Overheating???

[colbydog]

Hi All,

I've been befuddled by a vexxing problem. My electronic cooling fan doesn't turn on to cool the radiator. I've replaced the theromstat and even the fan motor. I can't get the fan to come on to cool the engine. Short of directly wiring a switch into the circuit, anyone heard of this problem? Is there some electronic controller I'm missing that might be faulting? Is it possible the thermostat I purchased is defective???

[jchudyk]

Try turning the air conditioner on...the fan should start with the AC.

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Has your coolant been boiling over? I think the fans with stock settings come on at like 215 degrees or so, from what I remember. I know it's over 200. If you've got a good thermostat in there I'd try a a DIY system flush. You may have some clogging in the radiator, which may or may not come out.

What year is your Reatta? '88-89: what's the temperature reading? Or if '90-91, where abouts is the gauge reading?

What degree is the thermostat rated for?

And, checking with the motor cold, are you certain that the radiator is full of coolant under the cap?

[Guest CL_Reatta]

Which fan is not coming on, or is it both?. Have you tried jumping the relay(s)?

[Guest wally888]

Think there is a relay under the hood!

[Guest CL_Reatta]

Yep, there are three actually, one for the High speed puller, one for the High speed pusher, and one for the Low speed puller all in the relay center behind the windshield washer fluid reservoir. If you jumper them I think I needed to do something different to get the puller to work but can't remember. (its been a while)

[Reatta45]

Any time you have one fan at low speed the other is also at low speed? that is how they got low speed, putting the two fans in series dropping 6 volts on each fan. KennyV.

[harry yarnell]

What do you mean by 'overheating'? F14's right, the fan(s) come on at 213°. If your machine is a '90-91, the correct (normal) gauge reading is 12 o'clock.

[padgett]

OK there is a little confusion here. The 88 only operates one (puller) fan at LO and has a large resistor. 89 and later run both fans at 1/2 speed on LO (wired in series). All run both at HI (wired in parallel).

Turning the a/c on automagically turns on the LO fan.

Both LO and HI can be commanded with the diagnostics.

[rdmarsiii]

Im having the exact same problem. When I bought the car there was already a jumper leading from the top resistor thing to the ac resistor thing. I've replaced all of the ones for the fans (all three) and its still not working. I replaced the fan motor, radiator, and a new thermostat. And my high speed still isn't working. I heard there is a fusable link somewhere, so Im thinking I need to check that next. So im in the same boat =)

oh and the ac fan works, and today I got the low speed on the cooling fan to work.

Thanks