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Cooling fan and coolant problems


tuney
06-08-2005, 10:39 PM
Hi,

I have a '94 V6 3.1L Grand Am.

The cooling fan behind the radiator doesn't come on when the A/C is switched on.
Am I correct in thinking that it should ?
Also, after a 20 min drive, admittedly in 85-90 degree weather, I parked the car up for an hour. On my return there was coolant below the car where it had come out from under the cap on the coolant surge tank.
Bad fan / sensor ? Bad cap ? Just a hot day ? or related to A/C blowing hot air ? :confused:

Any help is greatly apperciated.

Knifeblade
06-09-2005, 12:35 AM
hmmm, the fan is sensor-driven, I do not believe it turns on automatically when the A/C is on. The coolant [you certain it is coolant and not just condensation?] could be bad cap, an overheat condition [could be fan not kicking in, could be just too much coolant in system].

You allude to A/C blowing hot air, does it get cold?

tuney
06-09-2005, 06:30 AM
It was definately coolant, green puddle on the ground below the surge tank and visible signs on the surge tank where it had ran out under the cap.
It could be too much coolant ( a local cowboy 'mechanic' topped it up to overflowing not too long ago ! )
The A/C never gets cold. That was my intial problem.
I was advised in the forum to check to see if the clutch engages on the compressor and if so to try adding some refrigerant.
The clutch does engage and turn freely and I am planning on adding some refrigerant as advised.

kmarsh9809
06-09-2005, 05:52 PM
Does the fan come on when the eng is hot? or does it not work at all in any situation? if fan is not properly cooling radiator then coolant coming
from surge tank would be well expected. to test fan run a jumper wire from battery straight to the fan and see if it runs, there are also relays and fuseable links that may be bad.

tuney
06-10-2005, 11:09 AM
Does anyone know at what temp on the gauge the fan should come on ?
The connectors are tucked away right down the bottom and almost impossible to reach. I was going to take the fan out and test it but it seems that the high end A/C line will be in the way.
Waiting for it to all cool down and then attempting to remove fan. :disappoin

skibum1111
06-10-2005, 06:03 PM
The fan should come on around 220 or so.

danjag1
06-24-2005, 09:26 AM
Did you solve problem? If not, a quick check of the fan is to disconnect the temp sensor (2 wire) located front right, its in a tough spot, you can actually follow the wires as the have a second disconnect that is more accessable to the left of the Ignition module. Purple and yellow wire I believe. With temp sensor disconnected, computer will turn on fan and it will remain on.

phaderus
06-24-2005, 11:35 AM
on my 1999 Grand Am 3.4 litter the fan does not come on until 212 degrees F. The fan should be on if the AC is running. AlldatatDiy has a great check list for diagnossing problems the fan. It also says tht you should be able to start the using a scanner

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