hi when should the fan kick in as mine kicks in about half way on the gauge , also does anyone have any recommendations for alloy rads

 

The fan isnt controlled by the temperature gauge.

And unless running a massive turbo and cdb no need for an alloy rad either...

 

ok so when are they suppose to kick in I thought they got to certain temp then kicked in

 

On my old 1993 WRX with an A'PEXi ECU, the hand commander showed 96-98C before the fans came on. In slow moving traffic, the fans tried to keep the temp between 92C and 96C, IIRC.

As eluded to above, it's the coolant temp sensor which senses the actual temp and sends the info to the ECU (the temp parameter can be logged via the ECU on some models). The CTS is cited in the driver side of the coolant crossover pipe. Next to the CTS is the smaller temp gauge sender unit. This seems to be operate in a very wide range - in that the cockpit temp gauge's needle pretty much stays rock solid, just below the centre position, regardless of temp fluctuations. (Unless you get an airlock or a HG failure - in which case, the needle will rise rapidly to the top of the gauge!).

 

ok thanks mate my gauge goes up to half way and stays there but I can hear the fan kick in think I had a air lock as the fans were on nearly constantly

 

Not necessarily. Sometimes they do stay on for a while. Normally, you don't think anything of it - but you can get paranoid when your hearing 'tunes into' them lol.

Bottom line, if you had a genuine airlock, your needle would climb beyond its normal level.


Based on what you say in your first post, everything seems normal.

 

that's what I want to hear , just had me worried as fans were on a lot

 

What model is your car?

'Cause if it's MY99 or later, then, via a suitable cable, you can attach your smartphone to the OBDII port and log, in real time, the temps via a suitable OBD app.

At least I think you can. lol

 

yer its 03 where best to buy the plug and where is the best place to get oe parts or does it have to be Subaru im after that metal coolant pipe that runs along top of the rad

 

Import Car Parts sell brand new OEM parts for anything between around 50-75% cheaper than main stealers.

http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/parts?cat=96

 

that's perfect mate thanks new to Scooby scene still learning thanks mate