electric fans dont turn on causing my car to heat up at idle, need info on fans
#1
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electric fans dont turn on causing my car to heat up at idle, need info on fans
so i just discovered the 1 out of the 2 electric fans above the radiator barely turns when you push by hand. The other one moves freely but both fail to even turn on causing my car to heat up when at idle. Seems like i need (2) new motors. Im seeing aftermarket ones on ebay, will those work? Would I be able just to replace them in the existing fan shroud? Are these plug and play or do they need all new re-wiring?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-Ra...item27aa6f9159
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-SL...item3a542faaea
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-Ra...item27aa6f9159
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-SL...item3a542faaea
#7
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With the stock ECU you would be much better off getting used OEM fans than an aftermarket one...the ECU runs the relays based on a specific thing it wants the fans too do....changing that isn't the best..the thing is a PIA already ![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Ask Patrick ( Greddygagawhatever)
He likely can help you out
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Ask Patrick ( Greddygagawhatever)
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#8
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so i just discovered the 1 out of the 2 electric fans above the radiator barely turns when you push by hand. The other one moves freely but both fail to even turn on causing my car to heat up when at idle. Seems like i need (2) new motors. Im seeing aftermarket ones on ebay, will those work? Would I be able just to replace them in the existing fan shroud? Are these plug and play or do they need all new re-wiring?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-Ra...item27aa6f9159
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-SL...item3a542faaea
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-Ra...item27aa6f9159
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/12-SL...item3a542faaea
#9
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yea, i figure out my heating issue that I thought was coolant, the car runs and drives cool all the time, as soon as you stop for literally 5 min, the guage starts slowly going pass the middle and smoke comes out of the coolant reservoir and coolant sprays out of it which I would think is bc the coolant is boiling hot in that radiator since theres nothing to cool it down since the fans arent working bc once I drive off after 10 sec, the smoke goes away and guage goes back to normal. So 100% fan is my issue
#10
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Well......it most likely is the fans, but remember that there are two fans(as you now know) and there are 3 total relays that turn on at given times to make those 2 fans come on. It could be the relay(s) still. Just keep it in mind and I do know you said one of your fans isn't turning freely by hand with the car off, so that's a bad sign for at least one fan.
Also, have you checked the 40amp Electric fan fuse in the engine compartment fuse box?
Also, have you checked the 40amp Electric fan fuse in the engine compartment fuse box?
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just to make sure, these (3) relays and 40 amp electric fan fuse is all under the hood? How do I know if the relays are bad? fuse I know, but how do you check relays? need a voltmeter?
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I checked the FAN FUSE (40A) and its blown, now how would I check those relays? When can I buy this fuse from since its not a normal looking fuse, must it be from the dealer or does NAPA have them?
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Don't worry about the relays at this time would be my opinion as they are probably okay. You can wiggle them around a little bit if you like.
Not sure where you can get the fuse, but take the blown one with you and head to NAPA or Autozone or any car parts store. They will more than likely have them. If not the dealer.....ugh!
Make sure you get at least two. This way if you do have a real fan problem, it might pop the fuse again. If it does........then don't put the second one in until you get the fan fixed. If it doesn't pop and the fan(s) turns on, then yippie! I'd be worried about the one fan that you said didn't turn freely. If it takes too much power to attempt to run, then it may pop the fuse again right away.
BTW...........with this fuse blown.....neither fan will work. I'd have to research at what temps the fans come on because I forgot, but I know that one comes on and then if the temperature continues to rise, the second one comes on. My point is.......the both don't turn on at the same time. Before you start, make sure nothing is obstructing either fan from turning, because I've heard of bolts or grommets falling down there and getting caught between the blade and the housing.
Not sure where you can get the fuse, but take the blown one with you and head to NAPA or Autozone or any car parts store. They will more than likely have them. If not the dealer.....ugh!
Make sure you get at least two. This way if you do have a real fan problem, it might pop the fuse again. If it does........then don't put the second one in until you get the fan fixed. If it doesn't pop and the fan(s) turns on, then yippie! I'd be worried about the one fan that you said didn't turn freely. If it takes too much power to attempt to run, then it may pop the fuse again right away.
BTW...........with this fuse blown.....neither fan will work. I'd have to research at what temps the fans come on because I forgot, but I know that one comes on and then if the temperature continues to rise, the second one comes on. My point is.......the both don't turn on at the same time. Before you start, make sure nothing is obstructing either fan from turning, because I've heard of bolts or grommets falling down there and getting caught between the blade and the housing.
Last edited by Mazurfer; 11-21-2009 at 10:04 AM.
#15
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Fuse blown should bring up the question of why? A 40amp fuse takes a lot to blow. Having said that I had a similar issue, including blown fuse and one stiff cooling fan. Located a grommet in one of the fan blades from the air intake. Fan motor was toast causing the extra power drain > blown fuse.
Replaced the cooling fans. Maybe you will be lucky with just the fuse, just saying keep an eye on as I would not trust it to be fixed until you can confirm it
Replaced the cooling fans. Maybe you will be lucky with just the fuse, just saying keep an eye on as I would not trust it to be fixed until you can confirm it
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^........right, I just wanted him to confirm it was the fan before sending him to you "P"!
There are a couple of different ways to check those fans, but if you have a bad fan(ie......motor burned out and shorted) and pop the fuse, then neither will work! The are off the same fuse.
There are a couple of different ways to check those fans, but if you have a bad fan(ie......motor burned out and shorted) and pop the fuse, then neither will work! The are off the same fuse.
#20
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Even if you replace the fuse, they may both not work - the ECU can send power to both, if one dies then they both won't turn.
You can jumper the relays with a piece of wire to force the fan to turn, to check 'em.
Also, turning on the a/c will force ONE to run at least.
You can jumper the relays with a piece of wire to force the fan to turn, to check 'em.
Also, turning on the a/c will force ONE to run at least.
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Even if you replace the fuse, they may both not work - the ECU can send power to both, if one dies then they both won't turn.
You can jumper the relays with a piece of wire to force the fan to turn, to check 'em.
Also, turning on the a/c will force ONE to run at least.
You can jumper the relays with a piece of wire to force the fan to turn, to check 'em.
Also, turning on the a/c will force ONE to run at least.
Anyway, I was trying to keep it simple for him at the start.
Since he apparently has one that turns freely by hand and the other does not. The non turning/obstructed fan popped the fuse and therefore now neither will come on. I would unplug the one not free turning fan, put in a new fuse(remember I said get two) and see if the free one works. At this point you can assume it's the one bad fan, you can then plug it back in the suspect one and try again.......but expect the fuse to probably blow. If it tries and then blows that would pretty much check out all three relays and PCM function. Yes, it's totally not how I would do it, but I have what I'd like to think is way more experience.
Last edited by Mazurfer; 11-22-2009 at 10:41 AM.
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^..............This is why mine is extended all the way down to an open slot in the lower tray. What you speak of also ends up getting on the power steering connector(in some cases) and corrodes that all up.............leading to power steering loss.
Last edited by Mazurfer; 11-22-2009 at 10:34 AM.