Question

[White LS]

The kid bought his LS a few months back and so far we have replaced the clock spring, the plastic cooling parts and fixed the sun roof drain. This site has been a great help in fixing these problems. I understand the plastic parts in the cooling system were to keep costs down but one thing I have a hard time understanding is the reason for a hyd. cooling fan when an electric fan would have been cheaper.

 

[G-RELL]

understanding why did the factory choose Hydro.... or when replacing it?

most here will opt for the electric if theirs goes out.

 

[joegr]

I'm not sure what all of the reasons where (certainly, the gen I LS is not the only car that used a hydraulic cooling fan), but one of the 500+ changes made to the gen II (2003-2006) LS was an electric cooling fan.

One could ask a similar question of why did you (or your child) buy a gen I with an hydraulic cooling fan?

 

[1LoudLS]

it has been stated many times that one of the reasons was because the 1st gen charging system could not support it without being over taxed. probably why one of the other 500 changes between the generations was a stronger alternator.

 

[White LS]

Kid liked and bought the car, would have liked time to research. The fan works fine now but, if it goes is it best to replace with after market or try to find Gen II parts and alternator. Thanks 1LoudLS that answer make sense.

 

[chocolat1701]

there is a write up on how to do the conversion here on lvc

 

[LS4me]

Kid liked and bought the car, would have liked time to research. The fan works fine now but, if it goes is it best to replace with after market or try to find Gen II parts and alternator. Thanks 1LoudLS that answer make sense.

Gen2 alternator won't work on. Gen1....... The hydraulic fan also allows for limp-home mode. Change the fluid regularily and you shouldn't have a problem. I've been slowly changing out the fluid in my (daughter's) 2000; sucking out as much as I can with a turkey baster and replacing what I've removed.....