Saturn-SL2 -
radiator fan not turning on
howard (64.12.117.68) - Sat May 10 20:34:58 2008
My 1999 SL2 electric radiator fan does not go on.It only goes on when A/C fan is running?At times the engine is running warm in the middle of the temp gauge.Overflow tank has run over a few times. I've done the follwing so far: Replaced fan relay Replaced thermostat Replaced Coolant temp sending unit Acid flushed the cooling system Help!!!!!
Reply #1 gabe (32.156.117.114) - Wed Jul 9 04:15:27 2008
Hey Bro the only thing left is PCM.
Reply #2 Ryan Lee (76.252.188.88) - Wed Jul 23 22:09:49 2008
I'm having the same problem, did you ever get it figured out?
Reply #3 Kirk (64.95.214.18) - Tue Jul 29 13:33:47 2008
Ditto. The only time my fan turns on is if the air conditioner is running. I was hoping that there was a relay that I could replace, but I'm not sure if there are two different relays that control the fan motor (ac on vs. ac off). It will get very hot if the ac is not turned on.
Reply #4 Joel (98.200.130.46) - Tue Jul 29 19:39:54 2008
according to the manual for my '98, there is only one relay - it's actually a pretty simple system - two of the four legs of the relay are hot at all times, one leg goes to the hot lead of the fan motor, the other leg of the relay is driven by the PCM.the only other real connection is the ground for the fan itself, and then the fuse for the fan as well. The PCM takes into account the water temp and the AC state and turns on the fan whenever it decides it's ok to do so. If I don't run the A/C, the gauge will get up to the middle before trying to kick it on. Some people think that's normal, I think they're nuts. :) If my description doesn't make sense to you, you can pull up the wiring diagram for the 98 saturn on autozone's website, look under 'chassis electrical' for 'wiring diagrams', then look for 'figure 6'. Or, if that still doesn't work out, try your local library, most of them in my area have Mitchell's repair manuals in the reference section, you can copy the diagram for whichever systems you need from that. But it really is time to break out a volt/ohm meter and start looking for an electrical fault.
Reply #5 tony (76.240.201.214) - Mon Aug 25 18:38:52 2008
Ok I have a 95 with the same problem. I believe that it is the fan motor that is bad. if you have AC and turn it on the fan runs but no AC it does not. If you bang the fan with a screw driver when its up to temp if it starts to run its the motor. If it were not working due to a relay... it would not work on the AC either. could be the thermostat as well as the fan is not suppose to run until the engine gets to a certain temperature.Going to replace my fan motor and see what happens.
Reply #6 Cynthia (75.130.210.171) - Tue Sep 2 14:27:05 2008
I have a 98 Saturn sl2. When I turn on the A/C the blower doesn't work. Is this a fuse, relay or something more significant? The A/C is good, just no Fan.PLEASE HELP!
Reply #7 Ron Harwood (75.173.204.56) - Sat Sep 27 12:01:57 2008
Here's the link. This website won't allow me to use words that are longer than 24 letters, so splice these 4 words together in your browser:http://www.autozone.com/ shopping/repairGuide. htm?pageId= 0900c1528017e705
Reply #8 matt (12.76.129.120) - Sun Sep 28 19:53:55 2008
i have a 1999 saturn sl2 it was having the same problem with the fan and the a/c buttion could be pushed in but the a/c pump itself was not kicking in. the a/c coolant prevents the a/c from kicking on when either the pressure is to high or too low in the system all i had to do was recharge my a/c and it fixed the problem. hopefully this works for you guys and gals if not e-mail me i have a couple other ideas that it might be. hope everything works out ok for all of you. good luck.
Reply #9 Miles (66.162.85.162) - Mon Oct 13 08:13:57 2008
matt's advice is sage. I've been working with the cooling problem off and on for a couple of years on a 96 SC1 caused byy a bad AC system. The fan is linked to the AC and the AC must be functioning properly at the PCM for it to trigger the fan. A discharged AC will cause the fan not to work. My suggested test procerdure is this:Check the fuse first. Disconnect the leads to the fan and wire it directly to the battery with two lenghts of wire and aligator clips. If it works it's not the fan. Replace the $8 relay. (Keep the old one.) Start the car and turn on the AC. Does it cool really really well? If not charge the system. If these things don't work there is either a problem with the wiring or the PCM. Obviously a couple of these can be switched around. Right now I'm dealing with a scorching hot relay on the fan. Everything else works fine but the relays are burning out fairly frequently and the fuse is not saving them. Any ideas?
