Bad cooling fan and fuses.

Tiny
CKIBBEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHRYSLER 300
  • 150,000 MILES
My passenger side radiator cooling fan appears to be not working and the 30amp and 40amp fuses are blown. It will be a few weeks before I can get a new fan, and I'm being very cautious about when and where I drive it so it doesn't sit for a long time without air passing through the radiator.
Assuming I have a bad motor on the fan, can I disconnect just that fan to get some cooling?
Is there a way to test or check if the two associated relays are bad so that I don't replace them unnecessarily?
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 4:37 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Lets start with what is the fuse labeled that is blown?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 4:45 PM
Tiny
CKIBBEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
"30 amp rad fan hi". And "40 amp rad fan hi/lo". There are also the two relays labeled the same but I've know idea if they've been blown as well. Car had a leaky radiator for a while and fans were constantly on. When I picked the car up father having the mechanic fix the radiator, he told me that the passenger side fan was not working. When I got home I saw the two bad fuses, and when I tried to turn the passenger side fan manually it was sluggish and hard to move.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 7:48 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If the fan motor is hard to move by hand then I would start by replacing the fan motor because its wore out. Then replace the fuses and see what happens. Sounds like the bad motor blew the fuses.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
CKIBBEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I agree but won't be able to get a new fan assembly installed for a week or two.
My original question though remains. Can I disconnect one fan in the short term and is there a way to test the relays? What would happen if the new fan unit is installed and the two blown fuses replaced but the relays were bad? Could that cause problems? Would it work at all? What is the function of the relays?
Thanks.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 8:20 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I know you dont have the money right now but its very risky running it without a cooling fan you could damage the engine from overheating. I wouldnt worry about the relays the fuses blew from the fan motor shorting out you said its pretty hard to turn. The relays are for the load turn on of the fan if you used a simple switch for instance to turn the fan on the switch would melt and the wires would melt.I know the fan is like 90 at auto zone. Do you have ac?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
CKIBBEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I'm actually living in Europe and need to order the part from the US (thus the delay). I'm only driving short distances now watching my temperature gauge and avoiding lights where I would have to idol. So, after I replace the fan and fuses if there is still a problem are you saying the fuses would blow before the relays?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 8:44 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The relay isnt a circuit protection device it has the power there at all times and when the relay is triggered usually by a ground trigger it supplies the power to the circuit. Fuse will blow if there is a problem there are exceptions to rules but usually thats what happens. Have you tried www. Rockauto. Com for a fan motor yet?Also ou have to be vary careful driving without that fan working. My option on that is dont do it for the record.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 10:17 PM
Tiny
CKIBBEY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks. I have a new fan assembly on order from RockAuto (they're great for international orders/shipping)where I got my radiator and thermostat already. Hopefully that and some new fuses will be all I need.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 AT 12:47 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Your welcome keep me posted on how it goes you should be fine with the fuses and fan assembly.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 AT 2:35 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Cooling Fan Fuse Content

VIEW MORE