96 LX Wagon cooling fan issue

[badpoor]

My fan will not come on during normal and or high temperature. It does work when I either turn the A/C or heater on though. I replaced the coolant temperature sensor and that did not resolve the issue. ( sensor replaced was the right one,if your looking at engine from drivers side of the car) does the other sensor, next to this one, operate the fan when the coolant gets hot?

[AzTumbleweed]

The sensor you replaced operates your temp gage. The one on the left turns the fan on.

[badpoor]

Thank You!

[badpoor]

Replaced the other sensor and the fan does not come on and temperature gauge still reads HOT! all help would be greatly appriciated considering I drive this car daily and brake to a stop over 200 times ( news paper rural route) in a three hour period.

[AzTumbleweed]

As a temporary measure I would run the A/C but I would disconnect the wires to the A/C compressor. This should make the fan run all the time. You'd still be able to use the heater as normal.

[badpoor]

That is next to the oil pan correct? also would the engine running hot like that cause me to use alot more gas? twice as much

[AzTumbleweed]

Follow your serpentine belt down and the A/C compresor is at the very bottom. You will see two wire going in to it. I say unhook it because you will get a little better fuel mileage with it not running. The hot engine shouldn't affect your mileage. Have you been running the A/C? That will cut your mileage by 3-4 MPG.

[badpoor]

I actually had my heat on all the time,thinking that would cut some of the engine heat out. I noticed that turning my defrost on does the same thing as turning on the A/C. I just have to remember to shut it down before I shift into reverse or drive because my tach goes up to 2K with A/C on when i'm in neutral....not a good way to shift into drive or reverse

[AzTumbleweed]

Running the heat is a good way to cool the engine. It's cold enough now that your engine should stay cool with just the heater doing the cooling. If your engine overheats with the heater on (this time of year) I'd say something is wrong. Like cracked head gasket, stuck thermostat or clogged radiator.

[badpoor]

My thermostat checked out OK. I noticed also that it's not as hot as it used to be when I ran the heat last year......could that be the head gasket?

[AzTumbleweed]

Originally Posted by badpoor

My thermostat checked out OK. I noticed also that it's not as hot as it used to be when I ran the heat last year......could that be the head gasket?

The engine will usually get very hot when you have a bad head gasket. The heater sometimes works poorly or not at all with a bad head gasket. If running the heater is keeping the engine temp in operating range then I'd would just run it like that for now. Have you been losing coolant? Often when you have a bad head gasket you will have to add coolant from time to time.

[AzTumbleweed]

Here's something for you to try for the heck of it. With the engine running disconnect the wires going to the engine temperature sensor (one on the left). On my car that makes the cooling fan come on. Try that and see what happens.

[badpoor]

Could it be a relay and are those located behind the top of the strut mount on the firewall? i'm thinking it would be the one on the right. I got to get this takin care of,i'm losing 100 miles to my full tank and thats not any good lol.
I will go out right now and try to disconnect that like you said.

[AzTumbleweed]

I think those relays are for the A/C. They should click when the A/C cycles on and off. I'm thinking the cooling fan relays are working because the fan is able to come with the A/C. This fan problem has nothing to do with your bad fuel mileage. Is your 'check engine' light on. If the car seems to run OK then I'd be thinking the Oxygen sensor needs replaced. That can hurt your mileage.

[badpoor]

I did what you suggested and it came on after about five seconds and ran at full power lol..any reason you wanted me to do that?( besides just for the heck of it)