pologuy

Hey Guys,

I just got home and when I got out of the car the cooling fans were running - I thought nothing of it. I just went into the garage 20 minutes later and both cooling fans are still running! The coolant level is fine...

I started the car and let it run a few minutes to see if something strange was happening. I turned the car off and the fans were still running.

I just checked 15 minutes later and the fans are still running - so I pulled both of the fuses.

Any ideas?!

Thanks as usual

Travis - sflraver

Thermofan switch

Screws into the radiator and has 2 or 3 wires (depending on model) coming out of it. It is on the drivers side.

Replacement part is under $40 I believe.

por1984

mine was the thermal switch just below the upper radiator hose. part is cheap lots of labor to get to it.

Travis - sflraver

There should not be all that much labor to get to it. Just unscrew it and screw in the new one. It helps to have a deep socket to fit the outside of it though.

pologuy

Hey THANKS!

Thats why I love this site....post a question, get an answer 10 minutes later

Travis, can you do a play by play on how to change it for those of us (me) who are mechanically illiterate?

Thanks as always

Travis - sflraver

You can't get any more basic than changing the thermofan switch. Make a note of where the wires go, unplug the old switch, unscrew it with a large end wrench or socket, curse as radiator fluid goes everywhere, screw the new one in, plug in the wires, purge the air out of the cooling system, add a little fluid to it ... and your done.
You may have to remove the coolant hose to get to it. I forget, but its not a big problem.

83na944

Thermofan switch is like $15. If you don't have a large,deep socket, you can jack up the car, unplug the fans, remove the 6 bolts that hole the fan shroud, drop the fan shroud, and remove the old thermofan switch with an adjustable wrench. You may have to move the airbox bracket to access the upperleft shroud bolt and the hose at the top of the radiator to get to the top middle bolt. I always drained the radiator, too, but I understand if you do it quick enough, you don't lose much coolant. Good.Luck.

Rich Sandor

USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luis de Prat

That's good advice, but it's nice to see a real tech thread, albeit a basic one, amidst all the OT for a change.

Travis - sflraver

One day we will just post all OT and any tech threads will just be combated with a hord of "use the search function."

I think it is nice to revisit some old tech stuff every now and then.

Damn Canadians...

pologuy

YEAH - what he said!

GOBOGIE

You can go from the top down. You need to be somewhat double jointed but it's possible! The most time consuming part is removing the airbox assembly. I remember that you have an N/A yes?

ahofam123

Before you replace the switch, make sure that it is actually the problem (90% of the time it is the thermoswitch).
1. unplug the negative terminal to the battery.
2. Unplug the two terminals located at the thermoswitch on the radiator
3. Reconnect the negative battery terminal
4a. if the fans stay on, the problem is your cooling fan relay
4b. if the fans go off, the problem is you switch.

Whether you completely drain the radiator or not, make sure that you clean up after yourself, as less than a tablespoon of coolant can kill the neighbor's cat

Dal Heger

Make sure that you don't overtighten the switch, it may be going into plastic. Some of the newer radiators have metal to thread that new switch into, but the older ones can be plastic. Either way, it doesn't take much to tighten it down.

I did it without draining any coolant, and without losing that much either, just have the new part in your other hand to slap in when you take the original out! I lost maybe a cup of coolant.

Dal.

Jay W

Meow! Oh and I used a pair of adjustable pliers to get my switch out, it wasnt tight.