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#26691 - 04/18/07 08:45 PM Fans
Acefighter Offline
Member
Registered: 04/03/07
Posts: 3307
Loc: Texas
Hey, I need some advice. Even since my car went in the ditch a few days ago, I've had a problem with my engine temp going up in city driving. As long as I'm moving, it's fine - when I sit there, it climbs. Pretty fast, too. The ram-air effect helps a lot, and turning the heater on seems to also, or at least it makes it stop climbing. After I drove home today, I let it heat up just a little bit, and checked the fans right there behind the grills. They aren't turning. Obviously, it wasn't all bumper damage.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can fix this myself? Or will it have to be done by a mechanic?
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#26692 - 04/18/07 09:20 PM Re: Fans
RooK Offline
Member
Registered: 03/07/05
Posts: 5158
Loc: Southern KY
First, hook the fans up to a 12v source and see if they work. If they do (I'm betting they will), it's probably a wiring issues. You'll have to follow the wires and hopefully it's just a loose connection. Could be a coolant temp sensor or relay as well, but try the simple things first.
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'13 Mustang 3.7V6 - MT82
'00 GP SE (L67 Swap, XP, Headers, 3.25")
'98 GTP, '01 Bonne
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#26693 - 04/19/07 12:46 AM Re: Fans
Acefighter Offline
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Registered: 04/03/07
Posts: 3307
Loc: Texas
I've had my low coolant light constantly go on and off almost since I got the car. The Service Engine light even came on for a while. I had Autozone check it, and it said either the coolant was low, it had a bad sensor, or it had a bad thermostat. Well, it's got coolant, and I replaced the thermostat today. So, it's obviously got a bad sensor anyway.

Is that something someone with just basic mechanical knowledge could swap? And is it something I can just call me local GM dealer and buy?
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#26694 - 04/19/07 10:58 AM Re: Fans
RooK Offline
Member
Registered: 03/07/05
Posts: 5158
Loc: Southern KY
The coolant level sensor and coolant temp sensor are different. Both are very easy to replace with just a decent ratchet/wrench set or driver set.
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'13 Mustang 3.7V6 - MT82
'00 GP SE (L67 Swap, XP, Headers, 3.25")
'98 GTP, '01 Bonne
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#26695 - 04/19/07 03:30 PM Re: Fans
Acefighter Offline
Member
Registered: 04/03/07
Posts: 3307
Loc: Texas
I can't find anything wrong with it, but I'll have a friend of mine look at it. He knows a little more than I do.
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Speed Kills. Buy a Civic - Save Lives!
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#26696 - 04/20/07 10:50 AM Re: Fans
crf311 Offline
Junior Member
Registered: 04/20/07
Posts: 2
Loc: Louisiana
I'm having the same problem. What I need to know is where is the darn Coolant sensor on a 01 GT with a 3.8L. I have looked all over the top of the engine but can not fing it.
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#26697 - 04/20/07 11:42 AM Re: Fans
RooK Offline
Member
Registered: 03/07/05
Posts: 5158
Loc: Southern KY
Should be on the lower intake manifold next to the thermostat housing. If it's like the L67, it will be on the lower side.
_________________________
'13 Mustang 3.7V6 - MT82
'00 GP SE (L67 Swap, XP, Headers, 3.25")
'98 GTP, '01 Bonne
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#26698 - 04/20/07 12:24 PM Re: Fans
drummerboy1307 Offline
Member
Registered: 04/30/06
Posts: 3201
Loc: Groton, CT
Yep, Rook is spot on.
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#26699 - 04/20/07 01:10 PM Re: Fans
crf311 Offline
Junior Member
Registered: 04/20/07
Posts: 2
Loc: Louisiana
Found it. Thanks, Lookes to be a pain in the a-- to change.
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#26700 - 04/20/07 01:12 PM Re: Fans
drummerboy1307 Offline
Member
Registered: 04/30/06
Posts: 3201
Loc: Groton, CT
Nah, just use an open ended adjustable wrench and crank that sucker out. You'll probably lose coolant so try to swap them out quickly. Also, I would use some type of RTV or thread sealer on the new one when you put it back in if I were you.
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'97 SE with alot of mods
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#26701 - 04/20/07 02:14 PM Re: Fans
Baas140 Offline
Member
Registered: 09/06/06
Posts: 253
Loc: Grand Rapids Michigan
dont mean to jack this thread, but how do you hook the fans up to a 12v source? today i was driving and noticed my temp was quite a bit higher than normal... checked the fans and sure enough, theyre not turning... when do they turn on anyways? my temp never gets above the first big hash, but today it was between the big first hash and the 210... thanks guys
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#26702 - 04/20/07 03:30 PM Re: Fans
RooK Offline
Member
Registered: 03/07/05
Posts: 5158
Loc: Southern KY
They shouldn't kick on until your in the 200s somewhere. 220 seems about right, maybe someone has the specs. Most aftermarket PCMs kick the fans on at like 195 to complement 180 thermostats.

To hook to a 12v source, unplug the fans. Then just jumper two wires from your batter to the fan. Simple as that. Getting to the plug is the hard part, the fans only have a positive and negative. Worst you could do is reverse polarity and spin the fan the opposite direction.
_________________________
'13 Mustang 3.7V6 - MT82
'00 GP SE (L67 Swap, XP, Headers, 3.25")
'98 GTP, '01 Bonne
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#26703 - 04/21/07 12:05 AM Re: Fans
Baas140 Offline
Member
Registered: 09/06/06
Posts: 253
Loc: Grand Rapids Michigan
thanks for the help rook... my temp has never gotten anywhere near that, so im not as worried as i was before... maybe tomorrow ill see if i cant get her a little warm, then check to see if the fans are working... thanks again smile
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#26704 - 04/21/07 02:17 AM Re: Fans
Acefighter Offline
Member
Registered: 04/03/07
Posts: 3307
Loc: Texas
Really, 220? Ok, I need to check them again. When I checked it, I didn't let it get that high (although it was higher than normal when I checked it).

And btw, thanks for asking how to hook them up, I didn't know and forgot to ask. lol
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Si vis pacem para bellum
Speed Kills. Buy a Civic - Save Lives!
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#26705 - 04/21/07 10:58 AM Re: Fans
4drgt Offline
Member
Registered: 01/08/07
Posts: 6026
Loc: Des Moines ,Iowa
rook you dont have to unhook the fans... what i did is i took off the cover for the fuse box and i pulled out the electric fan relay took a short piece of wire and then did it like that it was pretty simple
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