Picked up an 89 EF...need some help!
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Honda-Tech Member
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Picked up an 89 EF...need some help!
Wassup guys, picked up an 1989 Honda EF last weekend and have a few questions to ask. This is my first Honda so I dont know much about them. Figure I'll post in one thread since I have a few problems.
Radiator fan is not coming on
Temp and gas gauge does not react/work
Thanks in advance.
Radiator fan is not coming on
Temp and gas gauge does not react/work
Thanks in advance.
Keyboard Humorist
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,814
Likes: 11
From: Granada Hills, Ca, USA
Re: Picked up an 89 EF...need some help!
Radiator fan:
1) Check fuses.
2) Test the fan. Unplug it and hook it directly to the battery. If it spins, then it's good. If not, then it's bad and you need to replace it.
3) On the firewall side of the engine there is a two prong connector near the oil filter. This is a thermo switch. When the water temp gets high enough, then the switch closes. One wire goes directly to ground and the other wire goes to the fan relay. Disconnect the plug and connect the two wires together with a short piece of spare wire, paperclip, ect. Turn the ignition to "ON" (no need to start the car). The fan should be on and running. If it DOES come on, then your thermo switch is bad and you need to replace it.
4) If the fan does not come on, then use a meter and probe both wires from the thermo switch connector and make sure one of them provides connection to ground. If neither of them give you a ground then repair the ground wire - it attaches at the thermostat housing.
5) If one of them does give you ground, then troubleshoot the fan relay by the battery.
1) Check fuses.
2) Test the fan. Unplug it and hook it directly to the battery. If it spins, then it's good. If not, then it's bad and you need to replace it.
3) On the firewall side of the engine there is a two prong connector near the oil filter. This is a thermo switch. When the water temp gets high enough, then the switch closes. One wire goes directly to ground and the other wire goes to the fan relay. Disconnect the plug and connect the two wires together with a short piece of spare wire, paperclip, ect. Turn the ignition to "ON" (no need to start the car). The fan should be on and running. If it DOES come on, then your thermo switch is bad and you need to replace it.
4) If the fan does not come on, then use a meter and probe both wires from the thermo switch connector and make sure one of them provides connection to ground. If neither of them give you a ground then repair the ground wire - it attaches at the thermostat housing.
5) If one of them does give you ground, then troubleshoot the fan relay by the battery.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 499
Likes: 1
From: California
Re: Picked up an 89 EF...need some help!
Radiator fan:
1) Check fuses.
2) Test the fan. Unplug it and hook it directly to the battery. If it spins, then it's good. If not, then it's bad and you need to replace it.
3) On the firewall side of the engine there is a two prong connector near the oil filter. This is a thermo switch. When the water temp gets high enough, then the switch closes. One wire goes directly to ground and the other wire goes to the fan relay. Disconnect the plug and connect the two wires together with a short piece of spare wire, paperclip, ect. Turn the ignition to "ON" (no need to start the car). The fan should be on and running. If it DOES come on, then your thermo switch is bad and you need to replace it.
4) If the fan does not come on, then use a meter and probe both wires from the thermo switch connector and make sure one of them provides connection to ground. If neither of them give you a ground then repair the ground wire - it attaches at the thermostat housing.
5) If one of them does give you ground, then troubleshoot the fan relay by the battery.
1) Check fuses.
2) Test the fan. Unplug it and hook it directly to the battery. If it spins, then it's good. If not, then it's bad and you need to replace it.
3) On the firewall side of the engine there is a two prong connector near the oil filter. This is a thermo switch. When the water temp gets high enough, then the switch closes. One wire goes directly to ground and the other wire goes to the fan relay. Disconnect the plug and connect the two wires together with a short piece of spare wire, paperclip, ect. Turn the ignition to "ON" (no need to start the car). The fan should be on and running. If it DOES come on, then your thermo switch is bad and you need to replace it.
4) If the fan does not come on, then use a meter and probe both wires from the thermo switch connector and make sure one of them provides connection to ground. If neither of them give you a ground then repair the ground wire - it attaches at the thermostat housing.
5) If one of them does give you ground, then troubleshoot the fan relay by the battery.
And for your temp and gas gauge, does your tach work? if it does, you might have to get a different cluster.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Re: Picked up an 89 EF...need some help!
Radiator fan:
1) Check fuses.
2) Test the fan. Unplug it and hook it directly to the battery. If it spins, then it's good. If not, then it's bad and you need to replace it.
3) On the firewall side of the engine there is a two prong connector near the oil filter. This is a thermo switch. When the water temp gets high enough, then the switch closes. One wire goes directly to ground and the other wire goes to the fan relay. Disconnect the plug and connect the two wires together with a short piece of spare wire, paperclip, ect. Turn the ignition to "ON" (no need to start the car). The fan should be on and running. If it DOES come on, then your thermo switch is bad and you need to replace it.
4) If the fan does not come on, then use a meter and probe both wires from the thermo switch connector and make sure one of them provides connection to ground. If neither of them give you a ground then repair the ground wire - it attaches at the thermostat housing.
5) If one of them does give you ground, then troubleshoot the fan relay by the battery.
1) Check fuses.
2) Test the fan. Unplug it and hook it directly to the battery. If it spins, then it's good. If not, then it's bad and you need to replace it.
3) On the firewall side of the engine there is a two prong connector near the oil filter. This is a thermo switch. When the water temp gets high enough, then the switch closes. One wire goes directly to ground and the other wire goes to the fan relay. Disconnect the plug and connect the two wires together with a short piece of spare wire, paperclip, ect. Turn the ignition to "ON" (no need to start the car). The fan should be on and running. If it DOES come on, then your thermo switch is bad and you need to replace it.
4) If the fan does not come on, then use a meter and probe both wires from the thermo switch connector and make sure one of them provides connection to ground. If neither of them give you a ground then repair the ground wire - it attaches at the thermostat housing.
5) If one of them does give you ground, then troubleshoot the fan relay by the battery.
Keyboard Humorist
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,814
Likes: 11
From: Granada Hills, Ca, USA
Re: Picked up an 89 EF...need some help!
No, it means that the thermo switch is bad.
When you bypassed the switch the fan worked. Just like if you removed a light switch in your house and connected the wires together - the light comes on.
By the way, do understand that the fan only comes on when the engine is hot. You said the fan isn't coming on, but since your temp and gas gauge aren't working how do you know if the engine is getting hot enough for the fan to need to work?
When you bypassed the switch the fan worked. Just like if you removed a light switch in your house and connected the wires together - the light comes on.
By the way, do understand that the fan only comes on when the engine is hot. You said the fan isn't coming on, but since your temp and gas gauge aren't working how do you know if the engine is getting hot enough for the fan to need to work?
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Re: Picked up an 89 EF...need some help!
The thermo switch and temp gauge switch are both bad. The only time I expieriences is with a d15b2 that had overheated and n lown headgasket. The high temp kills tje sensors. Sp aftrr gizn u may alrwady nees a head gasket or valve seal replacement make sure and chevk for burnng oil/water blue/white smoke exhaust. Sorey drunk at clube forbgrammer
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