SPONSORED LINKS

1992 Chevy Cavalier Radiator fan not working

Tiny
BIANCO
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
The problem started with a relay ticking in the engine and a sound that seems to be the air compressor going on and off and ended with a crack in the radiator and what I discovered later, a fried radiator fan motor
Already replaced:
-radiator
-radiator fan motor
-cooling temp. Sensor
-clicking relay (passenger side, first one behind the shock mount as you face the car)
When I turn ON the engine and turn ON the air condition the radiator fan does not turn, the clicking noise goes on. I know from other cars that radiator fan must go ON as soon as you turn the air condition on. What else can I test or look for. Please help. I am out of ideas.
Thank you,
George
SPONSORED LINKS
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 AT 10:03 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Hello, is the clicking noise coming from the fan relay or elsewhere? Did you check the circuits at the fan relay? Are there any codes? On some systems the fan will run if the cts is unplugged. If you use a jumper wire on the datalink connector to access codes, the fan may run.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 AT 1:54 PM
Tiny
BIANCO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you for the answer.
The clicking comes form the first relay towards the front of the car (I believe it`s not the fan relay-according to some pictures I found on the net the fan relay is on the LH behind the batery). This is a group of 3 relays on the RH near the strut mount. There is also a noise of on and off in sync with the relay clicking that seems to come from under the belt area and my guess was, the AC compressor.
Unfortunately, I don`t have a wiring diagram, therefore there is a lot of guessing in what I`m doing.
Did not check the the fan relay yet. The numbers on the fan relay are: 85, 87, 87 on top and 86, 30 on the bottom. The fan will not run if I disconnect the cts.
I hope this helps.
Thank you again.
Best Regards,
George
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/170934_92_cavalier_fan_1.jpg



If the ac relay is going crazy, unplug it, then see if the fan will run? I'll have to doublecheck,but, I thought the voltage for the coil side of the fan relay comes from the ac/heater fuse. With a standard relay, terminals 30 and 87 are for the switch side of relay, terminal 30 being hot all the time. If you use a jumper between terminal 30 and 87, the fan should run. I would use an inline fuse. Terminals 85 and 86 are for the coil side of relay, one is voltage the other is ground. The computer controls the ground circuit.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 AT 3:23 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/170934_heloooo_1.jpg



Did you try unplugging the fan, using jumpers, run the fan off the battery posts, to see if it will run, use an inline fuse? I just wanted to add, if the fan relay has a diagram on it, it should show the terminals for the load/switch side of relay.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 AT 3:31 PM
Tiny
BIANCO
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you again for all the info. I ran 2 wires to the battery posts and verified that the radiator fan was running when connected directly to 12 Volts. I also opened the thermostat housing and verified that the coolant temperature sensor was immersed in coolant. Finally I disconnected the fan relay and ran a jumper from 30 to 87 and nothing happened. The only place that was getting 12 V was 85 when you turn the ignition key to the pre-start position. I ran a jumper from 85 to 87 (the positive that goes from the relay to the fan) and the fan started to function. I started the engine, turn ON the AC and everything works fine (the clicking went away). Before putting the jumper in the fan relay I replaced the relay with a new one but the fan still wouldn`t turn and the clicking was still present.
I still don`t know what caused all this but now I have a temporary fix with the fan running all the time the engine runs. In Arizona weather I don`t think it`s gonna hurt anything.
Thank you again for all the info and please let me know if I can be of any help.
Best Regards,
George
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 28th, 2009 AT 12:43 AM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Hi, the 30 terminal gets voltage from a fusible link, usually one of the circuits off the positive battery post goes to a junction block, there maybe several fusible links, check there.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 28th, 2009 AT 8:33 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Cooling Fan Not Working Content

VIEW MORE

Sponsored links