Radiator fan problem

[talonation777]

I searched through other forum to see if people had the same problem as me, but I didnt se anything that applied to my situation. Anyways, here it is...

Only one of my rad fans works, I tunred on the AC and followed advice that other members posted, and still nothing. I popped open the fuse box and noticed that I only have one fuse for both my rad fans. So i went and got a fuse off a Talon from a junkyard, and plugged it in, but then I realized that it can't plug in, perhaps its not hooked up? I'm not really sure, it wont allow me to plug it in becasue theres no "teeth" for the plug to plug into. I didnt really think much of it before, but my car gets really hot under the hood so I'm hoping that the second rad fan will circulate the air and bring the temp down. So if anyone has any thougts or advice, please let me know. If it seems like a mechanical problem, let me know how much I'm looking at to have it done, or maybe if I could do it myself. Thanks alot guys.

Cheers

 

[fulanititoo8198]

IF it has not teeth a fuse doesn't go there. Check the connections to the fans. While your checking those fuses also check Engine fan and A/C fuses. Oh don't forget to check out your coolant and thermostat also.

 

[Evil1gDsm]

It could be a number of things! First i'd check to see if the relay on the fan is good! Then trace it back, thermostat and Engine Coolant Temp Sensor! If either of those are bad, that will cause the problem your having! Good luck!!

 

[talonation777]

Hmmm, well its wired, it just doesn't have the teeth to plug it into. I'm 100% sure that a rad fuse goes there because on the cover it has two fuse spaces, one for the hi and one for the low. But, mine still doesn't work. My car doesn't overheat or anything, and the fluid levels are fine. maybe I shoulf just suck it up and take it to a mechanic? LoL. Thanks

 

[Evil1gDsm]

Hmmm, well its wired, it just doesn't have the teeth to plug it into. I'm 100% sure that a rad fuse goes there because on the cover it has two fuse spaces, one for the hi and one for the low. But, mine still doesn't work. My car doesn't overheat or anything, and the fluid levels are fine. maybe I shoulf just suck it up and take it to a mechanic? LoL. Thanks

use a multi-meter to check voltage! Check the relay by putting direct power to it!!! You can do it!

 

[talonation777]

Lol, alright mn, I'll give her a shot. Thanks. I'll post my findings after.

 

[Doug99RS]

If there's no blades in the fuse block then there isn't supposed to be a fuse in it. Any tampering with the Power Distribution Center (Fuse block under the hook) would be pretty clear as it's not easy to get in and back out with out leaving signs.

Before jumping to conclusions here about gremlins that stole wiring pins from your car... what is the actual complaint you have from sitting inside the car? Does the engine overheat in to the Danger area? Does in run between dangerously hot and normal, below that area? Do you have a check engine light on? Are you lacking heat or air conditioning operation?

If you're simply saying a fan doesn't come on and it's hot under the engine bay then I would say "Well, duh! It's an engine bay, it's gonna be hot." Only after having said "Both fans don't always come on at the same time unless the temp gauge gets REALLY HOT."

Can you clarify what's bugging you as a driver of the vehicle and not a person who knows where the hood release lever is?

Also, you can't just put power to any pins you want in the relay. You need to be a bit more specific in your suggestions when they involve throwing unfused battery voltage at a circuit.
Thanks,
Doug

 

[talonation777]

If there's no blades in the fuse block then there isn't supposed to be a fuse in it. Any tampering with the Power Distribution Center (Fuse block under the hook) would be pretty clear as it's not easy to get in and back out with out leaving signs.

Before jumping to conclusions here about gremlins that stole wiring pins from your car... what is the actual complaint you have from sitting inside the car? Does the engine overheat in to the Danger area? Does in run between dangerously hot and normal, below that area? Do you have a check engine light on? Are you lacking heat or air conditioning operation?

If you're simply saying a fan doesn't come on and it's hot under the engine bay then I would say "Well, duh! It's an engine bay, it's gonna be hot." Only after having said "Both fans don't always come on at the same time unless the temp gauge gets REALLY HOT."

Can you clarify what's bugging you as a driver of the vehicle and not a person who knows where the hood release lever is?

