Cooling Fan Issues (lots of info provided)

[Blue-By-U]

Alright guys I'll make this to the point:

My fan is not working and my temp gauge will on occasion get up to the "N" in NORMAL when I'm stuck on busy city roads. I know the fan is supposed to go on ASAP when MAX A/C is selected. I never hear it go on.

When I got home today I turned on my car and let it idle for a few seconds, hit MAX A/C, popped the hood and watched what happened to see if I can diagnose the problem. My fan did not go on and when it tried to go on, a loud buzz came from the center of the fan (motor area) as well as some puffs of smoke.

I think my temp sender is working correctly since the fan tried to go on...so I'm thinking brushes in fan motor shot?

I think my 92 MTX (of course) has 1 fan as opposed to 2 for the ATX so am I better off just replacing the whole unit (motor and shroud)?

Just in case you need to know: my water pump is not leaking nor is it making any noises. My car does not stall.

Thanks in advance guys!
~Alex

 

[yamahaSHO]

Sounds like you have a bad transducer.... yeah your fan motor sounds like it is shot. I personally would try and get ahold of a new motor and just replace it.

 

[HopefulSHO]

I'd just replace the motor (or brushes if you're good with motors) itself, rather than the whole unit. As long as your fan is still in balance it's sortof a waste of loot.
Al Fitz has used fan motors for like $50 I think.

<small>[ June 11, 2003, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: HopefulSHO ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

FWIW, the ECT sensor is not used to turn the fan on when the A/C system is activated.

Different logic within the computer's software.

Time for a new motor once you find it.

Steve

 

[Blue-By-U]

Steve, Jeremy, Jason
You guys are always on top of things in this area...much thanks!

I'll get on the ball and try to locate a motor. How hard is the fan motor to install? I have pretty decent skills when it comes to this...is there anything special I have to do/remove before accessing the fan motor...or is it a straight up job?

~Alex

 

[Slo-Sho]

I got a new fan motor from AZ for $75 w/ a lifetime warranty.

 

[Blue-By-U]

Awesome...good to know AZ carries them....I might go ahead and buy that one for slightly more than what a used one costs.

 

[Markus]

projectSHO89:
FWIW, the ECT sensor is not used to turn the fan on when the A/C system is activated.

Steve

Actually it may be used. With A/C on and the car travelling faster than 45-50 mph, the fan(s) are turned off. If, in the case of my car last year, the engine temp gets high enough the EEC turns on the fan(s). If the cooling system is in good shape (and last year mine was not) this situation should not be encountered.

<small>[ June 11, 2003, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: Markus ]</small>

 

[drdave]

I have tried to get the fan motors for our cars from many different sources for years, and nobody, including AutoZone, has the correct one. I've held close to a dozen motors that were close, but not close enough to use.

The motors are very easy to repair; the hard part is finding the right type of brushes to use.

I wound up sending a sample to a brush mfg. to get it analyzed. Turns out that they have made these before and can supply them to me for $2-$3 per brush. Can't get them quickly enough to help you though.

 

[Blue-By-U]

Hmmm...so if I call Autozone they won't give me the right one?