1996 Saturn SC2 Fan cooling engine

Tiny
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  • 1996 SATURN SC2
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
How can I be sure my fan is running? My engine is very hot after driving 17 miles home from work. I've lost coolant the last few days, haven't seen it leak out, just overflow is half empty. I don't have air, used to, but when person put in my new/used radiator, the freeon released. I have a new water pump, which is set to air conditioning. I never hear the fan kick in and my car engine gauge goes to the halfway point. It hasn't overheated except 1 time last year, and after alot of tries we found out it was a sensor, but since then, I have these problems with coolant, etc. Should I get my air recharged? It was all good when I had air.

Thank you,
Audrey
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 AT 5:34 PM

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Tiny
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Let's do this go over by your underhood fuse box you will see a a/c line between your battery and fender. On the a/c line there is a high/low switch unplug it there may be a little plastic safety tab you might have to remove to unplug it. Then start your car let it idle then jump across those two terminals of the high low switch connector you unpluged. The radiator cooling fan should come on and you should hear the a/c clutch kick in too. There should be alot of air coming out of the fan also. Look by your upper radiator hose where it goes onto the radiator right below that on radiator see if it's cracked and leaking. Also if your coolant cap hasn't been changed in a while get a new one there only like 6. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 AT 6:16 PM
Tiny
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Thank you for the response. But I'm not sure what you mean by "then jump across those two terminals of the high low switch connector you unplugged" Please explain. I did unplug it and turned on the car. But then you lost me. Thanks, again.
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
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Iam sorry what I ment by jump it was take a paper clip while the car idles and use the paper clip to connect the two terminals on the connector. Let me know what happens.
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
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Well it didn't work. The fan spins freely, but it didn't run when we used the paperclip. Could it be a fuse? If so is the fuse in the car or under the hood. There is a small leak at the top of the radiator, it's plastic. Tried to seal it again, with weld bond. Can't afford a new radiator. Any other suggestions? Thanks so much!
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Thursday, June 10th, 2010 AT 1:20 PM
Tiny
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I'm sorry I forgot to tell you that when the car is idling you need to have the a/c button pushed in and the inside blower fan on when you jump that connector I told you to jump. Let me know what you find.
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Thursday, June 10th, 2010 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
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The fan kicked in when jumped with the paperclip! So why doesn't it run when plugged into the car? Help. My car get's SO Hot! Thank you :)
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Sunday, June 20th, 2010 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
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https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/416332_2001_sl2_coolant_temp_sensor_location_1.jpg


The reason your cooling fan doesn't come on with your a/c is because your a/c need's to be repaired.The only reason I had you jump that connector was to test the fan fuse relay and fan motor which is good since the fan came on.Now for the fix I posted you a diagram of where the coolant temp sensor is it's screwed into the head.I want you to change it make sure you get a brass tipped one the plastic tipped one's crack there only like 10.When you can change it make sure the engine is cold and you will loose coolant.Also when you change it inspect your connector to it if it's corroded they usually turn blue or green when they are corroded.If it's corroded then you will have to change it too.Let me know how it goes.
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Sunday, June 20th, 2010 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
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I thought I mentioned on my 1st post. Had a new radiator put in and the freeon escaped. So I haven't had it refilled. Should I refill it and try that before trying the new part you mentioned? Or will it make a difference?

Thank you, again!
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Monday, June 21st, 2010 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
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The difference with running the a/c is the fan run's all the time with the a/c on. So if the car didn't over heat when the a/c worked then I would replace the coolant temp sensor like I explained in my last post. Also get a new coolant cap. If your coolant is still going low after that then I would perform a coolant pressure test on the system. If your going to recharge your a/c again then make sure you get some charge with dye in it so you can see where it's leaking. The a/c system hold's 24oz's total.
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Monday, June 21st, 2010 AT 10:05 PM
Tiny
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Installed the new sensor the connector looked fine. Still not running that I can tell and no coolant came out when it was changed? Could the water pump be the problem? It was installed after the radiator and after the freeon came out when the radiator was removed. But they set the h20 pump to the a/c setting? Or how do I tell if the fan works? I let the car run after driving home and opened the hood the temp gauge was just past halfway. But ot never kicked in? Thanks again!
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
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You already tested the fan motor relay all that when I had you jump that connector and you said the fan came on. The fan comes on when the coolant temp reaches 222 degree's and over. Let the car idle as long as the temp doesn't go into the red let it idle see if the fan come's on at about 3/4 on the gauge. Let me know what you find.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010 AT 7:40 PM
Tiny
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I drove home from work Friday, 17 miles, hot n humid, made a stop, as I waited through 3 lights to get home, my gauge went past 1/2, by a needles thickness. I arrived home. As I went in the house I heard my car spewing, lost all coolant from overflow and also where there was a small crack in right front of radiator. The fan never kicked in. 1/2 way point on vehicles with a numbered gauge is 210. So I'd say mine was at 220+. Never hit redline. I'm going to have a new radiator installed. And hope the fan works? Any other ideas? Thanks for all your Help!
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Monday, July 19th, 2010 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
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If you put new coolant temp sensor in then the fan should come on. The earlier saturns the fan didn't come on till the gauge reached 3/4 sometimes the tip of the red if the gauge was bad. They never changed the temp the fan come's on at on the later model's I think 1997 or 1998 they made the gauge's read lower and the fan's came on just over half. But the fan's still came on at the same temp 222-226 degree's. So using the gauge isn't going to work to tell what temp the engine is. Did you ever change the coolant cap like I asked you too?Also once you get the radiator replaced then you can check and make sure the fan motor relay and wiring work like I told you in a earlier post. Then let your car idle and watch for the temp gauge and let it go above 1/2 way up to 3/4 and see if the fan come's on.
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Monday, July 19th, 2010 AT 5:38 PM

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