1987 Chevy Cavalier voltage light

KANDIMANDI

MEMBER
1987 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
154,009 MILES

Oh I don't know where to start I should've never let a man touch my car (the men around me anyway :) So after a failed attempt to first fix my turning signals then bypass them and put a toggle switch on the dash (I know, I was So MAD when I went out there) the next time I drove the car it overheated. I believe the fan is not starting. But what scared me was that when I started the car and turned the headlights on the buzzer came on and when I turned them off it went off. I checked fuses and made sure there were no exposed wires now the buzzer works right but the volt light stays on now. And the fan still don't start I'm lost. Help

Thursday, July 9th, 2009 AT 12:44 PM

3 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Hello, check for codes. You can take the electrical connector loose from the radiator fan, use jumpers from the battery posts for B+ and ground, use an inline fuse on the jumper. If the fan won't run, I think the fan is faulty. If it does run backtrack to the fan relay, underhood, driverside fender-well area between battery and strut tower. Some things that can effect the fan operation, coolant temp sensor-- pcm-- fan relay-- wiring circuits.

On some systems, when you turn on the ac, the fan runs.

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Thursday, July 9th, 2009 AT 1:19 PM

KANDIMANDI

MEMBER
2 POSTS

For your quick reply, I tried and tried but couldn't get that plug unplugged from the fan the other night. And I tried running the heater but it didn't work. I'm really concerned about the voltage light. Thinking something is shorting out. Do you think it could be the belt loose? Where in the heck is the fan relay? It's bugging me bad.

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Thursday, July 9th, 2009 AT 1:31 PM

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

The connector for the fan may have a locking ear or lever, you pry up on the lever as you separate the connector. I gave you the location of the relay in my last post. The primary colors of the wiring at the relay connector may vary depending on vin. Pink--red--green--black

You can use a digital multimeter to check your charging system. Take a reading across the battery posts with everything turned off, 12.6 volts is considered a full charge. Take another reading across the battery posts with the engine running, should be at least a volt higher if the charging system is working.

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Thursday, July 9th, 2009 AT 1:58 PM