Electric cooling fan problems

[theiceman]

I have a 1989 camaro RS 2.8L and the engine fan isn't working. I tested the fan motor by wiring it to the battery and the fan worked so i know it's not the motor.I then replaced the temperature sensor and the relay, but the fan still doesnt come on. I've ran the car up to 235 degrees and the fan just won't kick on. Only other thing I think it could be is the computer but hoping that's not the case. If anyone could tell me what to do next I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

[ikeyballz]

i had a 85 that did the same thing.. are you sure they arent kicking on at all and tripping a breaker? when i wired my 85 straight, to always stay on.. it turned out that the motor was actually bad, it was drawing lots of power (shorting out somewhere) and it was only off cuz the breaker was tripping to protect the car.. after i connected it straight, my wires caught on fire..and i had a smoking car in the middle of down town traffic. it was pretty classic, i pull over-ish, pop my hood..and i yank the burning hot wires off (had it wired straight 2 battery) got burnt, had melted plastic on me.. in the middle of down town

[theiceman]

well that sucks...so i should check to see if my breaker is tripped? And if it is the motor is probably bad?

[ikeyballz]

yeah.. the firs thting you should do tho, is check to see if your fan IS getting power tho. might as well wire a light or something up, hold a electric house fan or something in front of the car so it wont overheat.. but yeah, check to see if the bulb goes ON after a certain temp.. if it doesnt, then your fan MIGHT be good..?

so: check that youre getting power to fan, if you are, and they arent coming on, its most likely that your fan DOES sort of work, but they short out and pop breakers.. like mine did..

but if youre not getting power, no light bulb on lamp: then its most likely that something before tha fan is shorting or has bad contact.

(you can prolly use any CAR light bulb..as long as the rating of the bulb is < 20 amps) since all car lighting is 12v, and only the amperage (or wattage, since watts = volts * amps) is different!

[ikeyballz]

ohh. and if a breaker trips, you will hear a really soft :click: of it disconnecting.. you prolyl wont hear it w. the engine on tho.

[theiceman]

alright, thanks ikey. I'll try that.

[theiceman]

wheres the fuse at for the fan???? I checked my fuse block under the steering wheel and there's no spot for a coolant fan fuse...even though my manual says that it should be in spot 4. All the fuses matched up perfectly with what it showed in my manual except for spot 4. In my manual it says coolant fan, but on my car it says "LID". I ended up pulling every fuse out and checked them and they all were good.

So i don't know what the deal is, is it an inline fuse? Please help me!

[ikeyballz]

i have no idea what LID is.. the fuses are under the steering wheel, but the relays/breakers are under the hood, its a plastic box..it should have like the BIG power draining/important stuff

abs, AC compressor, fan(?maybe?), fuel pump, etc.

so, when it gets warm is it getting power to the fans? or its a n0go?

[theiceman]

LID refers to the automatic trunk release.I didn't notice any circuits or anything in my engine bay,wheres it at?

[5046adam]

did u check the ground wire to the sensor

[ikeyballz]

its a black (plastic) box.. thats usually near the battery. it should say 'relays' on it.. and there should be a plastic screw or a clip holding the cap on, take off the cap..and underneath will be relays ..

btw, have you tried seeing if youre getting power to the fan @ all when its warm? that would most likely be the easiest thing..

if youre not, its gonna get crappy and confusing..

if you are, as long as you change the fan itll be alright.

[phil gayheart]

Originally Posted by theiceman

I have a 1989 camaro RS 2.8L and the engine fan isn't working. I tested the fan motor by wiring it to the battery and the fan worked so i know it's not the motor.I then replaced the temperature sensor and the relay, but the fan still doesnt come on. I've ran the car up to 235 degrees and the fan just won't kick on. Only other thing I think it could be is the computer but hoping that's not the case. If anyone could tell me what to do next I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

since your fan motor is working,do what i did...go to the parts store and buy an adjustable temp switch. you can adjust it to the temp you want it to come on at.hook a wire to the battery with supplied fusible,one to the fan motor,ground and one toa fusible link when your switch is on.comes with a sensor to replace your old one and even one to connect to the a/c compressor which will make it come on with your a/c