JimRaynor90

hi i have a 97 honda accord lx and my radiator fan and condenser fan turn on when i turn the key to the II switch before starting the car. it didnt do this before, both fan switches werent working so i replaced them including relays and thermometer. is this normal? and isnt the condenser fan suppose to turn on when a/c is on?

holmesnmanny

both fans run at the same time with the exception of when the key is out of the ignition...at that time only the radiator fan runs

JimRaynor90

ok ty i thought there was something wrong just wanted to make sure

jmrec100

Is there an easy way to disconnect the connectors on the fan Coolant switch. I have a 2002 4 cyl Accord that I am trying to test the switch, I can reach it. I can see it but I can't get it to unplug. I have a strange problem with my Honda too. Seems the radiator fan is not coming on. I did the straight wire to the battery test and it did not run. Did same test on the condensor fan (drivers side) It ran. Repeated again on the passenger fan - didn't run. Ah ha. The radiator fan is bad. Been trying to located this fan but all the parts store list a different fan. I have the Masu something brand fan. I went to the yard to get one so I can drive the car this week and was going to order a new one. At the yard, I test mine before buying it and it runs. Maybe good, maybe bad. Tried again at home. Fan runs. I'm trying to test the fan switch but can't get that connector off to probe it. HELP. What is the trick,
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I posted here because I couldn't post my own. Now I can. Sorry. Hope no trouble.

JimRaynor90

well the connector on my 97 honda accord lx is next to the thermostat and i dont know if its the same as the 2002 because its the first honda ive owned. all i did was reach around the connector and pressed on the tab on the side and wiggled it out. if you want to remove the switch, if it is bad, use an adjustable wrench. that's what i used. i went to the junkyard took a few of those to replace my bad switches and now my fans work fine like they should. hope i was helpful to you - jmrec100

jmrec100

Thanks. Once I looked at the switch online, I figured the connector out. It is tucked behind the air intake housing with a bunch of vacuum lines. Just could not see it.

I was able to pull the connector. Simple after figured out how the thing snaps in.
Found my issue. When I turned the AC on and off, the two fans should turn on. They did but the radiator fan sometimes would not start. Jiggle the frame and it ran. Did this a few times. Next pulled the fan connector on the fan itself and probed it for getting voltage when it should be on. Everytime, there was voltage. So conclusion is the fan is no good. One time I tapped the blades itself, and the fan ran. So be ordering a fan motor tomorrow. I went to the yard today to find one. No luck today. All previous year and not the fan mine uses. Thanks again

JimRaynor90

no problem jmrec100 glad i was of some help ^.^ hope your able to fix the fans

jmrec100

UPDATE: I like to tell the result for others after I do fix it. Maybe help others.

Fixed it. A few things about my fan. When I tested my old fan off the car, it did run. When I re-installed it ( I thought problem may have been something else), it wouldn't run. Tapped the fan shroud, it ran. So brushes are bad inside or the motor shaft inside off or whatever. What was happening is that fan stalled on start up. What I know about motors, maybe a capacitor was bad inside, or brushes or whatever. Wouldn't start up. But ran when tapped. It also seemed slow when it ran after I bumped the shroud.

I searched all the parts stores and they all had the 'wrong' fan motor for my Honda. I bought one at Autozone. All parts stores recommended same Part Number PM3777 or some version of it. Basic story is have to know the date of manufacture (mine 3/2002), VIN, and PLACE it was assembled/made. Mine made in the US. Seems in Japan, they used a certain fan assembly. The US market used another. So different fan motors. One has two flats on the motor shaft. The other has one flat. Of course, mine is the one flat so the less expensive motor is NOT mine. Went to the dealer to clarify the problem. He told me about the manufacture place and date and VIN. So I asked a price for JUST the FAN motor. $300 plus. And about a 5 to 7 day wait. No way !!! I was able to price at RockAuto, Napa, and other places for a whole fan assembly for between $90 and $144. Same frame so it fits in. And same Masuma or whatever that Japanese make fan is. But delivery time is 5 days. Couldn't wait because I need the car. Went back to a salvage yard and pulled apart about 10 Honda of different years hoping to get lucky. Found one but my fan rubbed because different inside mounting. Tested it using their battery and it ran. So I also bought the four blade fan with it. Cost: $31 with warranty if it didn't work. Mounted it. Fan runs, stops when it should and starts again. So I am okay with it now. I think it came out of a 97 Honda Accord. Long story short, have it running, a big hassle to get the right part even at a salvage yard. And expensive new part because of the particular fan motor used in my Honda. Lucky me ! I might order a new complete fan assembly and put it in at a later date.