96 LX. The car overheats at a standstill and the fan never comes on. As SOON as the car is turned off, the fan turns on. I can jump the plug that goes into the upper hose outlet on the head and the fan will turn on but the plug at the thermostat doesn't trigger the fan. I'm wanting to guess that the plug on the outlet is bad, but I'm not sure...

 

yeah thats the fan switch. it goes bad after a while. i change them every 60,000 miles

 

That's a simple fix then... I bought a new radiator and thermostat too just for good measure since they're the factory ones and have 192k on them.

 

not a bad idea to replace old stuff before it breaks. yes its a simple fix...the fan switch

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that if I turn the A/C on, both fans still come on. Does that make a difference?

 

no. you still need to replace the radiator fan switch

 

agree with rick, but you can do that if you notice that the temps are climbing... just a band aid

 

Fan still doesn't turn on with the car running. Any other ideas?

 

The fan relays? I believe that there might be 2 fan relays. One to operate both fans with a/c running and the other relay to run just the cooling fan by itself. It's easy to test the relay to see if it's sending power to the cooling fan.

swap the relays around and see if that works

it's worth a try

good luck

mike

 

I switched them around and I still have the same thing. Both fans come on with A/C, neither comes automatically while the car is running. I can put a paper clip in the clip plug that goes into the switch that screws into the upper hose outlet on the head and the fan comes on no matter if the car is running, on or off.

 

Dears, I have same problem with my 92, EXI F20ZI Honda Accord, Cooling Fan not coming on while apparent Temp is getting high while Heat indicator showing in normal band, till both fans start, Main issue is that coolant level in both reservors tank & radiator drops in short drivings and I have to refill in short sequences,
I changed Termostate, Fan switch but problem still is there,
Appreciate tech. remedy comments, is it possible that coolent may leak or evaporate unveasibily somehow inside the engine?
Thanks
Saeid

 

You may have air bubbles in your coolant. Try bleeding the cooling system.

 

If you have to add then you have a leak or its burning it (headgasket)

 

The fan switch is located downstream of the thermostat. If the thermostat doesn't open the fan switch won't get soaked in hot coolant. This will prevent the fan switch from signaling the fans to come on. Bad idea on Honda's part. Did you replace the thermostat and properly bleed the cooling system?

To the second person who posted a question, I agree with external leak or internal leak.

 

Dears,
Many thanks for posted comments, I also swapped thermostat but not solved the issue , on bubbling and bleeding the coolant, while I see that coolant flow in the top of Radiator is seemingly boiling as well after driving a while bubbles in the reservoir tank is quite visible is that sign of bubling? I guess that bubbles created by overheat temp. appreciate & asking for more elaboration and how to proceed bleeding to remove & prevent bubbling?
Thanks to the good valued Master comments posted by respected Technician i.e. " The more you know the less you act" it's true but with unsettled issue overthere and several perceptions on the causes coming to cross would be inevitable.
the last point I wonder to know that if the issue relates to burnt head gasket to my old knowledge such case would cause unrest and none smooth idle run of the engine is that right?
Best regards, and highly appreciate valued comments.
Parsapour

 

Hi dear Tech. members,
any idea or comments on how to proceed bleeding?
Thanks for yr. helps.
Parsapour.

 

hi i have a 98 civic ex w/ a b18a1 swop (back to obd1) i too am having a a problem w/ the coolent fan coming on i have done all the bleeding and what not, im also having idling problem might b b/c i have no FITV (74mm t/b didnt have it) and the car seems to b running real lean if anyone could help me out that would b cool

thanks sean

 

i had a 1990 honda accord lx that did that to me too. i overheated it i thought it was my fault. after that first overheat my reservoir would bubble after a drive. all i did was replace my rad cap and it stopped. also before i replaced the cap the temp would be just a tad (tad) bit higher then before i overheated it. but after changing the rad cap temps went back to normal and no more bubbles in reservoir

 

I have a 99 cl 2.3 and have the same problems. Radiator fan will only turn on when the engine is running and the needle is in between the normal and hot mark. I changed all the sensor and the thermostat, and the gauge, radiator was flushed, i notice that the radiator was changed when i went to buy a new radiator cap, the new cap will not fit, and the old one has pressure of 13 lbs. and when i turn the engine off the fan turns on for 3 to 5 minutes......NEED HELP