Reply #10 Dave (66.60.188.4) - Tue Nov 25 14:52:18 2008
My 98 Saturn SW's radiator fan doesn't work and the idiot lights for temp. and radiator flash any time the car is started.This happens even when it's cold. The AC fan works but no cold air comes out. I'd appreciate any advise!!! THANKS!
Reply #11 chelsea26 (222.127.111.234) - Tue Nov 25 20:04:30 2008
does the radiator hot when the fans are off? I think you get an Infra Red thermometer and check the temp, that will tell you if there's really a problem.
Reply #12 Jon (24.247.82.32) - Sun Jan 4 20:37:18 2009
there are 2 temp sensors in these cars. one goes directly to the dash gauge. The other is connected to the pcm. The one that goes to the pcm is defective and does not read properly. Because it does not read right the pcm doesnt tell the fan to kick on until the motor has already over heated. the replacement is a seperate thermastate that has a sensor that goes directly on the radiator. Once it is wired in it will tell the fan to turn on at what ever temp you set it to
Reply #13 Joel M. (76.242.66.223) - Sat Apr 18 14:50:27 2009
ive had this problem too, but before i did any of that i checked my altenator. sure enough it was bad and the battery wasn't getting enough charge, so the fan would only turn on when the air conditioning was on. i've replaced the altenator on my 95 sl2 4 times, with a brand new one each time. i've learned to look at that thing first when there is a problem i cant figure out. i suggest autozone, free replacements.
Reply #14 danny (75.45.27.137) - Sat Apr 18 20:32:13 2009
there is no flow in my cooling system, thus the fan isnt engageing causing it to over heat and my engine light turns on shortly after i start it. I have a 1995 saturn sedan wagon , why isn't i it flowing, also I removed the thermostat for free flow and still nothing
Reply #15 nannette (173.67.255.242) - Thu Jun 4 22:31:23 2009
my 2000 station wagon needs the fan replaced...help...I'm riding around with the heater full blast, overheating, and it's June 2009.
Reply #16 Hailer (68.198.38.221) - Mon Aug 10 20:29:48 2009
All that needs to be change is the cooling fan switch.
Reply #17 Michelle (75.120.243.197) - Sun Aug 30 10:52:27 2009
I am having the same problem with my 2000 Saturn wagon. I have to ride around with the heater going full blast or it will run hot. Did you say all that needs to be changed is the cooling fan switch? Do you know where the switch is located? Is it hard to replace? I need to do this myself if possible.
Reply #18 Michelle (75.120.243.197) - Sun Aug 30 11:00:52 2009
The parts house says my 2000 saturn wagon does not have a cooling fan switch. What do I replace instead to stop it from overheating and having to ride with the heater going full blast? Thanks.
Reply #19 moomar (71.7.248.50) - Thu Sep 10 12:13:37 2009
same problem rad fan won't come on I've replace fuse BOTH sensors and still doesNOT work help I have a 95 both my machenic and I can not figure it out help PLEASE
Reply #20 moomar (71.7.248.50) - Thu Sep 10 12:15:21 2009
question what is P C M ?? and where do I find it to replace it and has anyone actually fixed this problem
Reply #21 Matt (207.63.16.46) - Tue Sep 15 11:37:16 2009
PCM stands for Powertrain Control Module.
Reply #22 eduardo (63.203.22.171) - Wed Sep 16 17:48:24 2009
I have the same problem with my 95 Saturn SL2. When I'm stuck in traffic or the engine is iddling the coolant temp goes way up and the fan doesn't turn on unless I turn on the AC. I haven't seem a straight answer to this problem from reading all the replies here. Where is the PCM and how much does it cost to replace? Jon, is that "separate thermastate" a modification to the cooling system or is that how the car is actually wired and how do you ask for this sensor at the parts store?
Reply #23 Saturn Restore (75.175.232.220) - Fri Sep 25 01:00:19 2009
The PCM is located under the dash on the drivers side which you can access from lanying on your back, and turning a phillips screw 90 degrees allowing the PCM to drop from its holster mount which are two plactic pins it will need to be slotted back into when you replace the PCM. Its an expensive piece so make sure you have checked everything else first, you cannot return electrical items once installed. If you place an analyzer in the ALDL(Assembly Line Diagnostic Link) located under the drivers dash pointing at you, (black item) The fan should turn on. If the fan does not turn on at this point, you have either a bad fan, or wiring problem. place two alligator clips onto the fans connectors after unplugging its wiring and connect the other two ends to the battery posts. If the fan does not come on it's the fan, if it does come on you may have a wiring issue, but some other circuit not closing may keep it from kicking on. This all goes to the PCM which has Quad A and Quad B. The cooling fan is on the same side as the speedometer, knock sensor and EGR solonoid. If you now suspect a wiring issue, you need to start testing continuity with an OHM meter. I would do all that before replacing the PCM. You may replace the PCM and still have nothing and the seatbelt module located under the center console may have gotten wet from a spilled drink, short out and be the cause of it all. Does your automatic seatbelts still operate corectly? To check your wiring, you need to do it in short lengths, from the fan tot he next plug, from that plug to the next one, from that plug to the PCM.
