SFA internal fan

[Bandit]

I find that on my SFA hilux, when I turn the fan on inside the vehicle to get a bit of air on me, it just does not blow! When it is on full, I cannot even feel the air on my face. I know that the small windows are there so that you can turn them in, and blow air onto you, but in the eastern cape, the wind blows most days, then you get sand-blasted!
I was just wondering if this a common problem, and if so, has anyone maybe done a conversion to get better results?

[ThysdJ]

This is normal. I know Bretton had a quest for more air, I also looked into it, but gave up. You can clean out the ducting and the filters which will improve the flow of air somewhat, but even then dont expect a hurricane rather expect light farty air movement... I was looking ito getting a BMW fan and housing but then winter came along and all of a sudden the fan was not that important any longer. I guess this summer I will do some more investigating...

[CasKru]

Mine was simular untill I opened the fan unit and found some leaves etc in there. After removing it and putting the fan unit back, I could actually feel a descent bit or airflow

[Mud Dog]

Never had a problem with mine.
Daryll I suspect that your fan or ducting may be choked with debris. I purposely try avoid parking under trees and always remove any leaves or other debris that may fall on the hood, intake grille and windshield. It could also be that some of the fan blades have rusted off the drum if you're in a particularly corrosive environment, like very close to the sea, but I doubt that to be the case here since I'm no more than 1½ k's from the beach and mine is an older model than yours. Is the fan running, do you hear it? If not it might just be a fuse that's gone or a poor connection. The motors themselves rarely give trouble.

[CasKru]

Never had a problem with mine.
Daryll I suspect that your fan or ducting may be choked with debris. I purposely try avoid parking under trees and always remove any leaves or other debris that may fall on the hood, intake grille and windshield. It could also be that some of the fan blades have rusted off the drum if you're in a particularly corrosive environment, like very close to the sea, but I doubt that to be the case here since I'm no more than 1½ k's from the beach and mine is an older model than yours. Is the fan running, do you hear it? If not it might just be a fuse that's gone or a poor connection. The motors themselves rarely give trouble.

I think his model would be the same as mine. It has plastic fan blades so I doubt that it is rust related but most probably debris like you said

The fan is a centrifugal fan and sometimes debris get trapped inside the squirrel cage which then throws the fan of balance slowing it down.

[Bandit]

I can hear the fan running, but it just does not push much air out. I was talking to Mike Anchorage, and his seems to be the same, just does not get the air flow. I will strip it out on the weekend and see if there are any leaves etc causing a blockage, but have done this before, and couldn't find anything wrong. Will maybe also look at fitting or modifying something else to fit in it's place, this summer is going to be a cruel one!

[ThysdJ]

just open a window....

[CasKru]

I can hear the fan running, but it just does not push much air out. I was talking to Mike Anchorage, and his seems to be the same, just does not get the air flow. I will strip it out on the weekend and see if there are any leaves etc causing a blockage, but have done this before, and couldn't find anything wrong. Will maybe also look at fitting or modifying something else to fit in it's place, this summer is going to be a cruel one!

Maybe after you stripped the fan out, switch it on and see if it has sufficient rpm's to generate the wind

[Mr_B]

When the air circulation system gets old, a couple of things can go wrong that negatively affect the air flow...

1. debris in that squirrel fan... reduces fan efficiency...
2. the fan motor itself... gets sticky, dirty inside, lubrication dries out, and often the brushes are worn below minimum... all adding up the reduced performance... the unit can be stripped and serviced... this makes a huge difference... oh yes check that the plastic pipe between the motor and blower housing is connected... else the motor could burn out!
3. the wire linkages into the air control box... these control the position of the flaps that direct the air flow... if the wire linkage breaks/get disconnected or the flap jams(because of debris)... the air flow is hindered...
4. this is especially true for the main heater flap... if this one jams... then, even with the air flow set to cold, the air has to pass through the heater radiator, which drastically reduces air flow... and you might not notice it because the heat valve on the engine side is closed, so the air is still cool(ish)...
5. the air is directed around behind the dash by plastic ducting, at every duct joint there is a strip of foam sealer... these seals perish... and the air escapes at every joint... again reduces air flow...
6. if any of these ducts are missing, especially the one under the steering column, the air flow will suffer!

Fixing the air circ system is a monumental pain... cause taking out a hilux dash is a cr_p job... you've been warned!

mr b

[Hoppy]

One of my clients fitted an Isuzu KB 280D Fan and it works well, haven't done it myself, maybe you can investigate.

[legend35]

Maybe a loose conection on the wires.Try to put a relay on the fan ,maybe it could help.

[Jaco Versfeld]

Hi Hoppy,

Do you perhaps have more info on this? I hear the Landrover guys fit BMW fans...

One of my clients fitted an Isuzu KB 280D Fan and it works well, haven't done it myself, maybe you can investigate.

I opened mine, but ja, it was not very dirty, and still not blowing too strong. I couldn't see the brushes. Would the new IFS fans fit?

[Bandit]

Opened the fan housing etc up, didn't find anything out of order, one or two small leaves. I replaced the brushes, but still doesn't work that well. I think I will also investigate the isuzu option. In my frustration, I managed to break the selection lever cable for the air direction, so that's the next challenge. I have stripped the dash out once before Mr.B, so I agree with your opinion, it is a cr*p job, but something we just have to do! Will keep you guys posted on the isuzu conversion.

[Jaco Versfeld]

Hi Daryl,

Where did you buy the new brushes from?

Opened the fan housing etc up, didn't find anything out of order, one or two small leaves. I replaced the brushes, but still doesn't work that well. I think I will also investigate the isuzu option. In my frustration, I managed to break the selection lever cable for the air direction, so that's the next challenge. I have stripped the dash out once before Mr.B, so I agree with your opinion, it is a cr*p job, but something we just have to do! Will keep you guys posted on the isuzu conversion.

