In operative cooling fan

Clyde Jr · Post by **Clyde Jr** » 10 Oct 2011, 20:36

The electric cooling fan on my 1995 960 2.9L never runs. I need to know the sequence of things to test. I have some mechanical knowlege but no experirnce with Volvo. Help!!!

Post by **precopster** » 11 Oct 2011, 08:09

Does your car have a thermostat fitted? If not it may not reach operating temperature. What temp is the needle pointing at?

There is a radiator fan relay located just above the battery. Check that the terminals are tight and secure.

If these are OK proceed to check that you have a live 12V positive at one of the terminals where the large wires are entering this relay.

If not check all fuses and circuit breakers at the fuse panel.

If you have a live 12V positive at this relay you then need to check that the coolant temperature sensor located just beneath the thermostat is working properly. Check its terminals. Are they tight? As the engine gets warmer after a cold start the resistance of this sensor changes. If it's faulty you will get both a faulty temp reading on the guage and no fan operation.

If this sensor checks out short the two large wires at the relay and see if the cooling fan runs. If not the cooling fan is faulty.

Post by **billofdurham** » 11 Oct 2011, 12:51

If you have an ohmmeter or a multimeter the coolant temperature sensor resistance chart is attached:

960 CTS check.pdf: (60.6 KiB) Downloaded 149 times

Bill.

danr960 · Post by **danr960** » 11 Oct 2011, 19:25

Clyde Jr wrote:The electric cooling fan on my 1995 960 2.9L never runs. I need to know the sequence of things to test. I have some mechanical knowlege but no experirnce with Volvo. Help!!!

There is also a test that you can do, unfortunately, the directions to run the test are not with me. It involves the dtc reader on the front fender, you can with the correct series of button pushes get the car's computer test for certain signals.

I stole this from another sight, but basically it is from the volvo fault tracing manual.

4. Diagnostic Test Mode 3: Injection System Component Activation Test

Turn the ignition ON to KPII and install the cable into socket 2 for fuel-injection-related tests.
Press the button three times for one second each time (waiting between >1 and <3 seconds before pressing again)
The diagnostic unit then sequentially tests the following components: engine coolant fan (if equipped), fuel injectors, idle air control solenoid valve, carbon filter solenoid valve (if equipped), cold start valve, radio suppression relay and fuel pump. No code is produced: you have to listen or feel each in turn to make sure it is operating.
Exit by switching off the ignition.

It is quite simple really,

See if that activates your fan. I will say that when I have a new t-stat and a new radiator, my coolant fan never runs, so if your cooling system is up to task, then maybe you are just fine.

DanR '95 964 360,000 miles (126,000 on the new engine)

Clyde Jr · Post by **Clyde Jr** » 11 Oct 2011, 22:26

Thanks everyone.. A blown fuseaable link led me to a cooked fan motor. I replaced it with an aftermarket single speed and it seems to work..

Post by **billofdurham** » 12 Oct 2011, 12:44

Thank you for the update.

Bill.