Radiator cooling fan

[ghostrider]

Well, I'm not to sure why, but my cooling fan no longer runs in my 91. I know for a fact that it isn't running because if the car is sitting and I let it warm up, I can't hear it cycle on and off. I also don't see the fan moving at all. The blades move freely so I don't think the electric motor in the fan itself has seized. I will say that this car has some front end damage. Hit a deer about a year ago, and haven't gotten it fixed yet. I can see the wires going to the center of the fan, they look unscathed. No apparent damage to them. I do have a new/used fan. Should I try and intsall that fan? Or should I start looking into different sensors that control the fan? If I should start with the new fan, how indepth is is? Just unbolting the fan and putting the new one in, or taking out the radiator? Any help would be great! Thanks folks.

 

[Xs SHO 1]

check ur wire connections. install is pretty straight forward....

 

[projectSHO89]

How to diagnose the cooling fan circuit: http://www.shoforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=005071

Steve

 

[ghostrider]

Nuts, i totally forgot about using the search. Oops! I have to check that out. Thanks for the link Steve!

 

[sdpatt]

The fan motor usually fails due to worn out brushes. Check the voltage at the fan. If it is getting 12 volts when it is supposed to be running (climate control to AUTO or MAX A/C or the coolant temperature above the "R" - approx.) and the fan is not turning, the motor has failed.

 

[ckinart]

ghostrider,

One other possibility, based on what you've described, is that the clip that affixes the fan itself to the shaft from the fan motor may be damaged/missing. This happened to me about 18 months ago. Although you say you know the fan isn't running because you can't hear it cycling on and off, the majority of the noise heard when the fan comes on is from the blades themselves, not the motor. The motor could be functioning properly, but not turning the blades (it is unlikely that you'll be able to hear the fan motor alone over the sound of the engine running).

Just a thought. Note that when this happened to mine, the fan was turning very slowly when the motor was energized, but you've said yours doesn't spin at all. As mentioned above, try powering the fan directly first, and see if the motor reponds. Then work your way from there.

Oh, and removing the fan is very straight forward. Remove the plastic cover over the top of the rad, a few modules/wires, unbolt the fan and lift straight up (careful not to damage the fins on the rear face of the rad).

Good luck!!

 

[ghostrider]

Well guys I found out that the fan indeed does work, so thats not the problem. When I turn on the defroster the fan kicks on. Fan motor is working fine. So my next step would be what? Since the fan does turn on with the defroster, does that mean my IRCM is good? Or should I still bust out the voltmeter and check it as it says in Steve's post. Or does this point to the ECT? Thanks again for all the help.

Here is the post from Steve again: http://www.shoforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=005071

 

[sdpatt]

ECT I believe.

 

[projectSHO89]

Heh, I guess I should have put "Turn on defroster first and see if the fan works" into the procedure!

Your likely possibilites now are as mentioned: the ECT, the EEC-IV(PCM), and the associated wiring

..Unless you have one of those years with a two-stage fan speed control. The AC/DEF defaults to high speed operation. Under normal warming up mode, it goes through the slower speed first.

Steve

 

[ghostrider]

Alrighty. I do believe I'm going to try and replace the ECT sensor first, since its cheap. Its only 30 bucks or so. I don't know if this a coincidence or not, but maybe 2 weeks ago I replaced my t-stat. Could the splashing of the coolant that leaked out possibly of shorted out the sensor? Who knows?!?! Just speculation here. Thanks for all the help again, and I will let you guys know what I find.

 

[ghostrider]

Got the new ECT. Ford parts network and SHO Nut both listed it at about $30. Got this sensor from Autozone for $17. It's a Wells SU201. It looks like the right part, but haven't actually seen my old yet. I'm searching around the board to see if this is the right part, but haven't found anything yet. I will let you guys know once I get this replaced.

 

[ghostrider]

Well I did finally find that the sensor I got is the right part. Now where exactly is the ECT? I've been told it's to the right of the t-stat. How far right of the t-stat? How much, if any, crap do I need to take apart to get to it? Thanks folks.

 

[projectSHO89]

See this post: http://www.shoforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=005307#000002

Yeah, I have that sitting right under my desk righ now... If I'm not careful, I'll stub my toe on it.

Steve

 

[ghostrider]

Awesome!!! Thanks a bunch Steve! As the age old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Hopefully this will take care of my problem.