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Radiator fans


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TEEgrey
User

Mar 30, 2010, 5:56 PM

Post #1 of 23 (2444 views)
Radiator fans Sign In

Car = 1995 Camry LE 2.2 4 cylinder

Radiator fans stopped spinning while car was idle. Fans still run while A/C is on (SO it cant be the fan motors)

After changing the Radiator, Radiator cap, Coolant system sensor, thermostat, flushed the radiator, checked the Heater core, the fans still wont come on when car is up to normal running temp.

The lower radiator hose is still cold while the car is on, while the Top radiator hose is hot. so the antifreeze isnt getting to the bottom end tank of the radiator to activate the coolant sensor.

But what could be causing this?? Help is much appreciated. Please and Thank you.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 30, 2010, 6:09 PM

Post #2 of 23 (2437 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Your making a lot of assumptions here that aren't necessarily true. The lower radiator hose is always cooler if the radiator is doing it's job. Is the engine boiling over at idle? What's the root problem that your trying to resolve.

There is a switch in the radiator that activates the fan at 194 degrees



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TEEgrey
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Mar 30, 2010, 6:14 PM

Post #3 of 23 (2433 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Oh So the lower radiator hose temp should never change? becuz thats what it's doing.

And the main problem im having is that the radiator fans arent coming on, and the coolant starts to boil are those connented problems??


Hammer Time
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Mar 30, 2010, 6:25 PM

Post #4 of 23 (2428 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

There is a switch for the fans in the radiator.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



TEEgrey
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Mar 30, 2010, 6:26 PM

Post #5 of 23 (2424 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

So thats the problem?? Cuz i just replaced the radiator, and it thee coolant still boils while idle.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 30, 2010, 6:30 PM

Post #6 of 23 (2420 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

I have no idea if that is your problem or not because I'm not the one there to check it. I'm just giving you logical things to check. If you just replaced the radiator, make sure you put the wires back on the switch.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



TEEgrey
User

Mar 30, 2010, 6:53 PM

Post #7 of 23 (2414 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Is the coolant temp sensor and the radiator fan switch the same thing? cuz all of my wires are connected correctly

And if they arent the same thing, do you know where the radiator fan switch is located?


Hammer Time
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Mar 30, 2010, 6:55 PM

Post #8 of 23 (2412 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

For the 3rd time, the radiator fan switch is in the radiator and it needs to be checked and tested.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



TEEgrey
User

Mar 30, 2010, 7:28 PM

Post #9 of 23 (2405 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Well thats the first time you've said that. and it didnt help, becuz ive already stated that ive already replaced that and that all the wires were connected right.


Sidom
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Mar 30, 2010, 9:07 PM

Post #10 of 23 (2404 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

You see the thing about HT is, you've got a good tech here, who will take you all the way to the end on this but he's kinda got his own system of checking things and you have to go from A to B to C.

You're sorta jumping around and haven't really answered his 1st question ( I actually counted 4 times...Laugh) and no.... The coolant temp & rad fan switch aren't the same thing.

This system has 3 different power sources & 3 different relays for the cooling fans. I see where he's going with this.

Going off what you've posted I would start at the fan switch as well. 1st, making sure it's connect correctly and no bent pins ( like he's already asked a few times and the rad switch, not the ECT) then probably ground the brown & red wire to see if that makes them come on but it gets confusing on problems like this when more than one person is helping so I figured I'd just offer you this advise to help things along........


TEEgrey
User

Mar 31, 2010, 9:52 AM

Post #11 of 23 (2393 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Alright sir, i see what you're saying. And i thought i answered his question awhile back.

But im still in the process of checking relays and fan switch. so i'll get back to you guys in a few days if im still having troubles.


TEEgrey
User

Apr 1, 2010, 4:21 PM

Post #12 of 23 (2381 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

So i found the bad relay. (it was fan relay 3). Should that fix my problem?? I had to special order one so i wont have it until 2 business days.

But i also have a question about the lower radiator hose. Should it always be fairly cool, or is it suppose to get as hot is the top radiator hose??


Sidom
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Apr 1, 2010, 8:05 PM

Post #13 of 23 (2377 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

How did you determine the relay was bad?

The way that rad switch works is when it hits a certain temp it grounds the system & turns the fans on. I would have to look at a diagram but since those fans were coming on with the a/c, then a lot of system is good...

I believe it's the brown & red wire coming off the switch but if you ground that wire and the fans come on, then everything is good and you're looking at a bad rad switch or ground wire.........

