Rad fans not running for air con or engine

[bigsteve1635]

Hi all again

Thanks for all your help in the last couple days,

But I now have a tougher problem for you all.

The air con compressor was noisy so I replaced it with a new one with a dyer and exspansion valve , today I went to regas the system, but the guy said it had to much pressure building up in the system, ( This why the compressor got noisy in the first place !, no rad fans mean the gas heats up and the gas pressure goes though the roof and the compressor has to work much much harder, then the clutch starts to slip and eventally burns out along with screwing the bearings in the compressor, so check your rad fans work in you have a noisy compressor, this is only a problem in traffic as you do not need the fans when moving) he then noticed that the rad fans were not working, so he tested the rad fans and they worked OK on a hot wire from the battery, the fan relay seems not to be getting a signal to turn on the fans from the powertrain control module or the PCM is not getting a signal from the a/c pressure switch( dont think that the problem though),
I think it a problem is with the PCM as I do not think I have ever heard the fans run even with engine running on tick over for a long time, it did start to get hot once in heavy traffic and I turned on the heater fan to cool it down. But the UK is cold at the moment I do think the engine gets hot enough to turn on the fans anyway.
So how do I check that the fans work via engine temputure , I dont want to short the temp sensor wires just in case it cooks the PCM module( if its not aready been done) , but is it OK to do this as a test.

How do I check the PCM is reciving a signal from the temp sensor or air con pressure switch or sending a signal to the fan relays.

How do i get the engine service light to go off, it came on today after mucking about with rad fan wiring and relay.
Does the fan relay receivie 12 v of signal from the PCM or is it just a low voltage signal as the fan relay seems to be a solid state type.

PLEASE HELP as the car is going to portugal in 2 weeks and I desprate to get it sorted especially if the rad fans dont work on the cooling system as I will cook the engine down there no problem , it got 113 degrees there last year

THANKS IN ADAVANCE OF YOUr HELP

Regards

Steve F

[KManiac]

Sounds like you need a new fan relay. This relay is NOT in the fuse/relay box under the hood. It is bolted to the radiator support, under the air filter box. Search this forum for my previous post on this subject.

[Stevo2]

There was a Recall on the fan relay and if you want that info just let me know. I have posted a service bulletin on the relay also for your viewing pleasure. Wiring diagram below it.


Radiator Fan Motor - Relay Operation
NO: 08-34-96
GROUP: Electrical
DATE: Oct. 25, 1996
SUBJECT:
Radiator Fan Relay Operation
MODELS:
1996 - 1997 (NS) Town & Country/Caravan/Voyager
1996 - 1997 (GS) Chrysler Voyager (International Market)
DISCUSSION:
Conditions related to the radiator fan relay may result in the radiator fans not turning "ON" or not turning "OFF" as designed.
The screws that mount the relay to the left front frame rail may break causing the relay to overheat and turn off because it no longer has heat sinking capability to the frame rail. If broken radiator fan relay screws are found, they must be replaced with revised screw P/N 06035202. Also, the relay may have been damaged because of the overheating (but may still be functioning) caused by the lack of heat sinking and should be replaced.
Some vehicles may have an intermittent interference condition between the radiator fan blade(s) and the fan shroud that causes a high current draw that will fail the radiator fan relay. The relay can fail in an open condition preventing the fan motors from running and causing the engine to overheat. The relay can fail in a closed condition causing the radiator fans to continue to run with the ignition switch turned "OFF". If a failed radiator fan relay is found, it must be replaced with revised relay P/N 04886288AA AND screws P/N 06035202. Revised relay P/N 04886288AA has a higher current capacity that is able to handle the extra current draw related to the intermittent radiator fan/shroud interference.
A small number of vehicles may have corrosion develop in the radiator fan relay connector. On vehicles with this condition, the radiator fan relay connector should be replaced using pigtail service package P/N 04897034AA.

[bigsteve1635]

Thanks To All

You Guys Are Great, Who Needs Main Dealers, Brought A Rad Fan Relay @ £75 + Tax, Ouch !!, But It Cured The Fans Not Running Problem, So Air Con Now Works And So Must The Water Cooling Option And Even The Service Light Has Gone Out After Disconecting The Battery For A 10 Minutes.

So Once Again Thanks

Regards

Happy Big Steve

[bigsteve1635]

Thanks To All

You Guys Are Great, Who Needs Main Dealers, Brought A Rad Fan Relay @ £75 + Tax, Ouch !!, But It Cured The Fans Not Running Problem, So Air Con Now Works And So Must The Water Cooling Option And Even The Service Light Has Gone Out After Disconecting The Battery For A 10 Minutes.

So Once Again Thanks

Regards

Happy Big Steve

[rallen]

I have the same problem on my 2001 Grand Caravan. Could not find the relay, finally had to have the dealer bring a tech up front to tell me it is rivetted to the bumper support, and to get at it I need to remove the front bumper cover. The part number I was given was 0468332AE, and it runs about $80.

Does this sound right? Also, if it is not this problem, where is the temp sensor for this car? I have the 3.3l engine.

Thanks.

[bigsteve1635]

Hi
My relay was inside the engine bay bolted to front of the engine bay behind the bumper under the main air filter housing it was held on the 2 small bolts , just follow the wires from the fans to find it, if its not that then it could the
power train conrol module not sending a "turn me on signal" to the relay, a very pricey bit of kit.
good luck
Steve

[KManiac]

Hey Rallen:

Sounds like the dealer was trying to scare you into paying them to replace the relay. It is bolted in, not rivetted. You do not have to remove the bumper cover to get at it. It is under the air filter box on the fan side of the radiator support. Once you remove the air filter box you will see it.

The part number they gave is correct. Now they have manufactured various versions of this relay over the years. With each upgrade, they change the last letter of the part number to identify the version of the relay. When I talked to my dealer last summer, the most current version was G or 0468332AG. They quoted me $75 at the dealer. I contacted a local auto parts store and they had an F version of the relay for $45, which I bought and installed myself. Your dealer offered you an E version of the chip, which is at least two upgrades behind. I suggest you contact local auto parts stores and look for the best deal from them.

Good luck with this and let us know what you find.