92 Regal fan motors

[chadnyne]

92 Regal 3.8 V6. This is setup with the two electric cooling fans on the backside of the radiator. If the gauge is right, car runs at about 220F, and occasionally spikes to about 240. As such, I planned to change out the thermostat and probably change coolant. When looking around under the hood, i noted that one of the two fans was unplugged from its connector. I thought this might be why I was running hot, so I plugged it in, and ran the car up and down the road to warm it up. The temp was the same, 220+. Back home with the motor still running, I popped the hood and noted that neither of the fans was running. My question is, under what condition should these fans be running? With the motor warmed up and running, or do they only run to cool the motor after you shut the motor off? I have not yet jumped the motors to the battery to make sure they work but will do so when time allows.

[brcidd]

Fan(s) are commanded on low speed when engine temp reaches right at 227 degf-or a/c pressure exceeds 175 psi- with engine on. The engine needs to warm up- actual temperature can be read with a Tech I scan tool- to be sure. Dash temp guages can be deceiving... could take a long while trying to get them on this way- depending on ambient temperature.

The easiest way to test circuit is to jumper the relays- (using a paper clip across switched contacts) there are three of them in your underhood fuse/relay center- they are set up to run both fans in series at 6 volt each for low speed, and both fans in parallel circuit at 12v each for high speed. Jumpering the fan relay 2 should start the secondary cooling fan on high speed at 12v- jumpering fan relay 1 and fan relay 3 at the same time should energize primary fan at 12v. Jumpering fan relay 1 by itself should energize both fans at 6v - low speed. From the looks of the wiring schematic- if either fan is unplugged- then there is no fan operation- since they are linked together....good luck-

Also a Tech I scan tool can energize the fans--

[chadnyne]

Tried the jumper tests and the fans work exactly as described. Now I have to figure out if the relays work. I plan to install a 185F thermostat this weekend also.

[brcidd]

I highly recommend using the OEM specified thermostat setting- which I bellieve is 195 degf- your engine needs to run warm enough to be efficient- and control properly.

[chadnyne]

Went with the 195F thermostat. Simple thermostat must have been the issue as the car is running much cooler. Thanks for all the info.