Cooling Fan Switch or Cooling Temperature Sensor?

[bobglaub]

I have a 1992 Eagle Talon 6 bolt.

I have the cold start issue usually associated with the Coolant temperature sensor. Also, I get CEL Code 21. So My friend and I (we are not mechanics) used our volt meter to test the resistance for the Coolant temperature sensor. 0.00 okay, must be bad. so i remove the wires and hold them against the thermostat housing while my friend cranks the car. she started right up.

After looking at the autozone website, apparently what I actually tested was the cooling fan switch, NOT the Coolant Temperature Sensor. (yes, I am that much of a noob).

if I crank and crank the car over and over with the sensor connected, it will eventually start, just as the issue with the CTS, the thing is, the Fan will kick on after the car gets up to temperature.

so my question is:

Could the cooling fan switch cause the same starting problems as the Coolant Temperature Sensor? Also, how do you test the Cooling Fan Switch?

I am at school now so i cannot test the CTS, but when I get home I will do the resistance test on the CTS to see if I can rule that out.




----bob

 

[Wrecklezz1]

interesting observation

anyone?

 

[spooln4fun]

I dont know what code 21 is for the CEL.

Why would you want to test the fan switch? The fans turn on when the car gets up to temperature.

I would replace the coolant temp sensor and try again. Its $7-10 at the parts store(autozone, advance auto, ect..)

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Just flip the multimeter to ohms and test the sensor unplugged. Should fall into this range depending on the coolants temp. I would recommend doing it cold so coolant temperature is close to ambient.

32* - 5900 ohms
68* - 2500 ohms
104* - 2700 ohms
176* 300 ohms