Cooling fans not working. Replaced sensor, relays, thermostat and radiator fan.

Replaced thermostat , sensor, relays, radiator fan motor still overheats. What's next to diagnose?

My car has 110000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello there, many different faults will cause the fans on your 1995 Chevrolet Camaro to not turn on. You have replaced many of the common failure points, but there are a few other potential causes. The most likely is the fans themselves, a wiring harness fault, coolant temperature sensor, or a ECM.

With so many parts replace your cooling fans need diagnosed before any more repairs are made. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose the cooling fan fault and make any repairs required.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

The most common reasons for a radiator fan not working can be a blown-out fuse, a bad relay, or a broken wire. The faulty coolant temp sensor might also be a reason behind it. Whatever the case, a dysfunctional radiator fan can be fatal.
Faulty temperature sensor

On most modern cars, the cooling fan is controlled by the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which gets a signal from the coolant temperature sensor. If it`s not working, the fan won`t turn on when it needs to, which means the engine might overheat.

If the relay fails, it will be unable to supply power to the fans, and as a result they will not operate. This can lead to overheating, especially when the vehicle is at a stop, where there is no forward motion by the vehicle to pass air over the radiator.
The engine-ECU <M/T> or engine-A/T-ECU <A/T> controls the fan controller to activate the radiator fan motor and the condenser fan motor.
A malfunctioning coolant temperature sensor may send an incorrect “cold” signal to the ECU, tricking it into believing the engine isn`t hot yet. The ECU will then adjust the fuel injection, ignition timing, and variable valve timing, further raising the engine`s temperature and causing it to overheat.
COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAULTY: SYMPTOMS

Higher idle speed. Increased fuel consumption. Poor starting behaviour.

This can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat, or a failing coolant fan switch. As you may know the coolant fan switch helps to maintain the proper coolant temperature by turning on and off at specific temperature thresholds.
When a radiator problem is causing your engine to overheat, one of the first things you should check is the radiator fan and all of the fan parts. If your fan isn`t working correctly due to a broken fan blade or unstable connection, this can prevent the radiator from reducing the coolant temperature adequately.
Your car temperature going up but not overheating can be caused by a damaged radiator, low-quality or insufficient coolant, a damaged radiator cap, a faulty radiator fan, or simply a damaged thermostat.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Cooling fan continue to run. Replaced cooling fan switch and temperature switch, replace relays 1999 Honda
ANSWER : Hi there – yes, some Honda models (Accord) have a cooling fan control module, and some models have a timer for the cooling fan. This feature would allow the cooling fan to continue to run for a brief period after the engine is shut off to bring engine temperature down. Since you don’t mention which model Honda you have, it’s hard to speculate which components you have, and where they are located. I would suggest a cooling system inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

Cooling fans not working. Replaced sensor, relays, thermostat and radiator fan.
ANSWER : Hello there, many different faults will cause the fans on your 1995 Chevrolet Camaro to not turn on. You have replaced many of the common failure points, but there are a few other potential causes. The most likely is the fans themselves, a wiring harness fault, coolant temperature sensor, or a ECM.

With so many parts replace your cooling fans need diagnosed before any more repairs are made. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose the cooling fan fault and make any repairs required.

My 2003 honda civic EX 1.7L is overheating. I replace the thermostat, replace the cooling fan temperature switch, remove the radia
ANSWER : It is likely your engine has a blown head-gasket, worn out water pump or somehow has a huge air bubble inside the engine that needs to be bled. The drop in engine temperature while on the freeway is actually a good sign – it indicates your radiator is getting good coolant flow, and the radiator is doing its job, transferring heat out of the engines cooling system. A YourMechanic certified technician can come to your location to perform a Car is overheating Inspection on your vehicle and help you diagnose and repair this issue.

Cooling fans is not working. Replaced the temperature sensor and the fan is still not working. Disconnect the sensor harness and the fans works.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be an issue with the electrical wiring to the fans from that connect to the coolant temperature sensor. Check the wiring for any loose connections or any corrosion that could keep the sensor from making a connection to the fans.

For the engine stalling only when hot, there could be an issue with the coil packs getting too hot. Check the condition of the coil packs and see if the harness is plugged in correctly. Make sure that the coil packs are mounted away from any additional heat source. If the coil is getting too hot, then the windings are expanding causing a break in the current making the coil stop generating a voltage making the engine stop running. When the coil cools down, the windings colaps and cause them to create the voltage needed to make a spark. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your stalling issue.

Question about thermostat replacement and radiator cooling fan switch replacement
ANSWER : Hi there. Anytime the coolant system is worked on, a professional mechanic should verify the service steps with the manufacturer’s service guide. This will help them determine the right steps to complete the coolant bleeding – if it’s mandated by the individual manufacturer. It’s also a standard operating procedure for a mechanic to drain the coolant anytime replacing coolant system components; such as thermostat or coolant lines.

The radiator cooling fan relay is not one of those items that generally requires the fluid to be fully drained, but some mechanics will flush the radiator as a preventive maintenance service.

If you need to have further help having this checked, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to pinpoint any faults in the system.

Fan not working. Replaced. Replaced relays. Coolant is leaking now?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. This may be a result of a short in the cooling fan wiring. I would suggest checking this to be sure there is proper connectivity and that the power to the fans is supplied properly. The coolant overflowing may be a result of both the fans not working and the thermostat sticking or needing to be replaced. I would suggest first checking the connectivity of the wires to the fan as mentioned above. If this does not solve your problem, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.

replaced cooling fan switch, relay, thermostat fan still won’t come on even with AC running
ANSWER : It sounds like you’ve taken all the right steps, so I understand if you are frustrated. If you look in the fusebox again, you might find a fusible link that powers the fan if you haven’t already checked that. Most late model cars activate the fan via the ECU which activates the relay, so you are at a point where diagnosis may require a scan tool that has the ability to do activation. You can have that checked right there on the spot by contacting Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office to check out your cooling fan and let you know what it will take to solve your problem.

When replacing my fan clutch should I change my cooling fan to a flex-a-light and get a new flex-a-light clutch?
ANSWER : Hi there. It is best to always put on the OEM parts that are required for the vehicle. However, you can get a flex-a-light clutch fan for your vehicle as long as it will bolt up to your water pump pulley and clear the radiator and shroud. I recommend having a clutch design fan for your vehicle and not a fan that spins with the engine all the time. Those fans will cause the engine to overheat on highways and in town especially in hot weather. If you need further assistance with your cooling fan, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.