fan problem....

[1991acclude]

ok my 91 EX was recently over heating due to headgasket which I replaced. Then I purchased a new radiator, bleed the system 5 mins ago and no air is in the system. Now from dead cold to operating temperature my fans don't come on. What gives. If my car heats up like its running hot they kick on well at least the passenger side one does. I thought they were supposed to turn on twice during the warm up procedure.

[Fake Thug]

ok my 91 EX was recently over heating due to headgasket which I replaced. Then I purchased a new radiator, bleed the system 5 mins ago and no air is in the system. Now from dead cold to operating temperature my fans don't come on. What gives. If my car heats up like its running hot they kick on well at least the passenger side one does. I thought they were supposed to turn on twice during the warm up procedure.

They both are suppose to come on. The pass one is the radiator fan if I remember right. The drive is ac condensor. Test the fans. You can either pull the ac switch connector on the water neck bridge the connector terminals(this tests the circuit too) or jump the fan directly to the battery.

[evil_demon_01]

The fans will turn on when the Ect sensor reaches a certain temp.
Have you felt the bottom radiator hose - Is it hot or cold?
If its cold you need to replace the thermostat.

Only the one closest to the battery should turn on to maintain coolant temp, The 2nd one operates when the A/C is running.
How high is the temp gauge getting?

[1991acclude]

bottom radiator hose....

man its always cold....the top one is hot. So you say change the thermostat? Both the fans work. when I press the a/c switch. Then when the temp gets a little over half the passenger on will kick on.

[evil_demon_01]

If the hose is cold when its sitting at idle, then yes change the thermostat.
Its cheap and easy to do.

[1991acclude]

ok....

aight I'm about to get a new thermostat right now and post my results thanks.

[Fake Thug]

Only the one closest to the battery should turn on to maintain coolant temp, The 2nd one operates when the A/C is running.
How high is the temp gauge getting?

Both mine come on when the engine reaches not even with the ac off...

[jhondayaaj]

If only one of your fans comee on. then you can try a quick check, find the thermoswitch connector by the thermostat housing, disconnect that connector, put a paperclip that is cut into a long U and jump the connector, both fans should come on (ign. key on), if only one of them is on, then bang on the other with a hammer or some sort of object pretty hard, don't break it though, if it does come on, then you got a bad motor, if it doesn't come on, then most likely your relay is bad.

edit: our accords should have both fans come on at all times either it be with ac on or cooling fans on when they are supposed to.

[evil_demon_01]

edit: our accords should have both fans come on at all times either it be with ac on or cooling fans on when they are supposed to.

Only one of mine comes on with A/c off, as do all our other model Hondas.
Maybe its a market thing - But then why would they call the A/C fan an A/C fan . . .

[Fake Thug]

Only one of mine comes on with A/c off, as do all our other model Hondas.
Maybe its a market thing - But then why would they call the A/C fan an A/C fan . . .

IDk..but both of mine come on when the engine is not. Its the same way on my sentra.

[1991acclude]

ok before i install the thermostat....

I tested my switch on the thermostat housing. When I jumped it with the switch on both fans come on and the relay clicks. Still if I let my car idle from cold to operating temp the fans don't come on. I went out and drove my car hard for about 5 miles came home popped the hood while its still running no fans running, then i turn off the car the passenger side fan starts to run. My heat only seems to work in high rpm's but gets cold when I turn the fan on even the lowest setting. I smell coolant and fumes when I turn the knob to heat and drive the car hard. Coolant system is free of air and I'm still puzzled! Do i need to change the thermostat still based on these tests and findings

[HondaFan81]

If you're not getting heat, the coolant is not circulating through the heater core properly.

I too suspect the thermostat, seems as if it failed in closed position. This may also answer why your cooling fan is not kicking on. The thermoswitch for cooling fan is located on thermostat housing, before the thermostat in terms of flow. So it is cold, not exceeding the coolant temp (194 F) needed to trip the fan, as you already tested it to work.

When you stop your motor and your engine coolant temp is above 226 F, then it is your A/C fan that comes on for 15 minutes via your fan timer system, so that is obviously working and it means that thermoswitch located at the water outlet housing is above 226 F.

[jhondayaaj]

I tested my switch on the thermostat housing. When I jumped it with the switch on both fans come on and the relay clicks. Still if I let my car idle from cold to operating temp the fans don't come on. I went out and drove my car hard for about 5 miles came home popped the hood while its still running no fans running, then i turn off the car the passenger side fan starts to run. My heat only seems to work in high rpm's but gets cold when I turn the fan on even the lowest setting. I smell coolant and fumes when I turn the knob to heat and drive the car hard. Coolant system is free of air and I'm still puzzled! Do i need to change the thermostat still based on these tests and findings

damn it hondafan, I was gonna say that. your thermoswitch is bad. don't be cheap, buy a Honda. let us know how it turns out..

[Fake Thug]

If you're not getting heat, the coolant is not circulating through the heater core properly.


When you stop your motor and your engine coolant temp is above 226 F, then it is your A/C fan that comes on for 15 minutes via your fan timer system, so that is obviously working and it means that thermoswitch located at the water outlet housing is above 226 F.

I must be smocking crack. I shut off my motor yesterday after driving 30 minutes straight, popped the hood and it was the radiator fan(pass. side) that came on for 15 minutes..

[Fake Thug]

I tested my switch on the thermostat housing. When I jumped it with the switch on both fans come on and the relay clicks. Still if I let my car idle from cold to operating temp the fans don't come on. I went out and drove my car hard for about 5 miles came home popped the hood while its still running no fans running, then i turn off the car the passenger side fan starts to run. My heat only seems to work in high rpm's but gets cold when I turn the fan on even the lowest setting. I smell coolant and fumes when I turn the knob to heat and drive the car hard. Coolant system is free of air and I'm still puzzled! Do i need to change the thermostat still based on these tests and findings

If the thermostat was stuck closed the car would run hot. If it was stuck partially open it would run cool. It would warm up while idling then as soon as you move the gauge will drop down to cold. Resulting in no/little heat. Also if you let your car idle to warm up it will actually take quite a while for the fans to kick on.

What I suggest you do is take out the thermostat and test it. See if its stuck open. If its closed drop it in a bucket of really hot water and see if it opens. Does your car reach normal operating temperature while driving? It shuld read about the middle between the c and h. If its reading normal operating temperature and you still get no heat then I suspect either low coolant level or clogged/leaking heater core.