Also, you can't just put power to any pins you want in the relay. You need to be a bit more specific in your suggestions when they involve throwing unfused battery voltage at a circuit.
Thanks,
Doug

Ok, well I guess my problem as a driver is that the car had a history of overheating with the previous owner. Nothing has happened to me thus far, but theres always a chance it could. Besides knowing where the hood release is, I notice the temperature under my hood is significantly hotter then that of other DSM's. As I stated before, I'd like to find out why only one fan operates, what is the point of having two fans when only one works? basically I just want to figure out why the fan doesn't work, by checking all the wiring and getting more details as to why there is only one fuse hooked up. The fuse cover states that there is two rad fans (high and low) and it would make sense to me to try and utilize the other fan. I just wanted people's opinions and advice as to whether they have experienced a similiar situation. Thanks

 

[Doug99RS]

Ok, well I guess my problem as a driver is that the car had a history of overheating with the previous owner.

What was done to correct this condition? What parts went on the car?

Nothing has happened to me thus far, but theres always a chance it could. Besides knowing where the hood release is, I notice the temperature under my hood is significantly hotter then that of other DSM's.

Did you take temperature readings with a thermal probe? Are heat shields missing from the exhaust manifold? The heat shield still present on the hood? My hood steamed all the time in the rain. I didn't like it but it's the nature of the beast. It will cool down once you get on the road. I understand you're concerned because of the history of the car but honestly feel like you're a little over-sensative IF and ONLY IF you're just using the observation above as your determination that the car is truly "Overheating".

Overheating means blowing out coolant, temperature gauge getting beyond 3/4, or maybe a bucking and surging condition from the high temps. A simple overservation of engine bay temps doesn't define a car as overheating.

As I stated before, I'd like to find out why only one fan operates, what is the point of having two fans when only one works?

It's completely possible that the other fan DOES work it's just not being comanded on. Not moving doesn't mean broke. It could mean "Not comanded to work at this time." If you're A/C works fine and your temperature gauge shows normal then you're reading too much in to it.

basically I just want to figure out why the fan doesn't work, by checking all the wiring and getting more details as to why there is only one fuse hooked up. The fuse cover states that there is two rad fans (high and low) and it would make sense to me to try and utilize the other fan.

The fuse block description on the covers aren't always the most helpful because they are misleading. It does make sense to have the fans work but only if they are truly needed. There's a cool little gray box next to the fuses. It's called a powertrain control module. It has programming in it that some egg-head in Detriot was paid thousands of dollars to make it handle all the operations of the engine. If there was truly a problem you would have a check engine light, over-heating condition or loss of coolant. If the fan's not coming on then that MIGHT mean that someone smarter than both of us combined says the coolant temperature is just fine and both fans aren't needed.

I just wanted people's opinions and advice as to whether they have experienced a similiar situation. Thanks

Anyone that reads this will tell you that at some point in the life of their vehicle they have noticed only one fan working. They will probably also tell you that they might have NEVER seen it come on and STILL haven't blown up their engine.

Bottom line is that if a car is truly overheating then you would have more signs to tell you so. The best advice I can give you is keep your hands in your pocket and don't use them as a diagnostic tool for trying to tell if your car is overheating. You will get burned on a hot exhaust manifold, engine, radiator and radiator hose and the computer on top of your shoulders isn't smart enough to differentiate between 195 degrees and 250 degrees.

 

[talonation777]

The car does still have the heat shield over the exhaust manifold, its comming off in the spring when I put my headers on, but regardless, when the car was dropped off at my house, I took it out for a drive, and the car immediately overheated. I filled her with more coolant for the time being, and then got the rad flushed, and all the fluids topped off during a tune up. It hasn't overheated, so I guess I shouldn't worry about the fan then. I guess if it hasn't given me problems, its nothing to worry about. Thanks again for the advice, if any problems develop, I'll be sure to post then. Thanks again.

 

[Doug99RS]

The car does still have the heat shield over the exhaust manifold, its comming off in the spring when I put my headers on, but regardless, when the car was dropped off at my house, I took it out for a drive, and the car immediately overheated. I filled her with more coolant for the time being, and then got the rad flushed, and all the fluids topped off during a tune up. It hasn't overheated, so I guess I shouldn't worry about the fan then. I guess if it hasn't given me problems, its nothing to worry about. Thanks again for the advice, if any problems develop, I'll be sure to post then. Thanks again.

No problem. You may want to throw a new radiator cap on there. It's something that is frequently overlooked during routine maintenance and is commonly the cause of coolant over-filling the resevior then leaking on to the ground. Take care.
Doug