Are the fans from a 96 outback thermostatically controlled at the motor, have a thermostat elsewhere in the engine bay, or are they switched on and off directly by the ecu? The reason I ask is I am looking to modify a pair of spare fans to another vehicle and want to maintain some sort of automatic control, in conjunction with a dash switch. Thanks alot for the help.

The radiator fans are switched by relays controlled by the ECU, based on data such as coolant temperature and other factors (such as whether the A/C is turned on).

Darn, I was hoping to not have to spend the money on a stand alone fan control. Thanks for letting me know though. The projects continue!

From what you stated in your first post it seems to me that all you need to do is add a bypass circuit to the fans. This would just take a fuse, relay, and switch to turn on the fans manually. I may not fully understand what you are trying to do though.

I'm trying to install these fans in my 86 mercury cougar. I want the clutch fan gone to make more room, and free up some 15 horses. I did intend to run a manual switch, but wanted them to have an automatic mode. They sell thermostatic fan control kits like this at the autoparts store but they cost like $80. I was looking to keep this project from costing me anything, other than the spare parts I already have kicking around. I have a wide variety of relays, switches, and other electronic doo-dads but no electronic thermostats. I guess its time to start cruising E-bay!

The only thing I think you will need then is the thermostat switch. Hopefully the radiator has a spot for installing one. Then just add your relay and power supply circuit to it. You don't have to have an electronic control to turn it on.