Cooling Fans

[sunburninaz]

I've checked all the threads and I don't think I've seen one with both sets of problems...

Yesterday I noticed that the radiator fans on my '99 GC (3.3) weren't shutting off - even when the ignition was turned off. After about an hour of running in the driveway, I just pulled the fuse to shut them off.

This morning I fully expected them to start running as soon as I replaced the fuse but now they won't start at all and the GC promptly heated up.

I'm assuming the fan relay is toast. Is there any other explanation for the fans first not shutting off and now not turning on?

Thanks,

Doug

[B33p3r]

Your diagnosis is a good bet. Usually there are like relays for other items in the box. swap'em out for a brief while(with one that is not critical of course) and check your theory.

[TEXAST]

I've got a 97 had the same problem and the relay is on the drivers side near the radiator 99 should be the same oem part 75.00 here in west teaxs

[KManiac]

I encountered the same problem with my van, a 1998 Chrysler Town & Country LX AWD.

My wife came home the other night and announced that the fans weren't shutting off in the van. I found both radiator fans running at full speed, even though the ignition was turned off. I stopped them by pulling the rad fan 40 amp fuse. I reconnected the fuse within 30 seconds and the fans restarted. I pulled the fuse again and waited 15 minutes. This time, I got sparks at the fuse terminals when pushed in the fuse, but no fan restart. I figured that whatever relay had stuck on had shut off.

The next day, I get a frantic call from my wife saying the van had overheated, with she and the kids were stuck downtown at a gas station. I rescued her with a second car and proceeded to trouble shoot the problem. There were no visable leaks, the overflow tank was FULL and she had driven the car about 25 miles before it overheated on this 90 degree afternoon, in traffic with the A/C on. After sitting for a half hour, I found the temperature gauge reading in the middle, normal for this car. I started it up, turned the heater full blast and drove the car home. The temperature gauge stayed at normal the entire trip. Once I got home, I turned on the A/C and let the car idle in the driveway. The engine began to overheat and I noticed the radiator fans were not running. Given this set of circumstances, I deduced that the radiator fan relay was bad and needed replacement.

The rad fan relay is not, I repeat, not in the fuse/relay box. It is mounted on the driver's side radiator support in the engine compartment. You need to remove the entire air filter assembly to expose the relay. The part number on my old relay was 04707286AD. The dealer quoted me $70 for an upgraded replacement identifed with the last two letters AG. The local autoparts store quoted me $45. I bought the less expensive relay, which had the same part number, except the last two letters were AF. I installed the new relay and now the fans work again.

I hope others can learn from my experience.