grand am cooling issues

[20027700F150]

Heres the situation. Wifes car is a 94 3.1 litre grand am. Her engine light comes on at about 100 km/h and the cooling fan never comes on at all. Are the two connected? Also, her air doesn't work if that helps at all. I've got a Haynes manual, but its as useful as a wife with trying to repair a cooling issue.....LOL
The engine light isn't too concerning as the car runs great, but the cooling fan could be serious.
I really don't want to take it in to a garage and get fleeced (my mechanic moved). Any help would be appreciated guys. Could also use a decent Pontiac repair web site?

[gmack221]

I'd start by taking the car to autozone and having them scan the computer for FREE. Once you see what code it throwing & check on here for what that code means maybe it will lead you to the bad part. There's many reasons why your fan might not be coming on, one of which could be the temp isn't getting hot enough, I think they come on at about 210 deg. good luck & let us know what code is throwing the check engine light.

[Smokefan20]

You already found a decent Pontiac repair web site!

[travis2822]

I have a 94 as well. My engine light always comes on when I let off of the gas pedal and begin to slow down from high speeds. I've taken and got it checked out and they cannot find anything wrong. Car runs good so I am not concerned.
With the fan I had the same concern. My fan very seldom comes on. I bought a higher temp thermostat and it works fine. Yours probably works fine it's just that your thermostat opens before the fan is triggered to turn on. If your car over heats and the fan doesn't come on it's a problem.

[20027700F150]

Thanks for all the input. The wife has been complaining of the car running hotter than normal. Thats why I decided to post and pick some brains.
I don't think that we have the Autozone up here in the great white north, but wish we did.

[vtjvt]

I know it sounds simple but try taking it to a car wash and washing the radiator out really good, just be careful not to hold the wand to close and bend the fins, I have seen alot of cars with dirt and crud built up in the fins and they will run hot.

[99`_grand_am]

i thought the fans in the front only come on when you use the ac?

[stetzz05]

fans come on when engine coolant reaches a certain temp. coolant temp sensor tells the computer to kick on the fan