Honda Car Forum

Hello group! I have a 98 civic lx and today the car started to overheat due
to the engine fan not being activated at the right time. I replaced the fan
motor switch relay and checked the fan motor switch fuse and still the fan
works only when it feels like it. Any ideas? please help!

In article <0zWnb.9886$X22.6409@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink. net>,
"Lautaro Alvarez" <lialvarez@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Hello group! I have a 98 civic lx and today the car started to overheat due
> to the engine fan not being activated at the right time. I replaced the fan
> motor switch relay and checked the fan motor switch fuse and still the fan
> works only when it feels like it. Any ideas? please help!

I could only guess that one of the wires connecting the fan is shorting
out. Shorts are hard to locate since the wire is flowing with electricity
almost every time you test it or someone else tests it. It could be that
one of the wires inside the fan is shorting out. A new fan may solve the
problem but if the short involves one of the wires connecting the fan--a
new fan will not solve the problem.

Hi,
Fan is controlled by a temp. sensor. Wouldn't it be logical to test that
sensor first? Bypass the relay and see if the fan runs OK.
Tony

Bill B. Johnson wrote:

> In article <0zWnb.9886$X22.6409@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink. net>,
> "Lautaro Alvarez" <lialvarez@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
>>Hello group! I have a 98 civic lx and today the car started to overheat due
>>to the engine fan not being activated at the right time. I replaced the fan
>>motor switch relay and checked the fan motor switch fuse and still the fan
>>works only when it feels like it. Any ideas? please help!
>
>
> I could only guess that one of the wires connecting the fan is shorting
> out. Shorts are hard to locate since the wire is flowing with electricity
> almost every time you test it or someone else tests it. It could be that
> one of the wires inside the fan is shorting out. A new fan may solve the
> problem but if the short involves one of the wires connecting the fan--a
> new fan will not solve the problem.

Thanks Tony! I disconected the temp sensor and bypassed it and the fan works
ok. I went to the dealer and bought a new one and they call it "fan switch"
and now it works alright. That was the problem. The only thing was that
little part cost me $50 dollars and I had to buy a special tool to remove it
wich was $11 dollars. This part is right next to the thermostat in case
anybody needs to know.


"Tony Hwang" <dragon40@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:1FYnb.218720$pl3.69286@pd7tw3no...
> Hi,
> Fan is controlled by a temp. sensor. Wouldn't it be logical to test that
> sensor first? Bypass the relay and see if the fan runs OK.
> Tony
>
> Bill B. Johnson wrote:
>
> > In article <0zWnb.9886$X22.6409@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink. net>,
> > "Lautaro Alvarez" <lialvarez@earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Hello group! I have a 98 civic lx and today the car started to overheat
due
> >>to the engine fan not being activated at the right time. I replaced the
fan
> >>motor switch relay and checked the fan motor switch fuse and still the
fan
> >>works only when it feels like it. Any ideas? please help!
> >
> >
> > I could only guess that one of the wires connecting the fan is shorting
> > out. Shorts are hard to locate since the wire is flowing with
electricity
> > almost every time you test it or someone else tests it. It could be that
> > one of the wires inside the fan is shorting out. A new fan may solve the
> > problem but if the short involves one of the wires connecting the fan--a
> > new fan will not solve the problem.
>

Lautaro Alvarez wrote:
>
> Thanks Tony! I disconected the temp sensor and bypassed it and the fan
> works ok. I went to the dealer and bought a new one and they call it "fan
> switch" and now it works alright. That was the problem. The only thing was
> that little part cost me $50 dollars and I had to buy a special tool to
> remove it wich was $11 dollars. This part is right next to the thermostat
> in case anybody needs to know.

The fan switch is about $26 + s&h from http://tinyurl.com/t28e. I realize
it's a little late now but perhaps you can use them in the future to save a
few $.

Eric