Lucas, Prince of Darkness, is still alive!!!

[ERA 778]

Today I worked on the Cobra, changing the thermostat and trying to raise the engine temperature on cool days. After a short run I used the manual switch to run the fans to cool the radiator down. I hadn't used that switch in months, but everything seemed to work normally.

Almost five hours later my wife and I heard an unusual noise in the garage. I went out and could clearly hear the radiator fans running! I stared in disbelief for a moment, then flipped the manual fan switch on the dash to "On", then back to "Off". The fans stopped.

Immediately I thought of Lucas Electric, maker of the switch. Is my Cobra now possessed? Has Lucas reared his ugly head in my garage? I surely hope not!

Seriously, has anyone ever had this happen to them? I realize it has to be either the relay or the switch, but thought I'd ask for others to share their experiences.

Thanks,

Hal

[Murky781]

AH the Lucas strikes again. I was putting a new insurance card in my glove box and upon closing the door, my fans came on. Talk about possessions! Easy fix by wiggling the switch and figuring it was just a fluke. Garage door shuts, fans on, dog farts, fans on. ok change it. 2 switches from Finish Line, one from Peter, many hours later and pieces of switches all over the garage floor and embedded in the walls, I went to Pep Boys and bought a 7$ switch and my car runs perfectly now. Just a bad batch, but i'm waiting until forever to replace my wonder switch from PB. Easy fix by replacement if you have nimble fingers to reach up under the dash. Good luck and Peter and Bob are aware of some bad switches.

[strictlypersonl]

Yesterday I went through our pile of the latest batch of single toggles. Roughly 20% of them were defective. From now on, every switch will be tested before installation. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[James Stern]

You're apologizing for the "Prince of Darkness?"

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by ERA 778

Today I worked on the Cobra, changing the thermostat and trying to raise the engine temperature on cool days.

Two ways to do that: cover the lower 1/3rd of the rad with sheet aluminum / don't drive on less than 55 degree days.

Originally Posted by ERA 778

Seriously, has anyone ever had this happen to them? I realize it has to be either the relay or the switch, but thought I'd ask for others to share their experiences.

Bad switches not withstanding, the definitive way to stop that is a Merit battery cut-off switch. Kill power when you're through driving plus it's easier and safer to work on the car with the batt off.

[ERA 778]

Yesterday I went through our pile of the latest batch of single toggles. Roughly 20% of them were defective. From now on, every switch will be tested before installation. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Bob, does this mean you'll send me a new one for free???? Just asking...

Two ways to do that: cover the lower 1/3rd of the rad with sheet aluminum / don't drive on less than 55 degree days.

I'm looking into doing just that, but yesterday I also found that I was using the wrong diameter thermostat, which might allow too much bypass action. I'm going to swap out the thermostat again today and see what the effect is. If that's not enough, I'm going with a Lexan cover.

[Bobcat]

I`m going through that now with my heater switch .... it is also possessed . Comes on for no reason and has to be in the on position sometimes to stop the fan from running . Been doing this on and off for over a year . Because it is a PITA to change out , I live with it until it gets where it fails completely . Battery cutoff switches can be your buddy sometimes .
Murky781 ... do you have a part number on the Pep Boys switch ?

[ERA 778]

I forgot to mention that I already have a cutoff switch Moroso #74100 that I installed in the trunk during the build. I guess from now on I'll have to be using it...

Hal

[Murky781]

Bobcat.. the switch I bought at Pep Boys is anything but cobra appropriate. It's a plain toggle with a big red safety cover. It was 7$ i think, and it was the cheapest single pole switch they had. I bought it just to make sure it was the switch failing and not gremlins at work, and ended up using it. Causes heart attacks with the purists, and everyone else just ask "what's that for?" and I answer, warp drive. Looks like a NOS switch. I'll change it out the next time I have to pull the dash.

[FWB]

slaughter a chicken.....rub fresh blood on your face.......wave fresh garlic over the cobra........you will satisfy the princes' lust