Fan runs all the time
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Fan runs all the time
I have a newly purchased 84 and the electric fan runs the minute you turn the key.
I located the relay and it was not attached to the firewall, but was hanging by the wires. This makes me believe it may have been tampered with.
Any suggestions on how to trouble shoot this, or where to start?
I located the relay and it was not attached to the firewall, but was hanging by the wires. This makes me believe it may have been tampered with.
Any suggestions on how to trouble shoot this, or where to start?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Re: Fan runs all the time (EZ Money)
Mine runs all the time as well. Its not nessecarily a bad thing. Is the problem that you are worried about the relay failing or getting damaged the way it is?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Fan runs all the time (EZ Money)
The fan relay should be attached to the inside of the left wheel well, towards the rear. The next question, as it has been suggested, has someone installed a manual switch you haven't located? Are the wires just plain screwed up, possibly to get around replacing a defective relay? Or are they just wired to run the fan, because someone was too lazy to do proper maintence on the cooling system? A constantly running fan will burn out, or get used up, more than twice as quickly as the properly functioning set up. Good luck, and...
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Aztec NM
Re: Fan runs all the time (CFI-EFI)
Is the check engine light on as well? If there's a problem with the coolant temperature sensor circuit, the computer will turn the fan on all the time to help protect the engine. If there's a problem with that circuit the check engine light should be on. Good luck.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 28
From: Woodbridge NJ
Re: Fan runs all the time (EZ Money)
My 84 fan also runs as soon as the key is turned on.
In my case the fan is wired to run as soon as power is applied. I traced the wires from the fan and located the power source. You may want to do the same. When the weather warms I will setup the fan properly. As mentioned previously, it can't be a good policy to have the fan running constantly.
Good luck
In my case the fan is wired to run as soon as power is applied. I traced the wires from the fan and located the power source. You may want to do the same. When the weather warms I will setup the fan properly. As mentioned previously, it can't be a good policy to have the fan running constantly.
Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Fan runs all the time (1_piece_at_a_time)
If there's a problem with the coolant temperature sensor circuit, the computer will turn the fan on all the time to help protect the engine. Good luck.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,169
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville,TN TN
St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Fan runs all the time (EZ Money)
I bought a used 91 in 2000, and its fan ran all the time, I looked under the dash and found a small toggle switch. The switch controled the fan.. Good luck :flag
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: Fan runs all the time (USAsOnlyWay)
Mine runs all the time as well. Its not nessecarily a bad thing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Brisbane Queensland, Australia
Re: Fan runs all the time (CFI-EFI)
EXCEPT ! There IS no ECM involvement in the fan operation on an '84. When the switch in the head closes at the proper temp, it activates the relay, directly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 0
From: 1,000,000,001 Posts
Re: Fan runs all the time (scorp508)
Mine runs all the time as well. Its not nessecarily a bad thing.
Except for the fact that your fan motor will die early and the car may not get up to temperature as soon as it should.
Except for the fact that your fan motor will die early and the car may not get up to temperature as soon as it should.
I would check under the steering wheel or in that area around there for a toggle switch of some sort......... When I installed my manual fan switch,,, that is there area I put it,,, hidden,,,, I am sure yours has been left on in the on postion... NOT GOOD,,, Them fans are very pricy pc of equipment :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
From: Southeastern Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Fan runs all the time (EZ Money)
We had the same issue on my father-in-laws 84. Tried all the recommended test, it ended up and was the wire coming from the temp switch on the right cylinder head. It had a break in it where it runs through the exhaust manifold shroud and was grounding itself. Good luck... :thumbs:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: Fan runs all the time (Blueyednd)
It had a break in it where it runs through the exhaust manifold shroud and was grounding itself. Good luck... :thumbs:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Re: Fan runs all the time (1990CORVETTE)
Well, I had never really thought about it I geuss... :bb
I wasn't recommending leaving it, just saying it wasn't deathly. But it will be a quicker death for the fan, I agree. I think I am tearing the steering column apart this summer so will check there, but I will probably rewire a lot of things, so will throw that on the list so it doesn't do that. The car gets up to temp in about 2 minutes. I only drive the car about 1000 miles a year so it isn't too bad, but how do you tell if the chip is what is controlling it???
I wasn't recommending leaving it, just saying it wasn't deathly. But it will be a quicker death for the fan, I agree. I think I am tearing the steering column apart this summer so will check there, but I will probably rewire a lot of things, so will throw that on the list so it doesn't do that. The car gets up to temp in about 2 minutes. I only drive the car about 1000 miles a year so it isn't too bad, but how do you tell if the chip is what is controlling it???
