1996 Toyota Avalon Cooling Fans Not Turning On and MPH stop

BAPTISTPREACH

MEMBER
1996 TOYOTA AVALON
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
168,000 MILES

I had my car sitting for a few months, and now I've got 2 problems (that I know of). The main problem is that my cooling fans aren't turning on. I checked my relays, and found that when I pulled them (there are 2 fans, and 2 switches) and just made contact (not put it all the way in, just started to) the fans turned on, and stayed on, but when I pushed them all the way in, they stopped working. My check engine light is on and I'm going to find out what that code is for, but I suspect it has to do with why my mph and odometer aren't working. There is a switch going from my transmission (speed sender maybe?) That the wires have been cut or eaten by a mouse and I need to rewire. Any help please? What could be causing my fans to stop working? How do I hook my wiring back up to get the mph and odometer working?

4 Replies

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hello -

To better assist you is your model a XL or XLS? Also please tell me your engine size in liter.

Next, since you are going to check the codes, please go to Auto Zone (AZ) or O'Reilly's (OR) and for FREE they can pull the codes to the car. Most important: Once they check your codes, if they find something and you don't get it fixed and need to get back with us, please make sure you tell us exactly what the code was, number and all. Example, if the code was E0568 O2 Sensor bad. Then make sure you give us all of that. While there for FREE also they can bring their tester out and check your battery and alternator. Since it has been sitting let's get those checked too.

As for the cooling fans, start the car when cold with the AC off relays in. The fans should be off. Then turn the AC on....... Does the fans come on then?

Is the car overheating?

Yes, connect the wires and see if the speedo/and odometer start working. Then we will attack that if not.

When you say how do you hook the wires back up....... Aren't they just regular wires?

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Friday, May 29th, 2009 AT 8:08 PM

BAPTISTPREACH

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2 POSTS

I believe its an XL and its a 3.0L (I think all Avalons are in this year range). I had the car tested, and while it didn't give an actual code #, the tester gave the description of the problem. There were 2, one was the odometer and the other was the cooling fan had a circuit failure (or something close to that). Thankfully, there weren't any other problems it pulled up. My car hasn't overheated yet, but I'm afraid to drive it very far for that reason, and I tried turning on the AC and it made no difference, the fans still aren't turning on.

As far as hooking my wires back up, I didn't know where they connected to, as the pigtail coming off of my tranny was cut. I looked at my in laws avalon and saw where the wires go, but they go into a larger loom? Of wires, and I am having a hard time getting into the mess. I'm sure that I'll be able to cut through the plastics sleeves and electric tape, but I was wondering what I should be looking for. The spot where the wires were supposed to run looks empty. My first concern is the cooling fans tho, so any other help would be appreciated

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Monday, June 1st, 2009 AT 11:22 PM

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hello -

Thanks for the info.

There must be something wrong with the code scanner. . .. . ...codes should come up. That way we can verify the codes specific to you vehicle.

I have attached a pic of your fuse panel. Please use an ohm meter to check the fuses since they are hard to see sometimes if blown. Check fuses, 7, 31, 32 and 33.

If they are all good then do the below.

Since we don't have the specific codes, turn on the AC to verify which wire is the hot wire. It looks like the blue wire is the hot on the one fan but not sure on the other. When you figure that out, connect from the battery, positive to one side of the motor and ground the other. Does the fan turn? If not the fan motor is bad.

The VSS - I show a Red/Blu wire, Pink, and Light Green wire coming out of the VSS on top of the transaxle. Look for these wires to connect to.

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Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 AT 8:40 PM

IMPALASS