The lower hose should be cooler than the top hose, the rad cools the water as if flow thru it. Now if it's ice cold then you have a flow problem, which would account for your fan problem since the fan switch would never reach the temp it needed to be at to ground the system...............


TEEgrey
User

Apr 1, 2010, 9:49 PM

Post #14 of 23 (2371 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Well i tested all 3 relays for continuity with a multimeter. and i checked all the fuses as well. everything checked out except for the fan relay 3.

so i assumed thats where the problem lied. But i wont know until i pick up the relay. So i think i checked the fan switch, but it may have been the temp sensor, so i'll double check it tomorrow. Thank you sir.


Sidom
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Apr 1, 2010, 11:41 PM

Post #15 of 23 (2368 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

OK....I'm assuming you just had continuity on pins #85 & 86 of the good relays and nothing on the #3 relay because if you had continuity on 85 & 86 AND 30 & 87 while out of the car then the relay is stuck closed........


TEEgrey
User

Apr 2, 2010, 8:33 AM

Post #16 of 23 (2361 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Yup, thats exactly what happened.

But someone was telling me that fan relay 3 is only for AC purposes, and it may not solve my problem. But i wont know until it gets here


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 2, 2010, 9:14 AM

Post #17 of 23 (2359 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Haven't read this monster totally but if that relay was working then when asking for A/C fan would be forced ON if all else was right,

T



TEEgrey
User

Apr 2, 2010, 9:50 AM

Post #18 of 23 (2354 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Well i just rechecked all the relays, did an AC test. and everything worked this time. So all relays work. But im still having the same problem.

I cant seem to find that 'radiator fan switch' Hammer Time was talking about. Only switch i can find connected to the radiator is the coolant sensor, and sense you're telling me those are 2 differenet things. Im lost.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 2, 2010, 11:13 AM

Post #19 of 23 (2349 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Just Googling for parts I found three different switches. One radiator mounted, one engine mounted and another "trianary" switch all for sensing coolant temps for their reasons.

One may just be engine temp sensing for the computer to know how much fuel to deliver and the others will trigger the fan when radiator is above a spec to turn fan on. If you happen to be below that spec it isn't going to turn on as it isn't needed yet.

A/C in many cars just forces fans on without regard to temps so it's not looking for them.

Here's the link to the parts site. Match up the plugs to ones you haven't ruled out or checked yet,

http://www.autozone.com/...t=Cooling+fan+switch

Good luck,

T



TEEgrey
User

Apr 2, 2010, 8:47 PM

Post #20 of 23 (2337 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Alright ill have to check out these sensors/switchs. thanks sir. That helded alot


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Apr 2, 2010, 9:15 PM

Post #21 of 23 (2333 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

Your 1st post was a bit confusing so correct me if I'm wrong, I think I had it backwards at 1st........

You 1st started to have this cooling problem and THEN replaced the rad, t stat, cooling fan switch and flushed the system? Not the other way around, getting the problem after the work....

I think you need to find out if you have an electrical problem or system problem.... The sensor on the radiator is for the fans, it should have a brown/red & white/black wire going to it. With the engine running, jump the connector, if the fans come on, the system is ok and either you have a bad sensor or your problem is in the cooling system. A temp reading of the radiator would help, if it's not getting up to 195° by the sensor, then the fans won't come on no matter how hot the engine gets...

You've already replaced a lot of stuff so just the water pump, restriction in the block or defective new part is left but lets not get ahead of ourselves run those tests 1st....

One sidenote, if it was an electrical problem, turning on the a/c should make the engine run at close to a normal temp & not overheat.......(as long as the fans are on)


TEEgrey
User

Apr 3, 2010, 8:41 AM

Post #22 of 23 (2317 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

No actually one day, the fans stopped kicking in when the temp was at normal. I usually heard them come on when the car was in Park in my driveway. But i stopped hearing them come on. So i brought to the auto shop. And they told me i needed a new radiator and that the fans came on around 200 degrees. Which i later found out was a lie. They told me it would be $500 to replace the radiator. So i did it myself.

But the problem still remained. I checked all the fuses and relays and found nothing wrong with them. Applied 12V to where the relays should be and the fans came on just fine. Im in the process of checking out those sensors/switches the other guy was talking about. And if its not the switches it must be the water pump?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 3, 2010, 8:49 AM

Post #23 of 23 (2316 views)
Re: Radiator fans Sign In

What are your ambient temperatures right now and when testing/observing this? Does the temp gauge fluctuate at all now?

T







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