pcarfan944

I'm at work right now, and it's a good thing I went out to my car to grab my sunglasses because I discovered that after 3 hours my fan was still runing. I started the car up and let it idle for a few minutes to charge the battery back up and then I disconnected the negative battery cable so the fan would shut off. What am I looking at? Temperature sensor? Fan relay? I noticed yesterday the fan ran for an extended period of time, about 20 minutes, but did shut off. Today was not the case.

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Pat
86 944

tifosiman

Sounds like the fan switch on the radiator has went kaput. Do a search for Clarks Garage, there is a good section there on determining if it is the switch, and replacement.

Judson951

You can also just pull your relay untill you get it fixed. That is what I did.

ibkevin

Mine craqpped last week. Replaced the fan switch after a continuity check showed the switch failed closed. Then when the fan did come on, both would run. Fixed that with a new relay. Luckly all this happened on a Sat.

Pulling the relay is good to get you back home.

bloodraven

yeah, its an 11 dollar part....and not difficult to put in..

fastman

Happened to me last summer. Was the relay.

pcarfan944

I found the thermofan switch replacement instructions but it didn't mention how to test it.
http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/cool-05.htm

I pulled up relays on pelican parts. There is the "Multi-Purpose Relay" - for Fan, A/C Blower, Defroster, Fog Lamps, Horn, Starter, Rear Window Defroster, Fresh Air Blower which is $10 dollars, and there is another one that just says "fan relay" for $132.00 !!!

Which one would be the thermofan relay that i'm looking for?

randyvitaha

Speaking of fans, just how are these supposed to operate on a normally aspirated, 1986 944? Should both run and should one or the other continue to run after engine shutdown? What is the proper operation for these?

Scootin159

mine did the same thing...in my case it was the $15 switch. In the mean time I found just pulling the fuse the simplest 'patch'. You can run without the fan fine, but if you get stuck in traffic, expect to pull over & put it back in. Also keep an eye on your temp gauge.

StoogeMoe

it can be either the thermoswitch in the radiator or the fan relay. Use the trouble shooting procedures at clark's garage to diagnose. The fan relay is expensive so make sure that is the problem before buying a new one.
____________________________________
1986 944 NA - Guards Red - 80k miles
1984 911 Carrera Coupe - Guards Red (gone, but not forgotten)
"If you're not living on the edge, you're not living"

RMills944

I had the thermoswitch on the radiator go out on my 944 and it did exactly what you're saying yours does.

will951

That happened with my 1st 944. Thermostat was the issue. In the mean time....just pull the fuse....easier and it won't reset all your radio's presets!

Mighty Shilling

That fan relay, the ungodly expensive one is correct... sounds like a Relay to me, ask Porsche-O-Phile... he had something similar during my spring break....

testarossa_td

I had the same problem it was the switch that goes into the radiator, I replaced it with one that came on sooner(Zims)...pulling the relay will, kill it. Just remember it is hot out there and that drive home may be fatal to your engine.

Mighty Shilling

Damn, that first one is making me want to have a siezure...