Condenser fan won't spin
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jun 2013
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Condenser fan won't spin
So I just recently purchased a 1999 Honda civic lx with 100k miles. It was low on coolant when I bought it and after I filled it up I noticed I was having issues idling. My car would shake and overheat and act like garbage. So after a lot if heartache I found out its because when my ac is on, my lines build up too much pressure and my consdenser fan isn't spinning so it doesn't work right. I tested the relay and fuse for the fan motor and made sure the ground was hooked right to the body. Then I bought a new motor and installed it and it still isn't spinning. I'm not really sure what to do and would greatly appreciate any advice. Thank you.
Old Fart
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,173
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From: kelowna, bc, canada
Re: Condenser fan won't spin
Pull the condensor fan relay and test for power, [one pin socket should have power, it will be #30 or #87] turn ign. on and test relay socket again, [a 2nd pin socket should have power, it will be #85 or #86] pin locations are on the relay.
If you have both powers all fusing is good, use a paperclip and jump from #30 to #87, does condensor fan turn on, if so, fan and fan circuit is good, either relay is bad or there is no "request", ground on #86/87, [whichever one of the two that does not have power when ign. switch is on.
To confirm, plug relay part way in and supply a ground to that pin, [#85 or #86] if condensor fan turns on, "request" is the problem.
"Request", [ground] comes from the A/C switch, [A/C request] to/through the A/C termostat then to the condensor relay, it splits before the relay and also goes to/through the A/C pressure switch and from there it goes to the ECU/ECM, the ECU/ECM supplies a ground to the A/C compressor relay.
You said, "I found out its because when my ac is on" that indicates the only part of the A/C circuit that is not working is the condensor fan, so either the relay is bad, no power to the relay socket, or there is a break in the request line after it splits.
Let me know what you find.
A temporary fix, is to jump the relay or supply power directly to the condensor fan, it can't hurt to have it run even if A/C is off, that will at least alow you to drive the car with A/C on, untill you can fix the problem. 94
If you have both powers all fusing is good, use a paperclip and jump from #30 to #87, does condensor fan turn on, if so, fan and fan circuit is good, either relay is bad or there is no "request", ground on #86/87, [whichever one of the two that does not have power when ign. switch is on.
To confirm, plug relay part way in and supply a ground to that pin, [#85 or #86] if condensor fan turns on, "request" is the problem.
"Request", [ground] comes from the A/C switch, [A/C request] to/through the A/C termostat then to the condensor relay, it splits before the relay and also goes to/through the A/C pressure switch and from there it goes to the ECU/ECM, the ECU/ECM supplies a ground to the A/C compressor relay.
You said, "I found out its because when my ac is on" that indicates the only part of the A/C circuit that is not working is the condensor fan, so either the relay is bad, no power to the relay socket, or there is a break in the request line after it splits.
Let me know what you find.
A temporary fix, is to jump the relay or supply power directly to the condensor fan, it can't hurt to have it run even if A/C is off, that will at least alow you to drive the car with A/C on, untill you can fix the problem. 94
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