Pennock's Fiero Forum
  Technical Discussion & Questions - Archive
  Help w/ the Retarded Radiater Fan

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Email This Page to Someone! | Printable Version


Help w/ the Retarded Radiater Fan by Acesurfer
Started on: 06-08-2008 10:58 AM
Replies: 14
Last post by: Acesurfer on 06-10-2008 05:55 PM
Acesurfer
Member
Posts: 1020
From: James Island, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2006


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-08-2008 10:58 AM Click Here to See the Profile for AcesurferClick Here to visit Acesurfer's HomePageClick Here to Email AcesurferSend a Private Message to AcesurferDirect Link to This Post
Ok so about a month ago the relay for my radiator fan went bad. Well, I just replaced the fan motor and relay all at once to knock it out. The fan is hardwired at the motor (not my doing- previous owner). When the fan died last time it would not come on at all (no a/c trick, no bypass, no nothing). Well, today it decides to stop working in 97* heat and stop and go traffic. Luckily I can turn on my ice cold a/c and the fan will still work. I'm confused on what could be the problem though because the fan will work w/ a/c but not on its own. Help please????
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
Amida
Member
Posts: 2348
From: Seattle, WA. USA
Registered: Jul 2003


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 63
Rate this member

Report this Post06-08-2008 11:07 AM Click Here to See the Profile for AmidaClick Here to Email AmidaSend a Private Message to AmidaDirect Link to This Post
The fan motor is working, so that's not the problem. Have you checked the fan switch on the engine? Maybe it's not turning on at running temp. If you ground the wire the fan should turn on. If it doesnt turn on when grounding then there is a bad contact some where in the wiring.
IP: Logged
Acesurfer
Member
Posts: 1020
From: James Island, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2006


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-08-2008 11:15 AM Click Here to See the Profile for AcesurferClick Here to visit Acesurfer's HomePageClick Here to Email AcesurferSend a Private Message to AcesurferDirect Link to This Post
well the fan is hardwired. it always cuts on when the ignition cuts on and cuts off when the ignition is cut off.
IP: Logged
Amida
Member
Posts: 2348
From: Seattle, WA. USA
Registered: Jul 2003


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 63
Rate this member

Report this Post06-08-2008 11:40 AM Click Here to See the Profile for AmidaClick Here to Email AmidaSend a Private Message to AmidaDirect Link to This Post
Then you'll have to look at how the previous owner wired it, probable bad connection/ poor grounding in the hard wire somewhere. Check to see if there are any fuses in that line as well which may have blown.
IP: Logged
Acesurfer
Member
Posts: 1020
From: James Island, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2006


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-09-2008 08:21 AM Click Here to See the Profile for AcesurferClick Here to visit Acesurfer's HomePageClick Here to Email AcesurferSend a Private Message to AcesurferDirect Link to This Post
fantastic. rrrrrrrr.
IP: Logged
Acesurfer
Member
Posts: 1020
From: James Island, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2006


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-09-2008 05:30 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AcesurferClick Here to visit Acesurfer's HomePageClick Here to Email AcesurferSend a Private Message to AcesurferDirect Link to This Post
well, I wiggled the wires where it is spliced in the motor and guess what... IT WORKED!!!! but I believe it is now classified as having a short in it. right? How do I go about fixing this problem?
IP: Logged
Amida
Member
Posts: 2348
From: Seattle, WA. USA
Registered: Jul 2003


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 63
Rate this member

Report this Post06-09-2008 05:51 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AmidaClick Here to Email AmidaSend a Private Message to AmidaDirect Link to This Post
It's not necessarily a short, but could just be a loose/corroded/poor connection. Either make new terminal connections or, solder & shrink wrap it. Or, return it back to factory fan switch operation.
IP: Logged
Acesurfer
Member
Posts: 1020
From: James Island, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2006


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-09-2008 10:05 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AcesurferClick Here to visit Acesurfer's HomePageClick Here to Email AcesurferSend a Private Message to AcesurferDirect Link to This Post
how should I go about restoring it to factory? It is spliced right near where the connection on the motor is.
IP: Logged
86GT3.4DOHC
Member
Posts: 10007
From: Marion Ohio
Registered: Apr 2004


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 306
Rate this member

Report this Post06-09-2008 10:24 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 86GT3.4DOHCSend a Private Message to 86GT3.4DOHCDirect Link to This Post
A short would be connecting the wire to ground and that would blow a fuse, what you have there is a half assed repair. I swear people spend 10x longer jerry rigging crap that will just cause more probems than they would if they just fixed the problem the first time. I know, not your doing.

