I have a 1986 GT. I have had Fieros in the past but they were all 2.5s so the V6 is new to me. What is the deal with the blower thing inside passenger rear trunk? My guess is that it blows air on the ignition coil? Mine is always on when the car is running as well as my radiator fan. My car always runs about 170-185 ( once the engine gets to op temp) so for now I will be keeping things as is. How much does the trunk fan cost to replace, what is its technical name and are they difficult to find? Thanks everyone!
Rad fan and engine blower is Not meant to be On full time and have a shorter life if force on.. Rad fan motor can find replacements but not engine blower.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Trunk hair dryer should come on/off at the same time as the radiator fan, it blows cool air onto the ignition coil and alternator. Despite claims of being gimmicky it is defiantly beneficial, I also have an 86 V6 and mine works great.
Disconnect your radiator fan switch to test its function. If the radiator fan still runs, the problem is elsewhere. Maybe in the big relay in front of the left headlight.
The fan switch is located on the lower intake manifold, just forward of the thermostat housing neck. It has a single wire. Squeeze the plastic cap and lift it off. Also, the relay at the trunk blower motor could be stuck closed.
If it turns out to be the fan switch, I highly recommend RodneyDickman.Com for his low temp fan switch. It turns on the fan at about 225* and off at 210*. By doing so, it starts to cool the engine before it overheats, and turns it off to keep it within its proper operating temperature range.
Originally posted by Skybax: Despite claims of being gimmicky it is defiantly beneficial, I also have an 86 V6 and mine works great.
Often Because many fools believe 88 Fiero didn't have the engine blower. 1. 88 uses CS130 alt w/ 2 fans in/on them and more efficient then old SI units. 2. Blower parts Cost GM 10's or 100's of Thousands of $ and eliminating it helps GM and don't give a crap if car dies. Most 80's car warranty often only last 1 to 5 years.
I have an '88 GT and there is nothing like what is being discussed here under my rear deck lid. Can someone post a photo of what this looks like? Thanks....
Mine wasn't running - 85 GT. There wasn't any thought put into removing the trunk fan assembly as a module, so you've got to pull the external mount hardware, the plate the motor mounts on, then an internal fastener.
The fan motors are a little fiddley to get apart, clean the carbon brush dust out, polish commutator, grease bearings, and reassemble. The heavy magnets in it make you think you're going to break something.
For anybody with overheat issues you haven't fixed yet, and all the 'wire the blower ON all the time' guys, there is another easier way to call for more cooling. It's a bit hack, but can keep you from boiling over or burning out components as quick. If you've got an A/C equipped car (even if A/C currently doesn't work) just setting your hvac control from 'Vent' to 'AC' or 'Max AC' kicks up the radiator fan, and the trunk blower. If your a/c still works and you just need cooling, disconnecting the compressor clutch connector should keep it from kicking on, but the fans will run.
If you've got an A/C equipped car (even if A/C currently doesn't work) just setting your hvac control from 'Vent' to 'AC' or 'Max AC' kicks up the radiator fan, and the trunk blower. If your a/c still works and you just need cooling, disconnecting the compressor clutch connector should keep it from kicking on, but the fans will run.
...or turn on Defrost. Seriously. The fans will kick on.
Better option IMO is to install a different fan switch, such as Rodney Dickman's 210° on and 200° off fan switch. Factory switch doesn't activate until 235°F.
Originally posted by Patrick: ...or turn on Defrost. Seriously. The fans will kick on..
Don't count on that. While Set to 2 or 3 AC positions works, many to all Fiero control head and more aren't wire to turn on rad fan and engine blower in Defrost mode. Most FSM including Fiero "books" show the same info. Colorize switch to show on/off.
Note: Some Compressors may turn that on by switches on them regardless of control head wiring. I know 87+ V5 compressor does not have switch that closes for High Pressure. V5 and Many other AC systems simple Turn Off the compressor seeing High Pressure. (Most "New" vehicles are Required by EPA etc to Shut Off for High Pressure. Older cars w/o this function often need to have them added before most shops to work on the AC and be legal. Another reason many won't touch old car's AC.)
[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-28-2021).]
The fans kick on when the A/C is turned on, correct?Yes
The A/C is turned on when the HVAC control is set to Defrost, correct?Yes and often when Weather is "warm" to dehumidify air blowing. (Compressor is "killed" at low temps because Low Cut Off is active.)
So, are you saying that even though the A/C is running while in Defrost mode, that the fans are not kicked on?Yes when Control Head does all "thinking."
Other switches on the compressor or elsewhere in the system may turn on the fan(s). You have to "read" above diagram and likely others in Fiero FSM for a given year and sub model or engine. Fiero V6 has many things different vs all l4 besides the actual engine.
Even if 84-86 l4 has exact same compressor... Compressors may have 1 or 2 switch holes but the switch installed in them may have more then 1 contact set etc.
If your a/c still works and you just need cooling, disconnecting the compressor clutch connector should keep it from kicking on, but the fans will run.
Or just move the temp slider up if you don't need AC cooling. You can actually get full heat even when the AC control is set to Norm.
