Dead electric fan because of snow and ESP sucks!

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:54 am

I was out pulling the kids around on a tube in the field and there was quite a bit of snow. The snow was even coming over the top of the hood at times. I eventually looked down at the temperature gauge and it was getting hot. I was at least a couple notches below the H. I ended up stopping and not driving around any more. I popped the hood and walked around to open up the hood and she smelled like something electrical had burned up. I looked at the radiator and it was packed with snow. The dang electric fan couldn't turn because of the snow. I tried to spin the fan later that day and she wouldn't turn because of the ice. The power steering fluid level was way up too. I checked the tranny fluid and it looks good and doesn't smell burned so that was good. Luckily I am still under warranty and will have to get a new fan.

Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Also, ESP sucks bad! Why can't we turn it off completely with the switch. VW allows you to do that. Is there a way to disable ESP for some good old fashioned fun in the mud or snow? Maybe pull a fuse (and then put it back in when on the road of course)? I hate the way the power gets cut when you are trying to turn in the snow, it just frustrates me.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:01 am

Thank goodness I don't have that ESP crap on mine,
but the snow packing will happen to any vehicle if you are going through snow over the hood, just have to remember to stop every now and again and clean everything out, common sense types of things

So you think warranty should buy a new fan due to you stuffing it full of snow? just wondering :roll:

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:16 am

The snow was blowing over the hood. The snow was only about 12" deep. There should be something that cuts power to the fan when it doesn't turn. This has never happened on any other vehicle I have had before. Most fans are on the backside of the radiator. I realize that there isn't much room under the hood, but at least they can make it so the fan doesn't cook itself.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:38 am

the fan is set to come on and cool the engine, the engine was getting hotter due to the radiator being full of snow, thus the fan kicking on and trying to turn and cool the engine, if it would of kicked off due to not turning and you would of kept driving then you could have way worse than a cooked fan, could of been the engine

oh well :roll:

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:25 am

Either way the engine and tranny are fine. The fan shouldn't be to expensive. I will definitely be more careful now!

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:59 am

MTB_TDI wrote:

Either way the engine and tranny are fine. The fan shouldn't be to expensive. I will definitely be more careful now!

sorry wasn't getting on your case just been in the service end of it when someone comes in and says the fan just quit and wants warranty work done and it was clearly the owners fault, but if they were a good customer sometimes I would fudge things a little so good luck!!

ReneDave · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:50 pm

Question - what of the ESP is left on after pressing the disable button, and when in 4lo? I was under the impression that the traction control system was completely disabled, just the ABS was still enabled - what the heck do I know, though.

daspes · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:00 pm

ReneDave wrote:

Question - what of the ESP is left on after pressing the disable button, and when in 4lo? I was under the impression that the traction control system was completely disabled, just the ABS was still enabled - what the heck do I know, though.

In 4-Lo pressing the button will disable it. But the button just makes it more retarded in 2 and 4-Hi.
As far as being able really disable it, on the JK's there is a purple wire that you can cut and install a toggle switch to disable the ESP, though this will also disable ABS when the switch is thrown. Not sure if this will work on the KJ or not, but we should be able to do it also, not sure which wire though, and with over 2' of snow on the ground I ain't looking now either. 2nd option, wheel the snot out of it and break your Clockspring. Worked for me

, though you lose the ABS this way as well

.

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:27 pm

Looks like we need to figure out how to disable the ESP. I will have to do some digging!

daspes · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:36 pm

MTB_TDI wrote:

Looks like we need to figure out how to disable the ESP. I will have to do some digging!

Here are the directions for the JK, like I said, not sure if it will be anywhere near the same for the KJ.

"under the console is a big bunch of wires running from the front to the back on the driver's side of the e-brake handle. Inside of this bundle are two purple wires with LIGHT blue stripes. One is wound with a white wire. That's NOT the one you want. There is another one running alongside it that is purple with a DARK blue stripe. You want the one with the LIGHT blue stripe that's not wound with the white wire. I turned on the Jeep when I cut the purple and light blue stripe wire just to be sure and the lights came right on. Then splice in some extra wire and add your toggle."

