New member, 960 cooling issues.

euroscrapper · Post by **euroscrapper** » 15 Jul 2013, 06:53

Hello everyone! I'm not new to Volvo's ( current 240, past P2 V70 T-5 M) or cars in general, but I am new to the 960. So, here we go...

I have a 1993 960. Car sat for a few years for some reason. When I got the car, it had a check engine light. I pulled the codes via the OBD and found there were 2 MAF codes. Cleaned the MAF, cleared the codes and it seems to run better. However, the coolant fans will not kick on. I ran the OBD test ( plug 2, push the button 3 times) and the ECU will fire the fans so I think the relay is fine and the wiring to the relay from the ECU is fine. I'm afraid to run the car very much to prevent overheating, but it has gotten warm enough to fire the fans. The thermostat opens, coolant is full...

Am I looking at a failed ECT? I read somewhere if you pull the plug as the car is running, the fans should run as it thinks the car is hot, or am I thinking about that wrong? Does the ECU think the car is cold with the ECT unplugged or failed? There are no ECT codes. The car does seem to run somewhat rich.

I've got several other issues that I may seek help with but I really cant make much of a determination about the car if I can not drive it. I suspect the previous owner knew of the problem with the fans and parked it due to that, but he was less than forthcoming about it. It's probably been overheated and it not worth saving, but I need to know that for sure before I start taking it apart to dump on eBay one part at a time.

Thanks in advance!

danr960 · Post by **danr960** » 15 Jul 2013, 14:18

My cars fan rarely ever runs. It seems that enough heat is passed thru the radiator without the help of the fan.

Are the following normal, the temp gauge, idling, fuel mileage? Cold starts, hot starts?

An defective ECT would also cause other issues.

DanR '94 964 386,000 miles (152,000 on the new engine)

euroscrapper · Post by **euroscrapper** » 16 Jul 2013, 06:17

Idle is normal and reasonably smooth ( I can stand a nickel on the cam cover with it running). Temp gauge goes to the middle normally, and no higher ( I assume it is compensated like a 240's is). I can not speak to fuel mileage as I've not driven the car much at all ( 2 miles? ) owing to my fear of overheating, though I have run the car a decent amount at temp with no fan activity. Hot and cold starts are both somewhat slow. Not instant or near instant like a modern fuel injected car. There is a second of cranking before it fires, both hot and cold. I attributed this to what I think is a leaking fuel pressure regulator on the rail as it makes no difference if the ECT is unplugged or plugged in when the car is running or starting. The ECT seems to do nothing at all but is not setting any codes.

Post by **jimmy57** » 16 Jul 2013, 09:03

Does the a/c work? using a/c will run the fan.
The coolant temp has to get to 220+ for the fan to run. It takes a while idling out of gear for it to reach this temp. The coolant passing through radiator will cool a bit with no fan just as Dan said.

euroscrapper · Post by **euroscrapper** » 16 Jul 2013, 13:01

jimmy57 wrote:Does the a/c work? using a/c will run the fan.

Well...about that AC.... I'll address that later, but the short answer is no. When I turn the AC button on it does not run the fans at all but.....

Long answer is that someone decided to cut the dome light wires and the cabin temp sensor wires to remove the dome light for some unknown reason, and the wire to the compressor broke/twisted together. Consequently I have climate control issues, though the heat and all vent and control functions seem to work so I might luck out there. Quality repair work abounds on this car.

I bought the car on a whim for next to nothing thinking it might be my next beater, I might have made a mistake.