Attn Ralliartists :)
Evolving Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 326
Likes: 2
From: Pursuance Motor Works - Calgary, Alberta
I don't have pictures but if you look at the back of the radiator fan you'll see a black "box" with two plugs in it, one at the bottom and one on the side. That's the radiator fan control unit.
When it starts going bad, you'll notice that the radiator fan continues to run even after you've taken the keys out of the ignition, sometimes only for a few moments and other times for a good 10-20 seconds.
The car ends up running louder than it should because the radiator fan is either constantly running or struggling between turning on and off. Eventually it fails and your radiator fan isn't able to turn on, and some people have had overheating due to the fact that the fan never comes back on. I fortunately haven't but I have had to replace it twice, most recently in January.
When it starts going bad, you'll notice that the radiator fan continues to run even after you've taken the keys out of the ignition, sometimes only for a few moments and other times for a good 10-20 seconds.
The car ends up running louder than it should because the radiator fan is either constantly running or struggling between turning on and off. Eventually it fails and your radiator fan isn't able to turn on, and some people have had overheating due to the fact that the fan never comes back on. I fortunately haven't but I have had to replace it twice, most recently in January.
Thank you. This is something I never would have considered to pull at the wrecker.
Yeah, its just a couple screws and then the plugs, which are a trick because of the angle.
I used a flathead both times to press the tab down and pull em out, probably should have cleaned the dirt off so that they'd be easier to take off [if theres a] next time but oh well.
I used a flathead both times to press the tab down and pull em out, probably should have cleaned the dirt off so that they'd be easier to take off [if theres a] next time but oh well.
Thread Starter
Evolving Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Usa
Well to be honest it is a very easy job, i felt a little let down cuz it wasnt moer interesting to do, lol. When i called mits customer service it took literally just a minute or two to update, essentially they just need the vin and your name and address, then tell them the problem. if everyone here whos had the problem would call, it would get thier attention. If someone could link this over to the evo side of the forums, (they probably dont like "slumming" it with us non turbo type of poor folks, lol) that would add up to a whole lot more incoming complaints. It only takes a few minutes out of your day, so put down those wrenches for a sec and call.
Heres the number
1-888-648-7820
Who knows, you might get a little money back to put under the hood.
edit: I posted a thread in the evo section, so its already done
Heres the number
1-888-648-7820
Who knows, you might get a little money back to put under the hood.
edit: I posted a thread in the evo section, so its already done
Last edited by Buxnbaas; Mar 21, 2011 at 12:19 AM. Reason: I got ambitious
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
so... mine has 205k and no problems yet. :knock on wood:
it is loud as **** at idle with the fan on though.
doesn't stay on after turning the car off.
will get back to you about the relative quickness with which the fan turns on after starting the car.
if i cant find a wrecked RA, is it the same part from a ls, es, OZ or evo viii/ix?
it is loud as **** at idle with the fan on though.
doesn't stay on after turning the car off.
will get back to you about the relative quickness with which the fan turns on after starting the car.
if i cant find a wrecked RA, is it the same part from a ls, es, OZ or evo viii/ix?
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: falls church
just a quick fyi i ordered 1355A052 which is only for the single fan unit. if you have a double you need 1355A124. its like $85 shipped from mitsubishiparts.net
Last edited by chrimzka; Mar 25, 2011 at 12:15 PM.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
When I parked outside the house tonight (it was about 65 F) the fan turned on for 1/2 sec, off 1/2 sec, lather rinse repeat three more times, then back to the usual 10sec/10sec pattern. I will be finding a new FCM this week.
EDIT: I found a 2003 Lancer at Pull-A-Part, someone at mitsubishiparts.net confirmed that the double fan unit on our cars is interchangeable with the one from the 2003 lancer doublefan unit.
EDIT: I found a 2003 Lancer at Pull-A-Part, someone at mitsubishiparts.net confirmed that the double fan unit on our cars is interchangeable with the one from the 2003 lancer doublefan unit.
Last edited by nashvilleRA; Apr 21, 2011 at 07:15 AM.
Question: If it went as bad as not turning on and starting to over heat would it also stop the AC fan from turning on? Im starting to suspect that my fan controller is bad also. I have an OZ.
When I turn my AC on that fan operates like normal but now that I think about it I havent seen my coolant fan turning in a while. Bad controller?
When I turn my AC on that fan operates like normal but now that I think about it I havent seen my coolant fan turning in a while. Bad controller?
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: bg, KY
Check under the hood some time when its hot or just listen with The air off. If its not working the ac fan may keep it cool enough you don't notice but then I'm sure you read the other symptoms. I wouldnt be surprised if its bad I owned an 04 es a few years ago and it had the bad controler and the sticky ac knobs. So id say this effects everyone