Possible Busted Radiator Fan

[CowPimp]

My car is a '96 2G, check my profile for more details.

I believe that one of the radiator fans isn't working. My car very gradually overheats as a drive. Once it starts to slightly overheat, it will cool back down a bit when I get to idle. Eventually it hits a threshold where idling doesn't quite bring it back down to where it should be. If I turn the heat on, then I am able to drive the car fine; I'm not making a habit of it, I just did it to get back home.

As soon as I pulled over I popped the hood and looked in. The radiator fan on the passenger side was spinning, but the other one wasn't. Do they turn on at different times, or simultaneously?

Coolant level is full. I believe the thermostat is working fine; the heat comes on strong. Headgasket was recently replaced, so that's not it. Any other ideas?

 

[hewhoisknot]

If a 2g is like a 1g the passenger side fan is the actual radiator fan and the driver's side fan is the AC fan. And technically only one should spin. It sounds like you're fans work fine, they spin when it's hot right? Have you tried flushing the radiator? If you are looking for a quick temporary fix just wire the AC fan to blow also along with the regular fan.

BUN

 

[CowPimp]

If a 2g is like a 1g the passenger side fan is the actual radiator fan and the driver's side fan is the AC fan. And technically only one should spin. It sounds like you're fans work fine, they spin when it's hot right? Have you tried flushing the radiator? If you are looking for a quick temporary fix just wire the AC fan to blow also along with the regular fan.

BUN

Ah, I see. Thanks for the information on the fans.

I haven't tried flushing the radiator. I guess that's next in line. Actually though, one of my radiator hoses was leaking previously (Which has been replaced now), so I had to refill the coolant a couple of times. I don't know if that is as good as a flush, but I thought I would mention that.

Is the thermostat a possibility even if the car is blowing a lot of heat? Anyone know of other possibilities that I can try?

 

[CowPimp]

Just popped on a new radiator cap. Didn't seem to solve the problem. I'm still planning on getting that flush this weekend.

 

[hewhoisknot]

No replacing coolant does not flush your radiator. You have not forced any gunk or anything out of your system like you would with flushing. On a side note when my thermostat was stuck open (car wouldn't warm up all the way) i could not blow hot air so maybe the t-stat being stuck shut has the opposite effect? I'm not sure there though I may just being talking out of my a$$. Oh and I know this is dumb but when i changed my t-stat I swore I put enough coolant in but it turns out after the coolant ran it's course through my system I was really, really low, so you may want to check your levels again.

BUN

 

[CowPimp]

No replacing coolant does not flush your radiator. You have not forced any gunk or anything out of your system like you would with flushing. On a side note when my thermostat was stuck open (car wouldn't warm up all the way) i could not blow hot air so maybe the t-stat being stuck shut has the opposite effect? I'm not sure there though I may just being talking out of my a$$. Oh and I know this is dumb but when i changed my t-stat I swore I put enough coolant in but it turns out after the coolant ran it's course through my system I was really, really low, so you may want to check your levels again.

BUN

I'll try to get some more opinions regarding the thermostat as a potential problem. After my second test drive last night when installing the new radiator cap, I checked the fluid again and everything appeared to be in order there.

Yeah, I'm realizing now that a good flush involves using some chemicals to break up deposits and running a bunch of water/coolant through the system after that. Thanks for that.

Thanks for the input. All ideas and thoughts are appreciated.

 

[CowPimp]

What's the coolant to water ratio recommended in these cars? Would using all coolant be beneficial?

 

[CowPimp]

Replaced the thermostat and problem solved.

I talked to a mechanic who told me that pretty much every time a car overheats it trashes the thermostat even if it wasn't broken before the overheat. He also explained how the heat still works even if the thermostat is stuck closed, or not opening fully.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and help.