Anyway, if it still comes on with the AC switch, I would remove any modifications that the PO made and fix it right. Start by grounding the fan switch wire. The fan switch is a one wire connector on the lower intake, passenger side more on the forward side of the intake. Its kind of mushroom shaped. Just pull that off and ground the wire. If the fan comes one (with key on) then its just a bad fan switch, simple fix. Get a new one and replace it. It will take half the time it took the last guy to screw it up, I guarentee it.

If that doesnt do it, we'll have to do some more digging, but if it works with the AC, its probably just the switch.

IP: Logged
Acesurfer
Member
Posts: 1020
From: James Island, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2006


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-10-2008 08:35 AM Click Here to See the Profile for AcesurferClick Here to visit Acesurfer's HomePageClick Here to Email AcesurferSend a Private Message to AcesurferDirect Link to This Post
ok, I will give it a shot. If you don't mind me asking how do I ground out the wire? I'm not really too mechanically inclined. I have been learning a lot over the last year and a half with my two fieros.
IP: Logged
Amida
Member
Posts: 2348
From: Seattle, WA. USA
Registered: Jul 2003


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 63
Rate this member

Report this Post06-10-2008 11:29 AM Click Here to See the Profile for AmidaClick Here to Email AmidaSend a Private Message to AmidaDirect Link to This Post
That is what the fan switch on the engine does, it completes the ground. That is why it is only one wire, when the engine reaches running temperature it grounds & completes the circuit. So all you have to do is find that wire & make it contact the metal frame/engine; someplace clean with no paint or dirt. At normal running temp. the fan switch should ground, if not get a new switch.
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
NashvilleFiero
Member
Posts: 555
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Apr 2008


Feedback score: (1)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-10-2008 12:27 PM Click Here to See the Profile for NashvilleFieroSend a Private Message to NashvilleFieroDirect Link to This Post
Sorry, not to steal your thread, but I have similar issues. Fan dead.

I can't find the relay on the Chilton's electric diagram. Anyone know where it is?

------------------
If you ever have a questions about the sincerity of the circle of Fiero owners on this site, take a look at:
"In Memoriam: Fiero Members"

Pretty impressive.....

Avatar is of an actual Fiero on fire

IP: Logged
86GT3.4DOHC
Member
Posts: 10007
From: Marion Ohio
Registered: Apr 2004


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 306
Rate this member

Report this Post06-10-2008 01:27 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 86GT3.4DOHCSend a Private Message to 86GT3.4DOHCDirect Link to This Post
Just push a wire into the connector end of the wire at the engine, then touch that new wire to any metal piece, or the battery negative to be safe.

The fan relay is, I think, up in front of the drivers side headlight? Theres something up there Ive never messed with. That or its over by the AC dryer. Just check the wire colors going in compared to the schematic to make sure you have the right one.
IP: Logged
Amida
Member
Posts: 2348
From: Seattle, WA. USA
Registered: Jul 2003


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 63
Rate this member

Report this Post06-10-2008 04:01 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AmidaClick Here to Email AmidaSend a Private Message to AmidaDirect Link to This Post
The relay is up front on the the radiator support front of the driver side headlight.
IP: Logged
Acesurfer
Member
Posts: 1020
From: James Island, SC, USA
Registered: Sep 2006


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post06-10-2008 05:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for AcesurferClick Here to visit Acesurfer's HomePageClick Here to Email AcesurferSend a Private Message to AcesurferDirect Link to This Post
you can't miss it. it is like a little box with i believe two screwes holding it in place. you can get a replacement for like 10 bux at advance or autozone.
IP: Logged



All times are ET (US)

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Contact Us | Back To Main Page

Advertizing on PFF | Fiero Parts Vendors
PFF Merchandise | Fiero Gallery | Ogre's Cave
Real-Time Chat | Fiero Related Auctions on eBay



Copyright (c) 1999, C. Pennock