95 Lumina - radiator fans and A/C clutch

[gregslumina]

Hi - I'm a newbie here with a couple of questions on my 95 Lumina. It has a 3.1L engine and I just replaced the water pump. It was an easy job, but now my radiator fans won't come on and I've also noticed the A/C clutch won't engage. I checked the refrigerant pressure and it's good so I'm wondering if the 2 problems are related. I was able to check the relay panel for both the compressor and the rad fans - both have power to the "forward most (towards front)" legs.
Now I've read that perhaps there is a special air-bleed process after the new pump is installed. I thought I did it correctly by filling up the engine again thru that small rubber hose just above the pump housing until coolant came out the other side. Did I miss something? I've been running the car for a couple of days now and no action on the radiator fans. Any guidance on these problems would be appreciated. I'm sure the compressor and rad fans worked before the change-out. Thanks - Greg

[inafogg]

look around the thermo housing & water pump for an air bleed valve.
while running engine crack 1 open you'll see air purge once its all fluid
close valve & open the othe bleeder.be careful not to break
if car has bleeders.....

[gregslumina]

Thanks Inafogg, I will check for a bleeder. I'm not too sure where the thermostat is on the 3.1. Is it near the water pump? Do you think my A/C compressor clutch problem is linked to the rad fans not coming on?
Thanks again for advice. Greg

[inafogg]

thremo is at the engine where upper hose(rad)connects

[gregslumina]

Thanks - I'll check and bleed.

[gregslumina]

I bled both the thermostat and water pump locations - a small brass screw on one and a painted brass bolt on the other. Coolant came out of each so there are no air pockets. I went into the "underhood electrical center - passenger side" and found that I could "jumper" both the fan 1 relay and the fan 2 relay sockets and get them to work. Unfortunately, they are always live even with the car off so that is not a work-around. I then jumpered the compressor relay socket for the A/C and got it to engage too. I now think the refrigerant must be really low causing the compressor to not engage on its own. Is it possible that when I recharge the A/C, the radiator fans will resume working? I find it hard to believe these systems are linked. Do I have two separate problems?

[jeffcoslacker]

The question is what is the engine temp doing?

The fans only run on demand, either A/C on or temp over 215 or so...

My 3.1 '97 Lumina can sit and run in 75 degree weather for 20 minutes or more before it gets hot enough to kick the fans on....in winter time they never come on...

[jeffcoslacker]

PS the A/C won't engage when ambient temps are too low...I forget what temp, around 40 or so I think...

[gregslumina]

Jeff - thanks for the info and I considered that too. Here in Phoenix it's been 42 by night and 70 ish during the day. The bleed-out worked fine and I'd say the cooling system has at least 50% new coolant from other work done on it. You're right in that the temp gage has hovered at TDC after the engine warms up. Yesterday the car was driven about 25 minutes in mid afternoon and should have at least gotten some cycling by the primary rad-fan. If I remember, it was possible to start the A/C even when cool out and get the compressor to engage. I could not get that to happen without jumpering the relay socket. I was afraid to run it very long in case the refrigerant was too low and my helper in the car did not feel any "cold bite" from the upper vents.
Today I will again jumper the compressor and add some freon with O ring conditioner in it (basically PAG oil mixed with some r134a). If we get "cold bite" out of the vents, that would be one of my problems and then I will restore the relay and see if it will function on its own. Maybe when the condenser coil heats up, the rad-fans will kick in - I will report back if that's the case. I can't believe GM would link the two systems - what if the compressor died in the middle of the desert...you'd still need rad-fans working.

[gregslumina]

Yesterday I tried to add freon to the low-side port and it would not take any. This was done while jumpering the compressor. I now think it's time for a pro to have a look at it for an opinion. I think it's the original compressor so it could be shot.
The rad-fans still do not kick in, but I'm willing to accept that it may be cool enough here that they wouldn't cycle. It will need to get warmer before I can tell if there's are real problem with them. Thanks to you all for your advice.

[w_nter]

I've developed a similar problem to your TDC coolant temp, and some of your other symptoms I have noticed on mine - but haven't checked yet for the others.

Just curious what ended up being the problem and the subsequent solution?
Thanks