Engine Over Heating Problem

ksdst1 · Post by **ksdst1** » 16 Aug 2009, 20:59

Hi all. I recently drove my 96 850GLT non-turbo to Columbus and back, 4 hours highway each way, and the engine temp gauge stayed at the 3 o'clock position the whole time while on the highway. However, coming back i got stuck in a city traffic standstill at which point, after about 10 minutes, the temp gauge rose very quickly. Thankfully, at that point I got out of traffic and could drive at speed again and immediately the temp went back to 3 o'clock. I'm sure if i got stuck in traffic again it would spike again.

Note to mention is that the AC system is messed up so i keep the recirculate off and i don't use the "aut" setting so it should just be outside air coming into the car when i have the cool fan on, but it was very warm when the gauge changed.

What might be the problem? I understand the fan relay has two settings, one when a/c is on and one without. Maybe it's this but maybe something else.
Thanks,
Kevin

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 17 Aug 2009, 09:10

It sounds like you electric cooling fan is not coming on. I would start the car and see if the fan comes on when the temp gauge is in the 3 o'clock position. If it does not and the gauge keeps going up, then it is the fan relay or the fan.

ksdst1 · Post by **ksdst1** » 19 Aug 2009, 21:16

Tnx for your response. I'll get the details (been away a few days) about when the fan goes or not. I know that it does go on but i've read something about two speed modes, when the a/c is activated and its just regular engine heat.

Volgrrr · Post by **Volgrrr** » 20 Aug 2009, 05:38

FCPGroton wrote:It sounds like you electric cooling fan is not coming on. I would start the car and see if the fan comes on when the temp gauge is in the 3 o'clock position. If it does not and the gauge keeps going up, then it is the fan relay or the fan.

+1

To simulate city driving, put a shroud in front of the radiator so the temperature will rise slightly higher than normal - and then check to see whether the electric cooling fan kicks in.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 20 Aug 2009, 07:43

ksdst1 wrote:Tnx for your response. I'll get the details (been away a few days) about when the fan goes or not. I know that it does go on but i've read something about two speed modes, when the a/c is activated and its just regular engine heat.

The AC should be off when you do this test so the fan will not be running until the car gets hot.

ksdst1 · Post by **ksdst1** » 20 Aug 2009, 20:05

Tnx for the input folks (like dealing with fcpGroton in the past BTW). So I drove around for a while and then let the engine idle until the temp gauge started to rise above the 3 o'clock position and NO fan. After letting her cool off I started up again and put the airconditioner on. NO fan either.

So now i'm not sure if its the fan, the relay or both.

In addition, but maybe not related to the fan, when i turn on the a/c i think its the compressor with the fly wheel driven by the belt that engages and the dis-engages over and over with a click noise as it turns and then it stops, turns and then stops. Is the compressor bad?

seanm3113 · Post by **seanm3113** » 21 Aug 2009, 05:21

I had the same issue, and replaced the relay, but mine was not the relay.
With the car off and cool, do the fan blades spin easily? Mine did not and I had a siezed fan motor. Got a fan assembly from the jyard.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 21 Aug 2009, 08:33

To test the fan, you just need to connect it to a 12 volt source. If the fan comes on, then it is the relay. The relay is located above the fan in the engine compartment and is very easy to swap out.

As for the compressor, you may have a freon leak which is causing low pressure in the system. When this happens, the compressor will not stay on.

ksdst1 · Post by **ksdst1** » 21 Aug 2009, 10:47

Tnx for the replies...i check to see if the fan would move and it does. In regard to testing the fan, what is the best way to attach it to a 12v source? There is a red, green, black wire coming from the fan and the black splits off into another wiring assembly while the red a green go to the relay. Do i connect alligator clip wire from the neg terminal of my battery to either the green or red terminals coming from the fan?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Aug 2009, 16:28

Take the lead from the positive terminal to the red wire and then the green wire - one at a time. The fan is a two speed fan and one wire will run it in high speed and the other will run it in low speed. Off the top of my head I can't remember which wire color is which speed but there is a distinct speed difference.

The black wire is ground.

...Lee