Overheating - quick questions
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 40
From: South Georgia
Overheating - quick questions
Car started to overheat on my way to work. Analog gauge went ape**** and pegged to the top. Digital read 225 and climbing. Fans never, never kicked on. Got it home immediately.
Check engine light also kicked on. Can the OBDII on a 1996 read a bad relay?
Will a code scanner from Autozone etc... be able to tell you the precise code?
And, where in the name of all that is Holy are the relays? There are three on the Drivers' side of the radiator. Two are gray and one is black. Which ones are the correct relays?
I bought a Chiltons manual. No big deal until this morning, but now it is. Damn thing does not show you where much is. Remove this and check with ohmmeter Well, where the hell is part A to begin with?
Check engine light also kicked on. Can the OBDII on a 1996 read a bad relay?
Will a code scanner from Autozone etc... be able to tell you the precise code?
And, where in the name of all that is Holy are the relays? There are three on the Drivers' side of the radiator. Two are gray and one is black. Which ones are the correct relays?
I bought a Chiltons manual. No big deal until this morning, but now it is. Damn thing does not show you where much is. Remove this and check with ohmmeter Well, where the hell is part A to begin with?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Code readers cannot indicate a defective fan relay. Use the Chiltons manual to level any wobbly tables you have, thats all it is good for. Buy the GM service manual, it tells you and has a picture of parts locations, descriptions of how circuits work, diagnosis procedures, wire colors, connection numbers and ground wire locations. The fan should come on at 228 F and the fan relay can be force on by grounding the grn/wh wire (color wire on my 87, probably the same on your 96). You should also unplug the fan motor and jump 12v to the motor wires, the fan motor is a dc motor and has brushes that don't last forever.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth VA
The relays on your 96 are different from my 91 by the sounds of it. On mine, the two fan relays are black and attached to the driver's side of the radiator shroud. I can easily follow the output wires from the relays to the fans. The relays are approximately 3" x 1" in size.
It seems odd that BOTH relays crapped out at the same time.
It seems odd that BOTH relays crapped out at the same time.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 40
From: South Georgia
I am able to get the fans on by turning on the AC - then both fans kicked on. Seems weird that neither fan would kick on, and that the analog gauge would peg out.
I just turned it on, analog gauge read fine and the fans kicked on (with the AC on only). So, it would seem that it is the low speed fan relay.
There are three relays on the side, two gray and one black. Which one is the low speed fan relay?
Where do I order the service manual? This is not going to happen again.
Thanks for the replies. Mucho appreciated.
I just turned it on, analog gauge read fine and the fans kicked on (with the AC on only). So, it would seem that it is the low speed fan relay.
There are three relays on the side, two gray and one black. Which one is the low speed fan relay?
Where do I order the service manual? This is not going to happen again.
Thanks for the replies. Mucho appreciated.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I am able to get the fans on by turning on the AC - then both fans kicked on. Seems weird that neither fan would kick on, and that the analog gauge would peg out.
I just turned it on, analog gauge read fine and the fans kicked on (with the AC on only). So, it would seem that it is the low speed fan relay.
There are three relays on the side, two gray and one black. Which one is the low speed fan relay?
Where do I order the service manual? This is not going to happen again.
Thanks for the replies. Mucho appreciated.
I just turned it on, analog gauge read fine and the fans kicked on (with the AC on only). So, it would seem that it is the low speed fan relay.
There are three relays on the side, two gray and one black. Which one is the low speed fan relay?
Where do I order the service manual? This is not going to happen again.
Thanks for the replies. Mucho appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
What he said. Find the fan control sensor (jfb's green/white wire) ground the connector, fans should come on. If they do your sensor is bad. If I recall the circuit correctly, the PCM supplies ground to the relays when the AC is on. Since the fans do come on when yr turn on the AC this would suggest your relays are good.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Your analog gauge may be defective. The primary fan is programmed to come on at about 228* and the secondary at around 236* (both come on immediately with the a/c on). Without the a/c running your digital at 225* and no fans is normal.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 40
From: South Georgia
Fan Relays
It was the low speed fan relay. Got a replacement from Chevy yesterday, replaced the relay and voila. Drove it until it got warm, pulled into the driveway and the primary fan was spinning just fine. Got it a little warmer (not hard to do in South Texas) and the high speed fan kicked on. All this with the ac off. Which sucks when it is 99 degrees outside.
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