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:43 pm

humm it would be nice to completely cut it off.. but it helps a lot some time because it uses the brakes to send power to all 4 wheels at different times.. kinda mimicing lockers.

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:53 pm

2006 KJ wrote:

humm it would be nice to completely cut it off.. but it helps a lot some time because it uses the brakes to send power to all 4 wheels at different times.. kinda mimicing lockers.

Yes when you are crawling it is nice. But if you are out playing in the snow or mud, it is annoying!

daspes, Thanks for that. I will look into it.

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:06 pm

Sorry I’m dumbfounded on this one. I have the off-road and trailer package on my 02 but I have no electrical fan. Was this added on to later Liberies? Or did DC screw me? :evil:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:24 pm

Maximum Carnage wrote:

Sorry I’m dumbfounded on this one. I have the off-road and trailer package on my 02 but I have no electrical fan. Was this added on to later Liberies? Or did DC screw me? :evil:

Every liberty has an electric fan unless someone took it off. The trailer package added a engine driven fan for extra cooling.

Pressing and holding the ESP button for 5sec(or something like that) will turn ESP off but leave traction control partially on. If you just press it then it retards it some. To turn it totally off just pull the ABS fuse.. No biggie.

I think its the same in 4low but Im not sure..

Maximum, he also has the CRD which has a pusher fan infront of the condenser. A 3.7 would not have this problem since the fan is behind the radiator. It could still get packed with snow which may reduce air flow and cause it to get a little warm.

Not sure how this is a problem with the Jeep at all. There is nothing it could of done to cool the engine if it was packed with snow. I would say jeep didnt count on something getting in the fan and keeping it from turning so it may not have a feature built in to shut it off if it cant move. After all, its only a simple DC motor.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:46 pm

Maximum Carnage wrote:

Sorry I’m dumbfounded on this one. I have the off-road and trailer package on my 02 but I have no electrical fan. Was this added on to later Liberies? Or did DC screw me? :evil:

Look between the mechanical fan and radiator,it's there,if not you have a salvaged vehicle and they never replaced the electric fan.That happened to a guy over on JU forum,bought a salvaged KJ and was never told(which is highly against the law).

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:56 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Look between the mechanical fan and radiator,it's there

Thanks, I've never thought of checking their. I've only checked in front of the radiator.
BTW: I bought it brand new. So if anything I'd look at DC for this.

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:29 pm

Pulled the 20 amp ABS fuse and the ESP doesn't work at all. I get an ABS light, ESP BAS light and a CEL when I do it but it works great. I can slide around all I want and no ESP. I then put the fuse back in and cleared the CEL. Back to normal, except for the fan.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:19 am

MTB_TDI wrote:

Pulled the 20 amp ABS fuse and the ESP doesn't work at all. I get an ABS light, ESP BAS light and a CEL when I do it but it works great. I can slide around all I want and no ESP. I then put the fuse back in and cleared the CEL. Back to normal, except for the fan.

great to know!!!! thanks

did you have to manually clear the CEL or did it do it itsself?

rangerd77 · **Joined:** Sat May 03, 2008 10:48 am **Posts:** 512

to HE77 with ESP that junk is crap. get a DTT and weld the rear. j/k thanks for the info i guess :roll:

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:47 am

2006 KJ wrote:

MTB_TDI wrote:

Pulled the 20 amp ABS fuse and the ESP doesn't work at all. I get an ABS light, ESP BAS light and a CEL when I do it but it works great. I can slide around all I want and no ESP. I then put the fuse back in and cleared the CEL. Back to normal, except for the fan.

great to know!!!! thanks

did you have to manually clear the CEL or did it do it itsself?

I manually cleared it. However, I don't know that it won't clear itself. That I haven't tried yet.

Dead electric fan because of snow and ESP sucks!

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