problem with the cooling system (fan)

[leing]

the problem is as follows the car is a 96 Windstar this problem when the fans turn on the engine cooling or a/c the car tends to shut down, the mechanic told me that possibly were the injectors, spark plugs, alternator and have already been replaced and failure continues, the total burden caused when you turn the fans is 40 amp each which strikes me as very high and adding the burden of a / c and other components is close to the total load limit of this alternative would be the fault?

[LeSabre97mint]

leing

Welcome to Autoforums! You might want to post this to the Windstar forum. There is a thread in the Windstar forum with someone having trouble with their Windstar almost stalling when the cooling fans shut off. Your trouble may be a bad ground.....???

Regards

Dan

[shorod]

Agreed, the Windstar forum could likely add better detail specific to your vehicle. I would not have started with injectors, plugs or alternator, but rather the Idle Air Control (IAC). There are some simple checks that can be performed to check the IAC operation. The purpose of the IAC is to increase the flow of air to the throttle body to compensate for various large load conditions such as a cold start, when the A/C compressor clutch is engaged, when the charging system is under a heavy load, or when the power steering is at one of the locks.

-Rod

[spytearbite]

I would check the wire diagram, see if the fans tie-in with the A/C and like you said, if there is a taxing on the output, someone shuts down. That was an off the wall guess.
Next is to turn the fan blade, see if there is a drag on them to pull that much current is usually a stuck fan or say the fan slows down is it uses less voltage.

So, statically, it would be odd for both fans to sign off as being ready to freeze a bearing or something like that. How about take the fan(s) out of the loop and disconnect them. This way, a relay comes on to shut the fans off or on and now your A/C turns off= It was not the fan(s). Could be a relay is not holding everything to run normal.

[spytearbite]

Originally Posted by shorod

I would not have started with... the Idle Air Control (IAC). There are some simple checks that can be performed to check the IAC operation. The purpose of the IAC is to increase the flow of air to the throttle body to compensate for various large load conditions such as a cold start, when the A/C compressor clutch is engaged, when the charging system is under a heavy load...

-Rod

The ECU and the stepper motor already know the A/C is going to toggle on; or the TPS is going to know to move the IAC. I doubt that air duct has anything to do with the fan spiking 40 amps if that is the voltage is more components failing.
IAC helps stop big WOT gulps that keep the tires from lighting up, basically. It's an air speed gate is all. Correct me if I am wrong.

[shorod]

I don't believe that the original post is stating the fans don't work, but rather the engine stalls when the fans turn on.

The IAC is a bypass used when the throttle plate is closed, it does not limit wheel spin or come in to play during WOT. Hence the name, IDLE Air Control. It is a gated passage for air to flow around the throttle plate when the plate is closed. When the throttle plate is open, there is less resistance to flow for the air to flow across the plate in a straight line rather than to make the 90 degree bends through a small passge and through the IAC.

-Rod

[wiswind]

IAC would be the first place to look......Try cleaning it.....remove the 2 small bolts that hold it in place.....remove electrical connector...and lift off of the throttle body.
Next....use a aresol cleaner.....like Seafoam "Deep Creep" or even WD-40....hold the IAC so that the opening is facing slightly down....and spray the cleaner up inside the IAC.....and let the fluid run out....carrying the dirt with it...and leaving a lubricating film inside.

Now....normally a sticking IAC will also show up when you are parking in a parking lot......turning the steering wheel with your foot off of the accellerator.

There is another thread in the windstar room by Searcherr where he is having a very similar problem to yours with his '95 3.8L windstar.


Another thing to consider is the age of the battery......or a weak alternator......but you will notice a slight decrease in idle speed and even a slight dimming of the headllights when the fans come on under normal circumstances......however, this should be slight.

[jonathanwang]

The coolant system do't work ,the engine warm up quickly and will damage some component on the engine. The common issue is the throttle can't open ,so the coolant can't flow freely

[spytearbite]

Thanks, Shorod. Makes sense is now I notice how small the little guy is. Not what I thought is still an air gate but not even close to what I was thinking. It would sound like a closed or stuck IAC now that it does control the low air signals.
So, yes, might be either to open the hose or collapse the hose going in for the idle is like you take a balloon and remove the air is make noise? Well, if you have an idle problem, remove the closed or locked down IAC, then the hose used for the added air is squeeze the hose down so not as to lean the car to stall, but see if that clamped hose (only) can your fingers moderate that air going in to pinpoint it is that hose that is hooked up to the IAC. Make Sense to me now. How about you?

[shorod]

On the Windstar the IAC is mounted directly to the throttle body and the passages are in the cast throttle body, so there's no hose to pinch off.

-Rod