Guys, my Sweetie gave her 98 to her son to drive. After a few months he parked it saying it was overheating and he thought a head gasket had blown. So after a year of sitting I drag it home and got it running tonite. Well after idling quite a bit the fan never comes on. I jumped it out at the thermostat and it come on and runs fine. The temp gauge picks up the halfway and never moves higher. Even after driving it down the road a bit.....the temp never goes up and the fan never comes on. SO, when I hit the ac button, compressor locks on and the ac fan comes on.....and then clicks off......then clicks on for a few seconds. Also the rad fan NEVER comes on. So, I thought they both should come and stay on as long as the AC is in the operate mode.....what is correct both fans on or should just the ac fan stay on .....thanks...

 

That is normal, the A/C is a separate system from the radiator. They are mounted side by side and don't share airflow, which is different from most other cars.

You may want to replace the thermostat, if it sticks closed there will be intermittent overheating. Make sure the radiator is full(*) and that you get plenty of heat from the heater.

* Any time the cooling system has been drained, there is a procedure to get the air out while refilling.

 

I had a bad AC switch. Sometimes banging on dash while the AC button is "on" will get the AC running. I had the HVAC control replaced and noticed the harness plug was melted a little bit.

 

Fan controller description and operation directly from Mitchell:

 

I believe thats your ac compressor clicking on and off.

 

Thanks guys, Tony 2018, I assume you mean the A/C clutch is pulling in and out, and it is not. The compressor clutch stays locked on when turned on. It s the ac fan that is cycling on and off, and I guess there is a relay right there at the fan connection and it is being told to cycle . I thought the condenser fan should stay on ANYTIME the A/C was turned on , not that is was normal to cycle on and off as mk378 has posted. I will pull the thermostat and ensure the correct temp and functioning stat is indeed installed. And now that I know at what temp the ECT should close, that will be an easy check.
As I was doing the first test drive after the car had been sitting for almost two years a trouble code popped saying cylinder misfire on ALL four cylinders......I cleared it and it has not come back. Thinking that may have been from just sitting so long.....thanks again..