[Bandit]

Hey Jaco, bought the brushes from a spares shop in PE, they are for the Isuzu, but 2 swipes on sand paper and they fit the toyota.
I sorted mine out today...
Bought a 1600 toyota corolla complete fan with cage from a scap yard for R150. No modification was necessary, I am just not to sure which model it was from, but one of the newer ones. The squirrel cage and mounting plate are identical to the hilux, just a much bigger and more powerful motor. The top edge of the cage was just very sharp, so I dulled it with some 60 grit sand paper and it workes like a dream! Blows so hard you don't even need seat belts!
Word of warning... A few years worth of cr*p built up in the pipes comes out at a hell of a speed (blonde moment) and had to vacum the inside of Bandit when I was finished.
Entire process, take out old, dull edges and fit new one took around 35 minutes. The plugs are all identical, so you just plug it in.

[CasKru]

Word of warning... A few years worth of cr*p built up in the pipes comes out at a hell of a speed (blonde moment) and had to vacum the inside of Bandit when I was finished.
Entire process, take out old, dull edges and fit new one took around 35 minutes. The plugs are all identical, so you just plug it in.

[zepplin]

Nice one Daryl, this is my next project.

[CasKru]

Darryl, which of these models did you get it from?

1

2

3

4

5

[Sifu-Lux]

Hey Darryl, I'm glad its a quick job. Which scrap yard did you get it from?

I haven't had a look yet but I presume you can access the fan easily from under the dash without removing to much stuff??

Maybe I should go shopping tomorrow...

[Hoppy]

Nice one, i think it's the "bubble" shape, '89 to '98

At least we don't have to use Isuzu parts!

[ThysdJ]

Allan, ek weet wat jy Maandag gaan soek.... sommer daar by Alltech...

[Bandit]

Andrew: It was barnetts in grahamstown road, very hepful people to deal with.
Hoppy: You are correct, on the list I would say the second from the bottom looks like the one I got it from, the bubble shape.

[Bandit]

Sorry Andrew, ver easy to get to. Passenger door, under the glove compartment next to the side kicker panel. Remove the kicker panel, unplug the plug on the firewell, behind the fan motor, unplug the fan plug, and remove the 3 bolts. 8mm socket with the knuckle as the one at the back near the fire wall is a bi*ch, I just lifted the corner of the carpet away to give a bit more room to get it out the box. And then just reverse the procedure to to fit the new one. If you only connect the plug to the fan motor, then you will only get full speed when testing it, but if you connect both the firewall plug and the fan plug, then you get the 4 speed for the fan. Hope this helps.

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Adding a 2nd propeller increased my fan's output by substantially.

See peekchaz

[Mud Dog]

..... and no ballance / vibration issues?? I see you secured it with cable ties (what else would you expect from an electician )... you must have battled to centralise it.

Rich, jokes aside, did it really help? I only ask because the drum fans are generally a lot more efficient than the propeller type and I woulds then imagine that the less efficient metal one would be a hinderance to the airflow. Furthermore, correct me if I am wrong, but it looks like your fan (metal) is installed upside down in the pic ..... if the drum were to rotate clockwise it would draw air into the centre which is then intended to vent out the open end where you have installed your metal one. On clockwise rotation the metal one looks like it is counteracting that flow, pushing air back into the drum?

[GeorgeJvR]

My fan is working if i directly supply 12v and earth to the fan motor,
The fuse behind the cubby doesn't have a 12v supply which comes from the relay, the relay does have 12v,
Don't know what condition the resistor in the fan housing is in.
The fan doesn't come on if i use the selector on the dash,
I've tried a new relay but no change
What does each of the 5 pins on the relay do/ where do they come from?
Black and white = earth
Thick white = 12v
Red goes to the fuses A/C and heater fan
Yellow = ?????????
Yellow/Blue (not shure of the colour) = ???????????

what does the resistor do?

[Zandyl]

what does the resistor do?

It reduces the voltage supplied to the fan to give different fan speeds

[Mr_B]

..... and no ballance / vibration issues?? I see you secured it with cable ties (what else would you expect from an electician )... you must have battled to centralise it.

Rich, jokes aside, did it really help? I only ask because the drum fans are generally a lot more efficient than the propeller type and I woulds then imagine that the less efficient metal one would be a hinderance to the airflow. Furthermore, correct me if I am wrong, but it looks like your fan (metal) is installed upside down in the pic ..... if the drum were to rotate clockwise it would draw air into the centre which is then intended to vent out the open end where you have installed your metal one. On clockwise rotation the metal one looks like it is counteracting that flow, pushing air back into the drum?

M_D... that's a Mr B prototype... of course it works perfectly...

[Bloues]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the info, started last night with Bloues fan and today I need a "spasmed & deepheat" for my back.......but busy fixing the fan ......... !! Will keep you posted !!!!!

[GeorgeJvR]

All sorted at last :D

Now to give it some boost

[Cookie Monster]

Anybody got this issue really sorted as my fan cant shake the flame on a candle lol

[CasKru]

Anybody got this issue really sorted as my fan cant shake the flame on a candle lol

Someone used the fan of an older model 160 Corolla and it fit perfectly and has a bigger motor....

[519franco]

what happens if we recoil the moter to thicker wires

[Mud Dog]

what happens if we recoil the motor to thicker wires

It gets weaker / slower because thicker wire will allow less windings and it's the number of windings that will make it stronger / faster. And if you go for thinner wire with more windings you stand more of a chance to burn the motor out. Bottom line, don't mess with it.