Cooling issue

Tiny
DMCCURRY
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 SATURN SL2
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 191,000 MILES
Cooling fan is bypassed and when unhooked won't come on
Saturday, April 9th, 2011 AT 7:19 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Sounds like you have a bad coolant temp sensor you have two its the bottom sensor with two wires going to it. So the fan doesn't come on when the temp gauge reaches about 3/4 on the gauge. Also if your a/c works does the fan come on with the a/c?
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
DMCCURRY
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  • 6 POSTS
I haven't tried the air yet. When we bought the car it had no thermostat in it. I put one in but the fan doesn't come on.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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So the fan doesn't come on at about 3/4 on the temp gauge?Or a little past it?Try the air and let me know if it works and fan comes on with the air. Really common for the coolant temp sensors to go bad.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
DMCCURRY
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The fan doesn't come on when the air is turned on.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
DMCCURRY
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Also we ran it to 3/4 and a little past and it still didn't come on.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Does the a/c clutch kick on when you turn the a/c on?If so and radiator fan doesn't come on then more then likely you have a bad fan motor. See if you have power and ground to the motor with the a/c clutch kicked in. The wire with a red tracer should have power and the solid black one is ground. If you doing then you have a bad fan motor. Let me know what you find.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
DMCCURRY
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The fan is hard wired on all the time, it works. It just doesn't turn off and on like it should. Also the compressor kicked on but the system needs charged.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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  • 30,870 POSTS
If the fan motor works you most likely have a bad coolant temp sensor its the bottom sensor with two wires going to it. Its screwed into the head right below where the upper hose goes on. Also inspect the connector going to it if its corroded replace the connector also. The sensor is only 10 I wouldnt leave it hard wired not good for the engine to never getting fully warmed up. Alos with the sensor being bad it means the engine is running too rich. When the sensor gets bad enouhh the engine wont start it could surge die while driving etc.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
DMCCURRY
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Thanks, I will give this a try and keep you updated.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Cool keep me updated.
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Saturday, January 12th, 2019 AT 12:26 PM

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