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Testing for the engine fan system

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Old Oct 25, 2021 | 05:36 PM
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Default Testing for the engine fan system

1988 coupe

I'm making another attempt at doing some testing prior to hardwiring a switch to the engine fan.

The wiring and various parts, as I understand them, consists of the following:

A sensor attached to the engine block by cylinder 8.

A single wire routing from the sensor into the cabin and into the ECM.

I am only aware of one wire leading into the ECM - and that is in pin/plug C1. I need to verify the color.

a green/white wire then leads from the ECM to the cooling fan relay. I'm not certain if that is the wire from C1, but will do a continuity test.

If I recall correctly, the last time I measured pin F, it was slightly higher than at 0Vdc. Something like 0.3Vdc.

Today I am going to try and check the wire leading from the sensor to the ECM. I'll also take out the sensor and make sure it has a good connection to the engine block





Info from 65Z01:

The aux fan switch near #1 spark plug only controls the booster fan via the aux fan relay on the left top of the radiator shroud. This sensor does NOT control the main coolant fan, only the ECM controls the main coolant fan.

The main coolant fan relay is located on the rear of the left fender well, below the master cylinder. Wires to this relay are:
-at pin F a Grn/Wht wire from ECM pin C1,
-at pin E a large Red wire from Fusable Link D,
-at pin D a Dk Blu wire from the C. Fan Fuse,
-at pin A a Blk/Red wire to the Coolant Fan Motor.

Once you have the main coolant fan relay wired up properly simply jumper ALDL pins A&B (upper right), turn on the ignition and the main coolant fan should come on.
If not, verify that pin F is at 0Vdc.
If not, ring out the Grn/Wht wire to the ECM.
If so, verify that +12Vdc is present on the Red wire at pin E.
If not, trace power through the Fusable link and the connector.
If so, verify that +12Vdc is present on the Dk Blu wire with ignition On.
If not, check the C. Fan Fuse.
If so, verify that +12Vdc is present on the Blk/Red wire at pin A with the ALDL jumper in place and ignition On.
If not, replace the relay.
If so, pull the relay and jump +12Vdc to the Blk/Red wire pin to see if the main coolant fan comes on.
If not, repeat the jumper at the fan.
If so, trace the Blk/Red wire for an open.
If still not, replace the fan.



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Old Oct 25, 2021 | 05:44 PM
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(I have no idea on how this affects or doesn't affect your proposed cooling fan switch mod, I'm just correcting the part about what those sensors do and where they are located)

1988 coupe

I'm making another attempt at doing some testing prior to hardwiring a switch to the engine fan.

The wiring and various parts, as I understand them, consists of the following:

A sensor attached to the engine block by cylinder 8. (Nope, that's for the dash gauge cluster temperature display reading. The Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) which feeds information to the ECM is in the front of the intake manifold underneath the throttle body area.)

A single wire routing from the sensor into the cabin and into the ECM. (The CTS above is a two-wire connector back into the main harness to the ECM; I haven't looked at the schematic but one of those may be a ground wire and the other is signal to ECM. Either way, that CTS has two wires from it.)

I am only aware of one wire leading into the ECM - and that is in pin/plug C1. I need to verify the color.

a green/white wire then leads from the ECM to the cooling fan relay. I'm not certain if that is the wire from C1, but will do a continuity test.

If I recall correctly, the last time I measured pin F, it was slightly higher than at 0Vdc. Something like 0.3Vdc.

Today I am going to try and check the wire leading from the sensor to the ECM. I'll also take out the sensor and make sure it has a good connection to the engine block

Last edited by ajp01; Oct 25, 2021 at 05:52 PM. Reason: quote fix
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Old Oct 25, 2021 | 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by ajp01
(I have no idea on how this affects or doesn't affect your proposed cooling fan switch mod, I'm just correcting the part about what those sensors do and where they are located)

1988 coupe

I'm making another attempt at doing some testing prior to hardwiring a switch to the engine fan.

The wiring and various parts, as I understand them, consists of the following:

A sensor attached to the engine block by cylinder 8. (Nope, that's for the dash gauge cluster temperature display reading. The Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) which feeds information to the ECM is in the front of the intake manifold underneath the throttle body area.)

A single wire routing from the sensor into the cabin and into the ECM. (The CTS above is a two-wire connector back into the main harness to the ECM; I haven't looked at the schematic but one of those may be a ground wire and the other is signal to ECM. Either way, that CTS has two wires from it.)

I am only aware of one wire leading into the ECM - and that is in pin/plug C1. I need to verify the color.

a green/white wire then leads from the ECM to the cooling fan relay. I'm not certain if that is the wire from C1, but will do a continuity test.

If I recall correctly, the last time I measured pin F, it was slightly higher than at 0Vdc. Something like 0.3Vdc.

Today I am going to try and check the wire leading from the sensor to the ECM. I'll also take out the sensor and make sure it has a good connection to the engine block
Great info. Makes sense. I’ll have a look at the correct sensor this time.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 09:11 AM
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ECM from CTS is C10 'YELLOW' Cir 410

In an older post you mention ECM issues and posted snapshot with some issues.

Assuming you don't have the AUX FAN why wouldn't you consider using a Temp Sensor Control in left cylinder head between 1 & 3? Add to that if you like the 'manual control switch'! There are various switches for open/close temp control.

If you've issues with CTS & ECM you've likely more critical issues to be concerned with other than FAN control.


What/how does the information by '65Z01' relate at all? If you've the FSM all info you need is there. 6E3-A-1 through 7 for ECM info.

Last edited by WVZR-1; Oct 26, 2021 at 09:26 AM.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by WVZR-1
ECM from CTS is C10 'YELLOW' Cir 410

In an older post you mention ECM issues and posted snapshot with some issues.

Assuming you don't have the AUX FAN why wouldn't you consider using a Temp Sensor Control in left cylinder head between 1 & 3? Add to that if you like the 'manual control switch'! There are various switches for open/close temp control.

If you've issues with CTS & ECM you've likely more critical issues to be concerned with other than FAN control.
Thanks for the info! I got in and saw the YELLOW wire heading out of the CTS with a BLACK ground. I do have the AUX FAN, but completely see your point. At the moment I don't know enough about the car to know what other issues may be coming from the current CTS & ECM. I'll replace the CTS and pigtail today and see if that moves us any closer to the goal.

Thanks again - comments like this are gold for those of us new to the car.
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Old Oct 26, 2021 | 09:46 AM
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You need to spend more time in the 6E3-A section of the FSM. It would be very interesting to maybe search 'locally' for some one with an appropriate scanner to confirm your issues. Having the ECM issues mentioned in other post a scan would be maybe a 'tell-all'!

Where are you located?
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Old Oct 27, 2021 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by WVZR-1
You need to spend more time in the 6E3-A section of the FSM. It would be very interesting to maybe search 'locally' for some one with an appropriate scanner to confirm your issues. Having the ECM issues mentioned in other post a scan would be maybe a 'tell-all'!

Where are you located?
I am in Denver. Getting a referral to someone with the scanner and experience would be ideal right now. Please let me know if you have any contacts!!
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Old Oct 27, 2021 | 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Dad-O
I am in Denver. Getting a referral to someone with the scanner and experience would be ideal right now. Please let me know if you have any contacts!!
I've a couple Tech1 but not anywhere near Denver.

Post in this section mention looking for Tech1 or Tech1a OR similar scanner in your area to buy rent or 'HIRE'!!

Someone might mention a shop or maybe offer use of!!

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...in-prairie-46/

I'll have one available for sale likely soon but not right now!

Last edited by WVZR-1; Oct 27, 2021 at 09:49 AM.
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