Can someone help me narrow down my cooling problem

[TimF]

so about two weeks ago my fans stop working. So in stop and go traffic my engine temp goes up. I usually pull over when it goes a little over half way and let it cool down. Now I know there could be a few issues causing it. Either the fan relay (or fan switch they called it at the autopart store) the temprature sensor that triggers the fan, or the motor( dont think its the motor cause they both stopped working at once). Is there a more likely reason so I dont buy one part then it is the other Or is there another option I dont know about.

Also How high can my temp gauge climb before I need to worry about damage to my engine. I know that It should not go in the red, and im guessing before the little dash after halfway.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Replace your thermostat, and check all your fuses..If that doesn't help, then start replacing the fan relays..The engine fan only turns on when the thermostat opens..

Doess your ac fan turn on when ou turn the a/c on..

 

[TimF]

I checked the Fuse, it looks fine. I was going to replace it anyway but it is stuck pretty good. If the thermostat does not open does that mean coolant is not flowing through my engine all together?

 

[LiquidX]

I checked the Fuse, it looks fine. I was going to replace it anyway but it is stuck pretty good. If the thermostat does not open does that mean coolant is not flowing through my engine all together?

A stuck thermostat (closed) isn't opening up to allow coolant to flow from the block to the radiator and back to the block. Instead it's sitting in the block getting hotter and hotter.

I would first verify your fans turn on and all sensors are working. Then I would change the thermostat out. You can test the thermostat by putting it in water and get it to a boil. The thermostat should open up at a set temperature.

 

[TimF]

ok was not to sure of how that works, so your saying is just take my thermostate off and drop in a pot of boiling water?

my car stays cool while driving if that effects anything, its only stop and go traffic at red lights when it heats up

Im reading throught the repair manual, could I use any two wires as jumper cables or do i really need to go out and buy a wire jumper?

 

[talonDSMerr]

If your car stays cool when driving, it usually means the thermostat is working and letting coolant into the radiator (which has a good amount of airflow to cool when you are cruising). Once in stop and go traffic, the radiator needs the help of fans to generate enough airflow.

Any wire will work to jump the cables. With the engine off and the key turned to the "ON" position, try pressing the A/C button. That should turn on both your fans if wiring and fan motors are problem free.

 

[steve]

Pulling the connector off the thermoswitch in the radiator and shorting the two pins together in the connector will cause the fan to turn on if the rest of the wiring is good. If it doesn't check the green/black wire for battery voltage when the ignition switch is on. If it's got power check the black wire and make sure it's connected to ground.

If those check out next stop is the radiator fan relay. It should have battery voltage present at pins 3 (red wire) and 4 (blue/black wire) when the ignition is on. The red wire runs to the fusible link and the blue/black to the ignition.

 

[TimF]

Pulling the connector off the thermoswitch in the radiator and shorting the two pins together in the connector will cause the fan to turn on if the rest of the wiring is good. If it doesn't check the green/black wire for battery voltage when the ignition switch is on. If it's got power check the black wire and make sure it's connected to ground.

If those check out next stop is the radiator fan relay. It should have battery voltage present at pins 3 (red wire) and 4 (blue/black wire) when the ignition is on. The red wire runs to the fusible link and the blue/black to the ignition.

to check to wires wouldnt I need a...... um whats it called?

 

[steve]

Voltmeter, Multimeter, DVM, DMM
For measuring voltage use the volts ranges, for measuring continuity/resistance use the ohms ranges.
Don't try measuring continuity/resistance is there might be a voltage on the wires.

 

[TimF]

sweet more stuff I need to buy

 

[steve]

Look around and you should be able to find a multimeter for ~$10

 

[TimF]

my ac button turns on myn driver side fan, but the passnager side one does not move at all

 

[1983gsp]

Buy a test light and probe the passenger side fan wires for voltage. Turn the key to the on position and turn the AC on low. Hook the alligator clip from the test light to any bare metal (aka "ground") and stick the pointy end of the test light (The probe) into the insulation of the wires coming into the fan.

Do one wire at a time. If the test light comes on, the fan is bad. Happy hunting.

 

[TimF]

kind of a stupid question, but will running my AC for the fan kill my gas milage, even if the AC does not work and has not worked for years?

 

[turboglenn]

if you know some one withy a logger just have them check the inputs on the sensors (or the auto parts store sometimes does it free) otherwise just use a voltmeter to track down if the fuse, relay or some other part of the wires to the fans are bad

 

[TimF]

The repair manual said just to use a peice of wire and a paper clip to test everything.