Reply #24 Saturn Restore (75.175.232.220) - Fri Sep 25 01:19:27 2009
If you have no water flow, replace the water pump. You have frozen up over winter, broken off the pumps wings and thus are getting no water movement. You can replace the water pump after removing the drive belt. Thourougly clean all gasket mating surfaces and replace the single rubber gasket. Apply a small amount of gasket sealant at the outer edges of the bolt holes to hold the gasket in place when replacing it into the engine block. DO NOT get gasket material inside the gasket, it will get into the system and raize havoc on the engine. The pump only goes in one way so make sure you understand how it is oriented before you go to set it back in, there isnt alot of room for hands. Install the pump assembly with the small bump located next to one of the attaching bolts in the eleven oclock position. Install and tighten the bolts in a criss cross sequence with a quarter inch 10mm socket and do not over tigetn. Break one bolt, remove the entire engine to dig it out. You need all those bolts or you leak so be gentle when tightening the bolts to 22 ft lbs. Thats not alot, just snug them up a little a time until it feels tight. hard to get a torque wrench into the area so I just guess, I always use a quarter inch socket set on all engine bolts to make sure I dont break them, and you can still break them off, so be gentle, be patient. tighten them snug, 1/4 turn more is a good guess. Starting at the top left eleven oclock postion is 1, 3, 6, 2, 4, 5 is the sequence for the 6 bolts. so each is 180 degrees from the next to be tightened.1-2, 3-4, 5-6. fill up the radiator reserve, look for leaks, finding none, replace the belt if bad, or place the old one back on, use the tensioner with a wrench to get the belt over the last pulley, always start at the bottom and work your way up. check for leaks again, start the engine, keep watching for leaks, and run back and forth checking the temp gauge for overheating with NO heater fan running. You should now have flow, if you dont, you're engine or raditor has a blockage. look at the radiator first, take it out and have it acid cleaned by a radiator shop. If you still dont have flow, you shouldnt have let the mice get into your engine, they have died and are stuck in there.LOL Leaving the engine wide open allows little things to get in so always duct tape openings to the engine if you are going to walk away from it for any reason, for any length. If a mouse is looking for water, the anti-freeze will kill it quickly and you will never know it.
Reply #25 Saturn Restore (75.175.232.220) - Fri Sep 25 01:32:06 2009
In Michelle's 2000 wagon, you are replacing sensors, not a switch. There is two fo these on the older models and only one on the newer ones, they are on the rear(right side) of the engine and have a cap which inplugs from it by simply sqeezing and pulling, like a child proof aspirin cap, squeeze the cap where it has grooves on both sides and tug on it, should come off fairly easy, get a wrench or deep socket to remove it, make sure you get the exact sensor to replace it. Now a mouse cant get in that hole. make sure you use some plumbers tape(plastic) wrapped twice around the threads and tighten until it is nice and snug. again, be gentle, do not break the new sensor. if that does nothing you may need a relay locate in the fuse block near the drivers side fender. for now, just swap on of the others with this one, they are all the same, but make sure the one you swap is the same. If that clears the problem, replace it with a new one, put the old on back where you stole it from. You can rob Peter and pay Paul, just dont tell Mary she might be upset. If you still have no radiator fan, you either have a PCM or wiring problem. Check all wiring continuity first before replacing a spendy PCM. You can do this Michelle, I have faith in you that any girl can do this. be careful to get the wiring plug back on the new sensor all the way, it will click so work in the quiet. If you insist on having the Beattles blasting, just say Hey Jude. No one will know if it clicks, if you dont get it on correctly it wont work right anyhows. Saturns are easy cars to work on, you have to have patience and be gentle. Tiny hands work well in small spaces. write me directly if you cant make it happen, bctassel@yahoo.com
Reply #26 roque gonzales (76.255.120.208) - Sun Oct 4 00:42:04 2009
look gays the thin that i did to my saturn sl2 is that i installed 2 electric fans at the front of the vehicle with two diferent switches separed and i have a very good cooling system i hope you do the same don be stupids thanks.
Reply #27 lyn (98.64.102.173) - Fri Oct 16 16:32:06 2009
code 32 came on in my 1994 saturn sl2. changed the egr valve the code went off. but still have this odor of gas?? or fumes?? what should i do next.
| |
