How to Install and Wire a Ford Taurus 2-Speed Electric Fan (E-Fan Swap Guide)

The Ford Taurus 2-speed electric fan swap is one of the most popular cooling upgrades for off-road rigs, rock crawlers, and custom builds. In this guide, I’ll show you how to install and wire the Taurus e-fan, including relay setup, fuse sizing, and optional temperature control wiring.

Ford Taurus 2 Speed Electric Fan – 23″ x 16″ x 4″

Why Choose the Ford Taurus Fan?

Ford Taurus 2-Speed Fan Specs

• Fits: 1986–1995 Ford Taurus 3.8L V6

• Low Speed: ~1800 CFM @ 9.2 amps

• High Speed: ~2800 CFM @ 28 amps

• Dimensions: 23” x 16” x 4”

• Built-in shroud

The Ford Taurus fan — specifically from 1986 to 1995 3.8L V6 models — has become a legend in the DIY and 4×4 world for one reason: it moves a ton of air for cheap! We’re talking 1800 CFM (at 9.2amps) on low and up to 2800 CFM (at 28amps) on high. That’s enough to keep even the most heat-soaked trail rig cool in the summer. Check current pricing and availability here: 1990-1995 Ford Taurus 2speed Electric Fan

It’s a dual-speed fan that fits most radiators with a little trimming, and it’s tough as nails. Compared to pricey aftermarket electric fans it pushes a ton of air, is low profile and comes with a built in shroud for 1/4 the cost! This is a great electric fan conversion for your rock crawler, 4×4 or even project car that likes to run hot and you want to do a mechanical fan delete on. This is the perfect example of a great thing to grab from a junkyard, get high CFM for low bucks. Another plus is that they’re still quite cheap to buy even brand new. 

Tools & Parts You’ll Need

• • Ford Taurus 2Spd Electric Fan (from a 1990–1995 3.8L V6)
  • 2″ flat bar for brackets
  • 8GA Maxi Fuse Holders
  • 80Amp 4 Pin Relays – 2Pack
  • 30Amp and 70Amp Maxi Fuses 
  • 8AWG and 10AWG wire for power, 18-gauge for control
  • Temp Switch or on-off-on rocker switch
  • Ring Terminal Kit
  • Heat Shrink Tubing Kit
  • Shop My Recommended Gear
     

Step-by-Step Install

1. Test Fit the Fan

Pop your hood and remove stock fan. Measure radiator size, the Taurus Electric Fan dimensions are 23″ wide by 16″ tall by 4″ deep, which is great for tight spaces.

2. Mount It Up

Once the fit is good, bolt it in place with sturdy brackets. The plastic fan shroud is included and has mounting holes which makes building mounts easy. The fan will come with the zip-tie style, through radiator straps, I do not recommend using them for off road because they are impossible to get very tight and bouncing around will cause the fins to break and your radiator will start to leak.

3. Wiring the Fan

Download the high-resolution printable Ford Taurus 2-speed fan wiring diagram below. This wiring will work on any vehicle or rock crawler project that wants manual control of their two speed fan.

Ford Taurus 2-speed electric fan wiring diagram using dual 4-pin relays and an on-off-on switch for manual low and high speed control. Includes 30A low-speed and 70A high-speed maxi fuses with keyed ignition trigger.

These are two speed fans so you’ll need two relays to run both low and high speed. I used a basic 12V relay wiring guide for the setup. Keep your high-speed side fused heavy (at least 80A relay with a 70A fuse and 8AWG wire) the fan pulls 70amps when it starts and you don’t want to be blowing fuses. The low speed relay can be 30A with 10AWG wire. The fan uses 9.2 Amp on Low and pushes 1800CFM and 28Amp on High and pushes 2800CFM. You’ll be cutting the stock plug off the new fan and wiring the Low Speed, High Speed relays and the ground directly off the fan.

Relay and maxi fuse layout during initial install.

Stock Ford Taurus E-Fan Wire Colors:

• Brown with Orange Stripe – Low Speed
• Brown with Yellow Stripe – High Speed
• Black – Ground

You can wire the fan with a temp sender so the low speed is controlled by engine heat and the high speed switch is for those times you need a bit extra cooling.

Ford Taurus 2-speed electric fan wiring diagram with automatic low speed activation via a 185°F single-pin temperature switch and manual high-speed override. Uses dual 4-pin relays and independent maxi fuses.

Stock Wiring Colors on the Ford Taurus E-Fan – Brown with Orange Low Speed – Brown with Yellow High Speed – Black Ground

4. Clean Up & Test

Make sure your grounds are clean and tight, zip tie up any loose wiring and mount your relays and fuses. Depending on switch or temp sender, fire up the truck and either flip the switch to Low or wait for the temp to come up to 185* and listen for the fan to fire on low speed. Then flip the switch to High and make sure the fan is running at High speed and listen to it howl!

Ford Taurus Fan Installed in the Pathmaker Rig

Real-World Benefits

I’ve been running this Taurus fan setup for more than a decade on my One-Ton WD21 Nissan Pathfinder trail rig, and it’s made a noticeable difference. The Pathmaker used to run hot with high revs but slow travel speed and the clutch fan just wasn’t able to keep the engine cool. Once I switched to the Taurus fan I no longer had any issues. Engine runs great on Low speed and its nice to have High speed for quick cooling when you need it. Quicker cooldowns, more space in front of the engine, and no more worrying about overheating when crawling in low range. Removing the mechanical fan reduces parasitic drag and frees up a small amount of horsepower.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many amps does a Ford Taurus fan draw?
Low speed pulls about 9–10 amps. High speed can pull 70 amps on startup.

Do I need two relays for a Taurus fan?
Yes. One for low speed and one for high speed.

Can I run a Taurus fan without a shroud?
No. It comes integrated with a full shroud and should be used as-is.

Is the Taurus fan better than aftermarket electric fans?
For the price-to-CFM ratio, it’s one of the best junkyard options available.

Watch the Install in Action

If you want to see the full install process step-by-step, including the relay wiring under the hood, watch the full video here:

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