air conditioning. Turn on your A/C and see if the second fan works.

[@gvick15]

@@LabCoatPaul even with my air conditioning is on the second fan does not run. So could this be the root cause for the Aircond that is not cold? But when I am speeding on the road some times the Aircond gets icy cold which means during that time the fan runs?

[@LabCoatPaul]

@@gvick15 It sounds like your second cooling fan doesn't work. Check your cooling fan fuses and relays. Unplug the fan that doesn't work and check the resistance of the motor. I don't know the specification, but it should have continuity and it shouldn't be shorted. My guess is it will be somewhere between 10 and 30 ohms. With the fan unplugged, try running wires directly from the battery to the fan. If you get sparks and it doesn't turn, it's shorted. If it turns but the wires get hot, it's shorted. If nothing happens, it's an open circuit. Connect a voltmeter to the wiring harness connector that goes to the second fan. You should get 12V when the A/C is on. At high speed, there is already a lot of airflow through your air conditioning condenser and your radiator and you don't need fans.

[@gvick15]

@@LabCoatPaul thank you. Will give it a try. Appreciate your effort to share this

[@KgreProductions]

Nice fab work looks professional

[@LabCoatPaul]

Brackets are pretty easy to make, and make the car look a lot better!

[@doctorwarpspeed8779]

Hey Paul I have a question for you. Not sure if you will ever see it. My 98 rav4 is having a strange electrical problem. When I completely turn the key off the dashboard lights (oil pressure, odometer, parking brake light, etc) remain on. Wiper stiill function and doors do not automatically look and unlock when the key is turned. If I unplug fuse 28 (”CIG”, ”PWR OUTLET”, ”SRS- ACC”, ”WIPER”, ”ECU- IG” and ”TURN & GAUGE”) the lights go out. Next I unplugged the ignition switch with fuse 28 still in. The lights remained on. It is possible due to lack of room, the ignition switch was not completely disconnected but I'm pretty sure it was. Am I correct to assume that unplugging the ignition switch should kill the lights, if that was the problem? When the car is started all lights function as they should. Also the clock turns off when the ignition is off and on when turned to acc like normal but other lights wont go off. The day before it happened I drove through a severe rain storm going highway speeds. But I cant find any sings of moisture under the dash. It is possible that water may be grounding the circuit somewhere in the doors, since it effects the automatic door locks too? Im really at a loss here. Or would you venture to say its the ignition switch? Any help at all would be appreciated. Let me know if I need to provide more info. Thanks for the help.

[@LabCoatPaul]

It sounds like an ignition switch problem. I haven't seen this problem before, so I don't know for sure. You can also move some relays around under the hood. It's possible one of them might be sticking. You should join the Toyota RAV4 Owners of First Gen XA10 1994 - 2000 only group on facebook. facebook.com/groups/287048125126229/ Ask your question on there and people will help you.

[@doctorwarpspeed8779]

@@LabCoatPaul Thanks a ton for the reply man. Defintely gonna join that Rav4 group. I did however manage to just find the problem. It was water after all, possibly coolant. When I would plug the fuse back in, I kept hearing a relay click inside the top of the dash towards the driver side front window. I decided to run my defrost on high heat for a little bit, instead of just my normal heaters. When I turned the car off the doors locks started working again except in reverse. They would lock me in instead of opening. Let it run a bit more now everything is completely normal again. There had to be a small amount of water from the horrible rain storm I drove through or the 10 inches of snow that melted off while driving. It is also possible I may have a tiny coolant leak in the heater core, possibly blowing coolant up through the defroster. I lose a couple ounces of coolant every few thousand miles. Im sure a gallon would last me years of refills but it loses some coolant somewhere. I'm gonna take your previous advice and put on a OEM radiator cap, I'm using a crappy one like you had in a previous video. Just as a precaution. I never smell coolant but who knows. Either way it is supposed to rain more this week, gonna watch it. If it happens again, I'm gonna have to some seal work. Glad it working now but thanks again for the reply and all the vids. I consider you a first gen Rav authority.

[@nathwest]

Awesome!

[@vallesan]

Thanks for the video...I have a 96 manual transmission 4 doors ..

[@technicalprovlogs6249]

Im waiting for rear camber adjustment

[@LabCoatPaul]

The rear camber adjuster bolts are by the rear differential. It's not really a DIY thing because you need an alignment rack. Make sure the adjusters aren't rusted solid and can actually turn, then take it to the shop for an alignment. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWLKmmyepKije6s

[@technicalprovlogs6249]

@@LabCoatPaul Tnks

[@CarlosContreras-gk9gp]

❤

[@g2190132]

I would like to see a video of how you fix the paint on the roof of your RAV4 and I would also like to see what products could improve the quality of the paint of the whole car in general

[@LabCoatPaul]

I'll check it out at some point! I still have a lot of mechanical problems I need to fix first, but I'll keep the paint thing in mind.

