97 cavalier cooling fan

[mr.kevin]

i have a 97 cavalier 2.2. my cooling fan won't come on when it should. i read on here to disconnnect the wires to the cooling temp. sensor. it did what it said. sent the car into " oh shit" mode and the fan ran. does that mean the sensor is the problem?
also one of my serpentine pulleys squeeks, gets louder when i accelerate but only when its cold out once it warms up it usually stops. any ideas?

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by mr.kevin

i have a 97 cavalier 2.2. my cooling fan won't come on when it should. i read on here to disconnnect the wires to the cooling temp. sensor. it did what it said. sent the car into " oh shit" mode and the fan ran. does that mean the sensor is the problem?

Probably the sensor, could also be the gauge reads high so you think it should be on when it shouldn't. But I believe on the 2.2 they're in the same piece. Most likely the sensor (95% sure)... also a possibility it's a wire problem from the sensor. Lacking a scan tool to see the PCM reading, I would just replace the sensor.

Originally Posted by mr.kevin

also one of my serpentine pulleys squeeks, gets louder when i accelerate but only when its cold out once it warms up it usually stops. any ideas?

Get a long handled screwdriver and hold the handle to your ear while touching the metal end to the components. Obviously you don't want to touch the spinning pulley. Once you think you've found the noise, remove the belt and start the car. If the noise is gone, it's definately belt related. I've heard some noises that I was sure was the belt/pulley/alternator/P/S pump that was actually coming from inside the timing cover.

[mr.kevin]

The sensor seems to have been the problem. apparently it has to be 90% to overheating before the fan comes on.
thankx for the advice on the pulley. it gives me a starting place.

Originally Posted by J-Ri

Probably the sensor, could also be the gauge reads high so you think it should be on when it shouldn't. But I believe on the 2.2 they're in the same piece. Most likely the sensor (95% sure)... also a possibility it's a wire problem from the sensor. Lacking a scan tool to see the PCM reading, I would just replace the sensor.




Get a long handled screwdriver and hold the handle to your ear while touching the metal end to the components. Obviously you don't want to touch the spinning pulley. Once you think you've found the noise, remove the belt and start the car. If the noise is gone, it's definately belt related. I've heard some noises that I was sure was the belt/pulley/alternator/P/S pump that was actually coming from inside the timing cover.