Neither radiator fan comes on Topic is solved

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 18 Jan 2020, 12:04

Hi, I'm a new (used) Volvo owner and a new member here. I've been looking for help with a few issues and this seems like the best place to find it.

I bought a 2000 V40 a week ago and have been finding out what it really needs to be 100%. This is an early 2000 model year, the manufacture date is 09/99, the engine family (according to the hood sticker) is B4204T.

Right now, I'm on a trip away from home so I don't really want to tear into things. During this trip I connected to the OBD2 port using my bluetooth adapter and Torque Pro running continously on my cellphone. I wanted to see average mileage, boost guage, etc.

I'd never noticed high temperature readings because the gauge never showed them, it always remains firmly planted in the center without variation. It was when I monitored the temperature via OBD2 that I saw the temperature spiking at red lights and such. The gauge never moves, starts cold and gradually moves to center and stays there, no variation. I believe the OBD2 reading because the engine feels/smells hot when I look under the hood. The temperture goes back down when the car is moving down the road.

I now see that the radiator fan doesn't come, consistent with my observations. In fact, the other fan which I assume is for the A/C, doesn't come on when I turn on the A/C. I've checked the 30A fuse and the two relays in the fuse compartment with a meter, All OK.

I see a lot of posts here talking about the temperature sensor but I believe what mine is saying. I don't understand what the temperature gauge is saying but maybe I just need to "tap the glass". I've seen reference here to a fan switch mounted to the radiator on early models. Is mine that kind of early model? If the temp sensor, relays, and fuse are good, am I simply looking at a bad fan problem? Why both fans? I haven't yet disconnected and sprayed out fan connectors and the sensor connector, I will do that today.

By the way, it looks like the thermostat and temperature sensor ar doing exactly what they should. The temperature stays between 188 and 195 driving on the freeway on a cool day. I've seen it go as high as 230 idling at a red light or in a parking lot. Until I fix this I am avoiding situations that call for idling or slow movement.

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 18 Jan 2020, 13:46

Further to original post, the car runs well, gets 33MPG, and throws no OBD2 codes.

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 18 Jan 2020, 15:02

Further to further info: Apparently I did not check the A/C fan properly. I set the A/C to the coldest setting and saw the that the larger white fan on the passenger side does cycle and spin.

Post by **alschnertz** » 18 Jan 2020, 15:36

FWIW, it takes a long time for the cooling fan to kick on on my '01 without the AC on.
But I don't have any data from the OBD2 port. And the temperature gauge always reads just under half-way.

All I can offer is that it took a good 10-15 minutes for the the fan to come on recently after a 1/2 hour drive home.
The car was sitting in the garage idling so I could check the transmission fluid. Ambient temperature was around 40 F.

I'll plug in next week to see what the temps. are.

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 19 Jan 2020, 10:50

Thanks, I'll try giving it more time. I had a Subaru Forester that I suspected a head gasket problem on due to coolant loss and their propensity for head gasket problems so I always monitored coolant temperature with OBD. I never saw it go as high as 230 deg. so I was pretty nervous when I saw that on this Volvo. Turns out the Subaru was leaking coolant from a hidden hose connection...

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 20 Jan 2020, 10:15

Thanks again, I tried again to see if the fan would come on and it did shortly after the temperature reached 230deg. I'd thought 230 was very hot but I checked online and I was mistaken. The fan that came on was the same one that cycled on when I checked for the A/C fan, the large white one on the passenger side. I thought, when I checked for the A/C fan, that the small black one would come on. Still, I feel much better knowing a fan will come on when it needs to. The fan had dropped the temperature by 15 deg. when it shut off. I guess I'll have to get accustomed to an engine that runs a little hotter than I was used to.

Post by **alschnertz** » 20 Jan 2020, 13:11

Was out today (18F) and had the OBDII scanner hooked up.

Normal running temp. varied from 177F to 183F with temp. gauge just slightly below halfway.
A fan kicked on at 213F.
Didn't even think to check which fan was running.

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 20 Jan 2020, 16:36

What kind of thermostat are you using? Seems to open earlier than normal. Is that just one of those things that people who live where it's cold know about? 58 deg. in northern Arizona...

Post by **alschnertz** » 20 Jan 2020, 16:40

I kind of thought the same thing.
I did replace it some years ago but think it was around a 190F ish.
I'll dig through some receipts and see if I find anything.

Edit:
Here it is...193F Wahler
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 90-degrees

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 20 Jan 2020, 19:30

Hmm...90deg.C, that would be 194deg.F...Must be really cold there...