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Cooling Fans do not turn off

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by 4carbs, Jun 28, 2009.

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  1. 4carbs

    4carbs Karting

    May 4, 2006
    59
    Toronto, Canada
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    Peter
    #1 4carbs, Jun 28, 2009
    I have an 88 TR that is new to me, and have a quick question for everyone. It appears the fans will stay off until the engine warms up, and then will come on to start cooling, however they don't ever seem to turn off at that point. I have tried driving it in cooler evenings, and still the same results. Once they go on, they don't seem to want to turn off like I get on my 308.

    Is this normal for a Testarossa? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Mr.Chairman

    Mr.Chairman F1 Rookie

    Mar 21, 2008
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    Robbie
    #2 Mr.Chairman, Jun 28, 2009
    I have a 90 Testarossa. Fan engage at 195 degrees then they run for a while and turn off.. What temp are the fans coming on? What is the outside temp? What was your oil temp? Oil cooling fans should kick on around 210 and those fans do not turn off until you turn engine off. It really does take alot to get your oil temp up to 210. I was out this weekend in hot and humid weather and still oil temp was just shy of 210 after hour + of driving. When the cooling fan come on you should see the coolant gauge needle move back to the previous hash line (or at least close to it) then the fans turn off they re-run at the 195 hash again. Thats usually the cycle.

    Robbie
     
  3. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 Steve Magnusson, Jun 28, 2009
    Unless the ambient temp is really high (like it is now in TX), I have the same behavior that Robbie reports -- the water fans kick on at about 195 deg F on the gauge, and, even at stationary idle, the temp will decrease until they go off at about 175 deg F on the gauge.

    You said "they don't ever seem to turn off", but have you confirmed that both water fans are actually coming on? And are you sure the system is full and well-bled?
     
  4. 4carbs

    4carbs Karting

    May 4, 2006
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    Peter
    #4 4carbs, Jun 28, 2009
    Thanks for the input guys. I went out and checked the coolant fill tank and it is 3/4's full. I just filled it right up. Hopefully that helps solve the problem.
     
  5. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
    26,840
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
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    Steve Magnusson
    #5 Steve Magnusson, Jun 28, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2009
    Not necessarily a good thing. You should have 6 cm of empty space to the top of the filler neck when cold -- see the figure in your OM (and the level in the expansion tank has little to do with the system being correctly bled, but confirm/deny if both fans are working or not before resorting to anything more heroic -- very common to have one water fan not working -- and the system still quasi-works).
     
  6. Philwozza

    Philwozza Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2009
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    Phil Worrall
    #6 Philwozza, Jun 29, 2009
    Check that wiring changes have NOT been made in the fuse / relay box. It sounds to me that changes may have been made and made wrong such that when the fan turns on the supply is made to keep the relays energised.

    Just a thought and easy to check.

    P
     
  7. 4carbs

    4carbs Karting

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    Peter
    #7 4carbs, Jun 30, 2009
    Phil, how would I check this?
     
  8. Philwozza

    Philwozza Formula 3

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    Phil Worrall
    #8 Philwozza, Jun 30, 2009
  9. Mr.Chairman

    Mr.Chairman F1 Rookie

    Mar 21, 2008
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    Robbie
    #9 Mr.Chairman, Jun 30, 2009
    First I would check if both fans are working.. then I would proceed to trouble shooting in the fuse block..

    R
     
  10. 4carbs

    4carbs Karting

    May 4, 2006
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    Toronto, Canada
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    Peter
    #10 4carbs, Jun 30, 2009
    Yes, both fans are working. I took a look at the fuseblock, and it doesn't seem to have been played around with, however I pushed the fan relays in and there was a little bit of room for them to seat properly in. I then ran the car, and the fans seemed to cycle on an off for about 2 cycles, and then seem to simply stay on again.

    I think I need to dig deeper into the fuseblock.

    Thanks for all the help guys.
     
  11. uzz32soarer

    uzz32soarer F1 Rookie

    Sep 9, 2006
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    Robert Hayden
    #11 uzz32soarer, Jul 1, 2009
    Two options here.

    The temperature switch for the fans is on the USA drivers side at the base of the radiator. If the left side fans is not working, then that radiator won't get cool enough hence the fans will stay on. If the left side fan is definately working, then you probably have a crook temp switch in the base of the LHS radiator triggering them to stay on.
     
  12. 4carbs

    4carbs Karting

    May 4, 2006
    59
    Toronto, Canada
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    Peter
    #12 4carbs, Jul 1, 2009
    Well I have checked the fuse/relay box, and everything seems to be fine, and nobody has tampered with the wiring. I have also bled my system and didn't have much air in there. I think my next step will be to replace the temp switch and see if that helps.

    Thanks again to everyone for your help.
     

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