[@docjody8624]

Consider using a vinyl wrap on your roof. If you DIY the cost is considerably cheaper than paint and clear coat.

[@mabufinneser7208]

hey, my clutch is worn out and i need to replace it . every mechanic shop says it will cost about 1000 dollars !!!!!!! what do i do. my rav has 60k miles on the clock and works perfectly fine besides the clutch

[@LabCoatPaul]

The clutch is a big job on the RAV4. You'll need to drop the subframe down with the engine and transmission together. Then once it's out from under the car, replacing the clutch should be easier. It's possible to just take the transmission out, but it's easier if you take the engine and transmission out together. I don't have a video about this yet.

[@superdupersalem]

@@LabCoatPaul i would love to see this.

[@xyzDJzyx]

​@@LabCoatPaul I don't see how taking the engine out makes it easier. I just did mine and I really don't see why I would've done that. I think what makes it easier is a transmission jack.

[@LabCoatPaul]

@@xyzDJzyx I just heard it's easier to drop the entire subframe with everything attached. I haven't tried it yet, so I don't really know.

[@welcome2myworld1.o89]

Hey, Paul! I re watched your cooling videos. Because I tow 1800 pounds with my 99 4 door 5 speed. And She has 230,000 miles on her. So, I’m planning on completely redoing the cooling system. Obviously adding better cooling fans. Like the 1390cfm torqflo fans and new radiator and all. But, when I am going up hills. I don’t want the water and oil getting way to hot and then the fans kicking on! I’d like the fans to kick on when it comes to going up steep grades. And especially when I have to downshift from third gear to second gear to maintain speed. So! I believe, installing a electric fan switch. Would be extra insurance haha! Any chance you could make a video on how to do that? If so. That would be awesome!

[@LabCoatPaul]

I won't be doing a video about an aftermarket fan switch, but they're actually very easy to install. They have a temperature probe that you push in between the radiator fins, and you just connect battery power and ground to it. Then you turn the knob to adjust at which temperature you want the fans to come on. If you want your engine to run cooler, you can also install a different thermostat in the engine - one that opens up at a lower temperature. Also, use a high mileage synthetic blend oil instead of conventional oil, and buy a good quality oil filter. The oil does a lot to protect the engine, especially when it's working hard. Going full synthetic will most likely make it leak more, so don't do that.

[@welcome2myworld1.o89]

Paul Shpakov Hey, Paul! I just got this notification! I use full synthetic engine oil with good brand filter! My rav4 doesn’t over heat, thank God! But, my second fan does not work! So I will be doing a full cooling system overhaul soon! Right now I’m going to do the fans! As well as new front struts, lower control arms, ball joints, and outer tie rods! Because it all desperately needs to be replaced! So, March is that with new fans haha! Right now I’m taking care of the massive issues list! Then later want to do because why not list! 😂😂

[@welcome2myworld1.o89]

Paul Shpakov Hey, what CFM are those fans each?

[@LabCoatPaul]

@@welcome2myworld1.o89 1,200 cfm per fan

[@tacticalroshii5790]

Do a video on your speakers

[@welcome2myworld1.o89]

Can you please make a video on why the hell auto parts stores and RockAuto does not have a rear hub lug "Spindle assembly for the 99 AWD Manual rav4's please.

[@highpockets4748]

You should do a bluetooth radio swap tutorial

[@LabCoatPaul]

OK! I might do that one next! Thanks for the suggestion. I've been tolerating a broken stereo for way too long now.

[@61spindrift]

It is hard for me (or anyone) to suggest a better way in which you perform your repairs. But, I am going to give you some advise from a retired mechanic and a DIYer. Get rid of the silly bic lighter you use to heat shrink and get a proper flame thrower. I do a great deal of electrical soldering on my DIY projects and I own both the butane small torch that emits a flame and one that has a heater element for heat shrinking. The bic lighter is...well just not you after watching how you do everything "over the top". Keep the Snap On's tho.

[@LabCoatPaul]

Thanks for watching! I use a butane soldering iron, and if I take the tip off, I could use the torch for heat shrink. It burns it pretty easily though. I haven't tried a heater element yet. I'm sure it will work better than the lighter, but I'm not sure if it's more convenient.