When are radiator fans supposed to kick in?

I noticed after driving my 308GT4 for about 15 minutes with the water temp around 195, and the car at idle that only the passanger side fan was operating. Is that the one for the a/c?

when is the other one supposed to kick in? and is it not supposed to work at idle? I would think that's when it's really needed.
any procedure out there to check that it's operating correctly. I'm also wondering if this might be related either to my cooling problem (probably) or to my a/c problem (probably not, but possibly).

 

I have a downloaded copy of a NA 75 gt4 owners manual. don't see anything about which and when the fans should be operating.
I've got one working, what about the other.
if it's supposed to be on at some set temp (and I can't image it would be higher than 195, is it supposed to shut off at idle (after car is running for 15 minutes). If not (and I'm assuming not); what should I be looking for? busted or shorted temp control switch (I think it's under the radiator on the right side.
Is there a diagnostic proceedure to check the proper operation of the left fan?

 

for the unexperienced; what is shorting the wires together? won't that blow a fuse or cause some other damage?

once I get your assurance that I won't do some untold damage to my car (already had several cases of what in medical parlance is called iatragenic problems) I'll give it a shot, (that is after I return from cancun on sunday) regards.

 

I think this time you would lose the bet.
The fuse for the radiator is appears to be normal.

moreover, the other fuses on the same panel (right one, I believe) all appear to be normal.

the fuse boxes don't show any evidence of being burned and there is no smell.

most importantly, and I think what is definitive, no other system tied to the fuse box is inoperative. doesn't that mean the fuse box is ok?

can one lead to a fuse blow without affecting the other fuses or circuits it protects.

next point; how do you get to the temp relay, is it possible without putting the car on a lift? it doesn't seem reachable through the top with the front lid open, and I don't seem to be able to get a hand on it from under the car, at least when it's on the ground.

 

took the car for a spin. what I have is at idle with water temp allittle past mid point, at idle, the right side fan is on, with or without the a/c. left side far doesn't come on. (can only test it at idle, but it seems to me that if the temp is over 195 if both fans should be on they should be on even at idle power).
It does not appear as if I can get to the temp switch without putting the car on the lift, so I'll have to wait till I get to the shop to further this.

 

I don't see any place to solder the fuse box. looks to me that all I need to do is pull out all the connectors and attach them to the new fuse box. not so?


Update: I've been giving attention to the fuse box for this fan problem and my inoperative lights problem:

took the car again to pick up my daugter; this time I decided not to shut down the engine at the pick up point; tried turning on and off the lights and all worked ok;

but then after about another 6 miles the lights just went out while driving (actually going up a ramp for second floor parking);

But interestingly; when I drove home, and idled the car, both fans were working. and more than coincidentely, the entire trip (15 miles with some spirited shifting to get on the 610 loop) the water temp was below 195. Of course it was evening and only in the low 80's but previously even in that circumstance I'd be looking at over 195.

all I did was jigle the wires under the fuse box. so may it's a ground or loose connection.

so perhaps I've solved or at least identified the left fan problem, but I've still got the lights issue. Tomorrow I'll check the light relay behind the passenger side flooring; I did that a few weeks ago, when I first had the problem. but I'll check again.

 

funny you should mention it. that happened to me last night, as I was doing atest run on the lights.
I had previously taken out the fuel pump fuse because I was working on the lights issue. Let's just say I learned through experience that the car won't run for more than a minute or two without the electric fuel pump (I didn't know that because as a piston-powered pilot, I know that fuel is delievered by engine driven pumps and the electric pumps are used just for engine starts, so I thought . . . ). anyway I put back the fuse. last night when I started the car, it just died after I left my driveway. thew fuse was in the right position but not making good contact, had to make it slightly adjar to get it to work. that's pretty much when I decided that the birdman mod was for me. by the way anyone have his site or number for ordering?