1996 EJ8 cooling fan not switching on, but cooling fan does work
 

i have a 1996 Civic EJ8 coupe with 200,000km. Stock d16y8 motor. My car overheats due to the rad fan not kicking in at all. A/C condensor fan works fine all them time.

I checked the fan fuse good, relay is good, i connected 12v directly to then and the fan works. I don't see why it doesn't switch on when it gets hot then it overheats.

Anybody , any help is greatly appreciated thanks!

Re: 1996 EJ8 cooling fan not switching on, but cooling fan does work (Rayz_Si)
 

I don't have my manual infront of me right now, so im not positive on this, but im assuming the ecu uses the coolant temp to send the power out for the fan. Have you checked for your 12v all the way through the circuit?

Im have the exact opposite problem as you on my 91 hatch, and im yet to resolve the problem, the fan never shuts off.

Re: 1996 EJ8 cooling fan not switching on, but cooling fan does work (Rayz_Si)
 

Possible ect sensor?

Re: 1996 EJ8 cooling fan not switching on, but cooling fan does work (z6hatchboy)
 

lol that's crazy your fan doesn't shutoff haha. I did not check for 12v throughout the system. It just may be a coolant temp sensor. I don't know if it's the same sensor that tells me the temp on my dash but the temp guage works fine.

change the coolant temp switch. One can be had for less than $40 or you can rig a switch to make it work

Re: (dynimitejack)
 

That's what I did -- it costs like less than $10 for everything, switch and wires..

Re: (ke98248)
 

Yes running a switch is a nice idea especially for $10, but knowing myself i'd probably forget to turn it on, then again atleast it's better then nothing.

At $40 it's not that pricey for the coolant temp sensor, but i'd like to make sure that's the faulty part before i change it.

Re: (Rayz_Si)
 

the ect is a good place to start, but also check your thermostat, when the car is at operating temp, grab a hold of the main coolant hose on the top of the radiator.......it should be quite warm and have some pressure, but i would start with the ect first

the thermostat has nothing to do with the fan turning on. Test the fan switch. you will see that it is bad and needs to be replaced.

Re: (dynimitejack)
 

do you have a voltmeter. check the coolant temp switch for continuity with the engine cold(should be open, no continuity) then warm up to op. temp shut off engine and recheck (should be closed,continuity) if the switch doesnt close replace it. GHETTO CHECK: unplug coolant temp switch and with key on jump the two wires on the plug, fan should turn on. if it doesnt your problem is elsewhere.

Re: (nub)
 

Hey Nub since i don't have a voltmeter i'll try that "ghetto check". By the way, is my coolant temp switch located on the thermostat housing?

Re: (Rayz_Si)
 

Im sorry but if you do not know where your fan switch is... you have no right to call anyone a "Nub"

the guys screen name is nub.

check the sensor and switch. still stumped? wire it to a switch or just wire it to power..

Re: (x0!)
 

there's 2 wires on the ECT, tap those wires together while the car is running, see if the fan is on, the fan is supposed to turn on when those 2 wires get voltage

what you can do is

tap those 2 wires, and leave them tapped, so whenever you turn your key to "on" position, it'll turn the fan on