96 Windstar Radiator Fan

'96 Windstar, 3.8L. The radiator fans do not come on when parked and the temp gage is quite high. I also hear that turning on the AC compressor should turn on the fans. However, the AC compressor doesn't engage when the AC or defrost is turned on (I think this is a seperate problem for a different time?...). Where do I begin diagnosing? Any help would be great! Thanks.

I have similar Problem,I didn"t have Compreser Clutch engage; I checked the wire plug in at comp. good-I replaced C.C.R.M. I didn"t need it;
This Radiator Fans seemed to be a differant problem;
I disconected the Coolant Temp senser it has two wire plug, that signals P.C.M.
Fans worked fine;The Coolant Temp Senser that signals temp instrument in dash has One Wire,Good
Will I need to replace the P.C.M.?

'96 Windstar, 3.8L. The radiator fans do not come on when parked and the temp gage is quite high. I also hear that turning on the AC compressor should turn on the fans. However, the AC compressor doesn't engage when the AC or defrost is turned on (I think this is a seperate problem for a different time?...). Where do I begin diagnosing? Any help would be great! Thanks.

I'd check the troublecodes, maybe that will narrow it down a little. Some of the nationalbrand autostores will check codes for free.

You might also check the fuses in the power distribution center. I believe fuse H 40 amp is for the low speed relay and fuse B 60 amp is for the highspeed relay. Not only check the fuse, see if the fuse circuits are hot.

Right now it looks like a voltage or ground problem. If you have good voltage everywhere, it looks like a ground problem. The computer grounds the coil side of the relays in order to energize. There is a constant control relay module, you'd have to do some testing to see if it is faulty.

I'd start by checking the cooling fan dropping resistor.

That's fitted in the low-speed cooling fan circuit, and ordinarily you could activate that circuit by switching on the A/C, but if your A/C isn't working then that muddies the waters. Nonetheless, the low speed cooling fan circuit should activate automatically when the engine exceeds a certain temperature and if it's failing to do so then the resistor would be high on the list of suspects.

The resistor is fed via fuse H (40A, located in the engine compartment fuse box) so you can check that, and if that's ok then proceed to check the resistor. With the engine switched off, it won't be carrying any current so you can do a simple resistance check across it. If access is awkward then you can check the resistance from the 'cold' end of fuse H, to terminal 6 of the CCRM, if that's any easier. I don't know what the value should be, but it will be low - almost certainly in single figures, and I did read that searcherrr measured it at around 3 ohms on his '95 3.8L.

I called NAPA and asked for a CCRM and they didn't know what I was talking about. Does this go by another name, or do I need to order it from Ford?

rjeffreeze (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=542452)
Try TeamFord.com there prices are good and they will ship fast. You can call and talk to them there nice people and great help. Plus you dont risk ordering the wrong part.

The fan dropping resistor is used only to give low fan speed like when the ac is on. It can be seen by looking straight down behind the passenger side headlight assembly. It is a white ceramic block in the shape of a "U" about 1.5 in by 1 in by 4 in. The wire connector can be seen on the other side of the metal wall behind the headlights and grill. The wires are black/orange and brown/orange and are right next to the bottom of the wiper fluid fill.

Not having both fan speeds would indicate to me possibly the ccrm is not working. But before jumping to conclusions, you should verify the fuses are good(see below), that voltage is getting to the ccrm as it should, ground to fans, voltage leaving ccrm. Try hot wiring the fans to be sure they work. The low fan speed is supplied power via fuse H, 40A and the high speed is from fuse B, 60A. The low speed supply to the ccrm will be brown/orange at two pins, and the high speed supply to the ccrm will be black/orange at four pins. All of this is assuming Haynes is correct, they have let many of us down with their incorrect wiring colors and other errors.

Thanks everyone. It was the dropping resistor. I replaced it to the tune of $75 from the Ford dealership. I couldn't find it anywhere else.

That's good, thanks for letting us know. It's fixed your fan problem, but I'm curious as to whether it also solved the A/C compressor clutch problem?