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1997 850 GLT adiator cooling fan isn't working MVSOLVED

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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FullbrT
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Joined: 17 November 2014
Year and Model: 2009 C30 T5 R-design
Location: Texas

1997 850 GLT adiator cooling fan isn't working MVSOLVED

Post by FullbrT »

I am having a related issue. The fan will not come on, the car is getting hot. The fan works when directly powered. I tried grounding the pins for the yellow wires on the relay but got nothing. Installed new relay, no change. I don't know what to do and I'm getting tired of connecting/disconnecting the fan when I drive. Please help.

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

FullbrT wrote:I am having a related issue. The fan will not come on, the car is getting hot. The fan works when directly powered. I tried grounding the pins for the yellow wires on the relay but got nothing. Installed new relay, no change. I don't know what to do and I'm getting tired of connecting/disconnecting the fan when I drive. Please help.
Check for battery voltage on the large red wire to the fan relay. That wire should always be hot. There is no fuse but there is a "fusable link" in the red wire from that battery but if that fusable link opens up then the only real cure is to replace the wire with a new fusible link wire.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

FullbrT
Posts: 8
Joined: 17 November 2014
Year and Model: 2009 C30 T5 R-design
Location: Texas

Post by FullbrT »

Ok, I thought so but what does the other end of that fusible link wire attach to? I traced it down as far as I could and it seems to go into a conduit and toward the ecu. I haven't been able to find any info about it online beyond that it exists and that if its bad you have to replace it.

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

I'm pretty sure that the other end of the wire goes to the starter, the second terminal that ties on with the battery cable at the solenoid. You might be able to splice in a new fusible link but the trick is to find the correct spot in the wire to cut the old one out. I have not seen an amperage rating for the link and you would need to know that to buy a replacement.

Has the starter recently been replaced? It is possible that the wire never got hooked back up. The starter would still work fine without it.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

FullbrT
Posts: 8
Joined: 17 November 2014
Year and Model: 2009 C30 T5 R-design
Location: Texas

Post by FullbrT »

I did just replace the starter but I'm pretty sure I got everything hooked back up... That was actually my first thought and I looked but didn't see anything loose. Do you know how many cables should be on the pos and neg terminals? Maybe I put it on the wrong terminal.

Ozark Lee
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Year and Model: Many Volvos
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Post by Ozark Lee »

As I recall there are a total of three wires. The battery cable, what appears to be the power source for the fan, and the start signal from the ignition switch. The large battery cable wire and the fan wire go together on the same stud and then the small ignition switch wire goes to the other terminal. Ground (negative) is back through the block.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

FullbrT
Posts: 8
Joined: 17 November 2014
Year and Model: 2009 C30 T5 R-design
Location: Texas

Post by FullbrT »

So, it seems as though I did put the power to the relay on the wrong terminal. It is a white wire, so there should be three wires on the positive starter terminal and nothing but the built in cable from the solenoid to the motor on the negative. So there was never any reason at all for me to even take the but off of the negative side. Live and learn I guess. But I got her all up and running again. Thanks for your help.

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shiloh51933
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Post by shiloh51933 »

FullbrT wrote:So, it seems as though I did put the power to the relay on the wrong terminal. It is a white wire, so there should be three wires on the positive starter terminal and nothing but the built in cable from the solenoid to the motor on the negative. So there was never any reason at all for me to even take the but off of the negative side. Live and learn I guess. But I got her all up and running again. Thanks for your help.
Human error huh, good u got it back to normal.
If U Wanna Play U Gotta Pay!!
Present Volvo Ownership:
2008 Volvo XC90 V8 Black
2004 Volvo XC70 OEM-HID model Silver
Previously Owned Volvo:
1996 Volvo 850 GLT Silver
1998 Volvo V70XC Dark Blue
1998 Volvo V70XC Dark Blue
2000 Volvo V70XC/SE Dark Blue
2004 Volvo XC90 T6 Gold

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