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Old Sep 1, 2022 | 10:29 PM
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Just got a P0480 code out of nowhere after a startup. Temperatures seem fine while driving, rarely goes above 220 unless it's 90+ out. While idling, if it gets above 220 the fans kick on. Any ideas?
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Old Sep 2, 2022 | 09:19 AM
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Sorry to hear you're having issues with your cooling fans...P0480 is your cooling fan #1 and the PCM is looking at the cooling fan 1 circuit highlighted in yellow...if the voltage there is incorrect the DTC will set but the first thing I should ask is do you have a 12 volt test light ??...the next thing I would do is check fuse 49 and then swap relay 45 (cooling fan 1) with say the horn relay...erase the code through the DIC and then see if the DTC comes back...BTW, what exit ???...LOL !!!...when the car is first started with the AC on both cooling fans operate at low speed...cooling fans 1 is energized and so it turns on the left fan and cooling fan relay 3 works and the right cooling fan operates.


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Old Sep 2, 2022 | 09:39 AM
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Thanks for the info! I will check the fuse/relay and see if I notice anything. I already have a note out to my shop near me (Stage1 Auto) and will try to get the car to them next week.

Interestingly enough, I rarely run the AC in my car because the driver side actuator is funky, and yesterday, I was running the AC and after that I started having the issue...Stay tuned!
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Old Sep 2, 2022 | 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Vader_C5
Thanks for the info! I will check the fuse/relay and see if I notice anything. I already have a note out to my shop near me (Stage1 Auto) and will try to get the car to them next week.

Interestingly enough, I rarely run the AC in my car because the driver side actuator is funky, and yesterday, I was running the AC and after that I started having the issue...Stay tuned!
OK, we will let your shop diagnose this issue and I hope they are not just a parts changing shop…let's us know what they find if anything.

Last edited by C5 Diag; Sep 2, 2022 at 10:24 AM.
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Old Sep 2, 2022 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by C5 Diag
OK, we will let your shop diagnose this issue and I hope they are not just a parts changing shop…let's us know what they find if anything.
Thanks, I have used this shop for a few things; they have a pretty solid reputation.
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Old Sep 6, 2022 | 12:41 PM
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The car is going to the shop tomorrow, wish me luck!
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Old Sep 6, 2022 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Vader_C5
The car is going to the shop tomorrow, wish me luck!
Let us know what they find !!
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:15 PM
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Just heard back from the shop, they are thinking it's a fan control module. The part is on order.
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:36 PM
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There is really no such thing as a fan control module, the fans are turned off and on by relay contacts from the PCM.
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by mmartinez
There is really no such thing as a fan control module, the fans are turned off and on by relay contacts from the PCM.
They said they ordered a fan control module from the dealer, so it exists!
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:43 PM
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....

Last edited by Vader_C5; Sep 10, 2022 at 01:47 PM. Reason: wrong link
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Vader_C5
They said they ordered a fan control module from the dealer, so it exists!
Ok, if they "THINK" it's the fan control "module" which the car doesn't have I think they don't have any idea of what they are doing...the circuit is basically fuses, 3 relays, 2 fans and a PCM which controls the fan circuit...I would tell them whatever they change that may not fix it you will "think" about paying them !!...fan controllers are on the C6's.
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:48 PM
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Let's see what happens, when I spoke to the tech who I've worked with a few times, they didn't make it seem like it's a big deal.
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:51 PM
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This controller is for a C6 !!!…how could they diagnose a part that’s not there !!..was the car at a general repair shop ??
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 01:54 PM
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It is possible that I mis-interpreted what they said. This is a shop that only works on domestic performance.
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Vader_C5
It is possible that I mis-interpreted what they said. This is a shop that only works on domestic performance.
Well like I said if whatever they change doesn’t fix it it’s a comeback for them and you shouldn’t be paying for their misdiagnosis.
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Old Sep 10, 2022 | 02:30 PM
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How about just swapping the horn relay with cooling fan #1 relay #45 then clear the code through the DIC and drive the car a few times with the AC on and see if the P0480 returns...you may just have a bad relay.
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Old Sep 11, 2022 | 12:19 PM
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Last year I helped a friend with troubleshooting a P0481 alarm on a 98 mod.
Fans where working fine and the cooling temp was OK but the still the P0481 alarm appeared .
As the schematic shows the PCM is controlling the fans relays by grounding these three relays in sequence .
On low speed the relay 45 is grounded and both fans run on low speed due to the fans are coupled in serial .
When the PCM ground C1:43 the voltage on this PCM input drops fraom 12 volt to 0.1-0.2 volt .
The PCM is (shall) sense this voltagedrop from 12 to 0.1 volt internally .





On my friends car I measured the voltages on the PCM input and the voltages was perfect but still the P0481 alarm appeared :
I figured out that the internal sensing circuit in the PCM was damaged and adviced my friend to get a new PCM in order to get rid of this P0481 alarm .
After he get a "new" which I installed the alarm dissappeared and problem was solved .
I therefore think you may need a need PCM to solve this problem but a closer look to these signals like I did should be carried out first to verify proper operation of these cooling relays on the PCM inputs


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Old Sep 11, 2022 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by oelarse
Last year I helped a friend with troubleshooting a P0481 alarm on a 98 mod.
Fans where working fine and the cooling temp was OK but the still the P0481 alarm appeared .
As the schematic shows the PCM is controlling the fans relays by grounding these three relays in sequence .
On low speed the relay 45 is grounded and both fans run on low speed due to the fans are coupled in serial .
When the PCM ground C1:43 the voltage on this PCM input drops fraom 12 volt to 0.1-0.2 volt .
The PCM is (shall) sense this voltagedrop from 12 to 0.1 volt internally .





On my friends car I measured the voltages on the PCM input and the voltages was perfect but still the P0481 alarm appeared :
I figured out that the internal sensing circuit in the PCM was damaged and adviced my friend to get a new PCM in order to get rid of this P0481 alarm .
After he get a "new" which I installed the alarm dissappeared and problem was solved .
I therefore think you may need a need PCM to solve this problem but a closer look to these signals like I did should be carried out first to verify proper operation of these cooling relays on the PCM inputs

A bad PCM driver !!
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Old Sep 11, 2022 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by C5 Diag
A bad PCM driver !!
Yes , This was my conclution after verifing all PCM ground paths
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