Shorted something- now fan runs all the time

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 10, 2003 | 11:08 AM

85superram

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 231

Likes: 0

From: Chattanooga TN

Shorted something- now fan runs all the time

Well the previous owner had a toggle switch wired to a ground in the car that would allow the fan to cut on with the computer or by activating it. Well I hooked my NOS arming switch to that one also and used it as the ground, well I accidently shorted something and now the fans run all the time when the ignition is on...I cant figure out what happened.... I unhooked the wires to the switch and the fan still runs....Should I just not worry about it and let it run all the time??? Any ideas on what happened???

Feb 10, 2003 | 11:24 AM

scorp508

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 83,384

Likes: 88

From: Boston, MA

Ideas....

1) The fan is being grounded somewhere you can't see.
2) Your car is stuck in diagnostic mode.
3) Your chip fried or came loose.

Feb 10, 2003 | 12:19 PM

jfb

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 54,124

Likes: 30

From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

Re: Shorted something- now fan runs all the time (85superram)

The switch for the fan went to the green wire on the fan relay and then to ground. Grounding the green wire completes the circuit for the coil on the fan relay and it closes. Your NOS arming switch is probably connected to the green wire part of the fan switch instead of the ground wire of the fan switch and the NOS circuit draws enough current to close the fan relay. Remove the NOS wire and maybe your fan will stop. To stop the fan, find where the green wire on the fan relay is going to ground.

Feb 10, 2003 | 01:12 PM

85superram

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 231

Likes: 0

From: Chattanooga TN

Re: Shorted something- now fan runs all the time (jfb)

I unhooked the switch from the green wire and it still runs all the time...Could I have fried the relay causing it to be active????????

Feb 10, 2003 | 01:16 PM

scorp508

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 83,384

Likes: 88

From: Boston, MA

Quote:

Could I have fried the relay causing it to be active????????

Well... maybe, but I doubt it. The relay I believe is located on the back side of the driver side wheel well sort of under the brake master cylinder.

Feb 10, 2003 | 02:30 PM

bad-zr1

Racer

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 372

Likes: 1

From: Corunna Mi

Re: (scorp508)

The switch that the previous owner wired in was to provide a ground to the fan relay. The ECM provides this ground also to turn on the fan when needed. Somewhere between the relay and the switch the wire has grounded out and is turning on the fan. Turn the key on but do not start the car, your fan will come on and then just start traceing the wire and wiggling it till you either get back to the relay or the fans quit. You have found your ground and problem.

If you grounded this wire for "arming" this ground will turn on the fan.....

:steering:

[Modified by bad-zr1, 2:31 PM 2/10/2003]

[Modified by bad-zr1, 2:33 PM 2/10/2003]

Feb 10, 2003 | 03:06 PM

Ramanstud

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 3,193

Likes: 1

From: Cincinnati Oh

Re: (bad-zr1)

my fan was acting up and not coming on at all.... (replaced the sending unit, etc... still sporadic), so I grounded the damn thing and leave it on 24-7. It actually keeps it in a better range, 197-205 degrees with the oil temp about 5 degrees hotter. Maybe your problem isn't such a bad thing?

:smash:

Feb 10, 2003 | 04:36 PM

flyersfan1088

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 2,167

Likes: 0

From: What did the 5 fingers say to the face? SLAP!!

Re: Shorted something- now fan runs all the time (85superram)

Does the fan run with the key off? If so you fried the relay. It's mounted near the firewall on the passenger side. If I remember right it sits right on top of the blower motor.