Hi, my 94 Accord has started to run very hot on the temperature gauge when at a stoplight or stuck in traffic. As long as the car is moving, it does fine, it's only when stopped that I have the problem. Sounds like a fan problem, so I check and the condenser fan is not working, but the radiator fan is. The weird thing is, I tried not running the A/C and it still did the same thing at a stoplight. Can a failed condenser fan cause overheating when the A/C is not even running?

 

Whether the AC is on or not, if the coolant temperature reaches ~ 194 degrees at Thermo-switch A and Thermo-switch A is working properly (switch on or near thermostat housing), both radiator and AC condenser fan should turn on.

So, yes, an inoperable A/C condenser fan can cause overheating. Apply direct power to the A/C condenser fan motor to verify that the motor is dead.

Both are cooling fans.

 

Thanks for the reply. I tested the condenser fan, it was bad, so I replaced it. I also replaced the radiator fan while I was at it. Now both fans run when the A/C is on; but neither run when it is off, causing the engine to start overheating. The radiator fan came on before I replaced it, why won't it come on now that I put a new one in? I didn't change anything else.

 

Find fan switch A (located on the thermostat housing – connected to the lower radiator hose). Disconnect the 2P connector to the fan switch A, and jump the connector with a piece of wire or small paper clip, then turn ignition to ON (II); does both fans run?

 

Yes, both fans run with a paper clip in the connector, and don't when i take it out. So I'll order a new switch tomorrow. I still don't understand why it stopped working after I put the new fan in but worked before; unless disconnecting the battery reset something.