99 MOnte Carlo elect. engine fan test

[murphturph]

G'Day

I live in Arizona with temps in the 105 range during the summer.

Since I just bought this car I want to make sure the electric engine cooling fans work.
I haven't heard them come on in the little time I've driven it.
Is there a way of testing them to make sure they work and at what temp. they start up?

Thanks in advance.

Murph

[Drakii2]

I've had my 99 monte carlo for almost 2 years now and have never heard my fans come on either.. so last week I opened the hood and let the car idle in the driveway.. fans never came on.. temp gague went up to around HALF WAY.. I turn the Air conditioner on and the fans come right on cooling the motor back down and the temp gague went back to it's normal 1/4 way up from the bottom.. Maybe there's a fuse or relay of some kind that is blown on our cars?

[tman]

No, what happens is the coolant is able to sufficiently cool the engine, without the help of a fan. There should be two fans, a cooling fan, and an A/C fan for the air conditioner. The reason both fans came on for you, is bacause the alternator draws voltage to run the A/C fan, making the engine idle higher, making more heat, adding a need for the cooling fan. I don't think your supposed to be able to hear it when driving.

[Drakii2]

Thanks for the reply- Do you know how high the temp gague is supposed to read if the car is just at idle parked? I've had the needle go a hair above half way.. i got worried so I turned the heater on full quick to cool it down.

G

[tman]

The thermostat is at 195 degrees, stock. I believe that is about halfway on the MC guages. It will run below 195 degrees until it is warmed up, then the needle should stay at or a bit past halfway.