crazycivichatch

Hey guys I need help here. 96 Civic EX that gets hot while idling and A/C is off. The radiator fan is not coming on and starts to overheat when idling. But if I put the A/C on the condenser and radiator fans would come on. Shouldn't the radiator fan come on regardless of the A/C? Please someone help me cuz I just sold the car and the buyer is having this problem and they live out of state. I can no longer diagnose it so I need to know what to tell them to look into.
Thanks

0618turbocivic

not sure about it not coming on, maybe the sensor because it automatic turns on when gets to hot, but you could get a switch mount it somewhere,so you can turn on the fan whenever you want....i put a switch in my car so i have my fan on when i want it...

civicstar

you can turn the switch on with the key by going to that sensor near the thermostat and taking a wire and jumping it. when you turn your ignition on, ur fan will turn on at the same time. the problem is it just takes alittle longer for your car to warm up but you know your fan turns on alteast

crazycivichatch

Thanks for the replies...
To: 0618turbocivic, I dont want to tell the girl to rig up a switch cuz she wants the car to work as it does from the factory.
To: civicstar, So you are saying that sensor/switch to jump near the thermostat is what controls the radiator fan? Is it possible that the wire is off or the sensor is bad??? I need to give her an answer soon cuz she is thinking I sold her a car with a bad motor.
Need help ASAP Thanks

civicstar

on alot of hondas, that sensor becomes bad. its basically a temperature sensor, once it heats up, it will tell the fan to turn on. if you jump it with a wire, the direct current that runs through the wire will always have the fan running if the ignition is on

civicstar

how to make the fan turn on while the ignition is on

1. there is a sensor near the thermostat housing

the picture shows the location of the plug, i already unplugged it

2. Take a wire and jump it from one end to end.




Tape it up to make sure the wire doesn't come loose

crazycivichatch

civicstar yur awesome for doing that how-to.
car is fixed, turned out to be that sensor near the thermostat. thanks for the help.

quick question: would an engine harness for a 96-98 dx 5spd OR automatic be the same? i have a short in my dx 5 spd hatch that has been a bug for 2 years, wanna fix it right. i found one for an automatic and not sure if its the same. thanks

civicstar

the wiring harness for the auto and 5spd are different because of sensors on the tranny. It just has an extra plug to the ecu for the automatic tranny. if i remember correctly u can still use that harness. just leave the extra plugs to the tranny unplugged. i cant remeber if the reverse on the tranny will still plug up but it should work.

Just make sure the IACV wire plug is the same number of pins. I think for the DX its a 3 pin Plug