If I leave the engine running for about 10 minutes, the temperature gauge starts oscillating between medium and max at a pretty fast rate. I've never seen this happening so I wonder if it's normal. The radiator fan (on the passanger side, which is brand new) doesn't kick in until the ignition is off. Once I turn the engine on again, the fan stops running. I think I had this problem with the old fan as well. I've tried running the engine with the A/C on and neither of the fans spin. The condenser fan seems to turn on randomly. I don't know what triggers it or how to control it.

 

sounds like you have a bad radiator fan switch and air bubbles in the cooling systems that would explain the gauge acting the way you are describing if im not mistaking isnt there a sensor on the radiator that controlls the fans my 93 does

 

UPDATE: Checked the coolant and it was a bit low. Filled it up, bled it and gave it a run. 25-30 minutes this time. The fans DO come on, both of them together just somewhat later than I expected. If I rev up the engine a few times, some smoke starts to come out from behind the engine. I had some oil leaks a while back and I'm not sure if it's old oil burning or if it's new oil leaking somewhere else. Could there be any other causes for that smoke? The temperature gauge seemed to stay in the lower half now. I still can't turn on the fans by turning the A/C on.

 

Does the AC acutally work......meaning the AC compressor "kicks" on but the fans do not come on?

About post #8 in this....then use the diagram by poorman above: https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/questions-regarding-radiator-fans-2989671/

Be sure that smoke from behind the engine isn't coolant leaking....the coolant was low....so where did it go?

 

I had similar issue with my 91 ex, turned out to be the heater to valve hose that comes off the block.


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There is a small U shaped hose in the back of the engine that is most likely your issue if you're seeing smoke. Ive seen this hose be a problem a few times, run it till it starts to overheat then check all the hose connections. Run a cloth around the edges and check for wet spots, also check the hoses and underneath them as well. Look for any pooled coolant on engine/frame parts. A lot of the times on older cars the hoses just go bad and its a simple fix. My 92 had a similar issue with overheating, it turned out to be the returning radiator hose(the bottom one).