How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Topic: How Do I remove Fan Motor??? (Read 2260 times) previous topic - next topic

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

April 11, 2006, 10:12:54 PM

Ok, I'm having some problems with engine temp now that the weather has changed. Recently, within the past few weeks the temperature guage has been reading high. It has never fully gone into the red, but right up to the line separating Normal from Hot. It does this with the Air conditioning turned on, and more recently, with it off. I changed the Oil and Radiator fluid today, and drove around a little. Even with the Air off, the temperature guage still rose rather high. I attempted using the air, only to have the engine stumble several times while driving, and die out while sitting at several intersections. It did restart just fine after each die-out however.

I guess my question now is, what is causing this overheating? I'm assuming my engine problems are related to this because it wasn't running this poorly until the temp problem started. I do live in Tucson, and the temperatures have recently gotten warmer (around 85-90 degrees). The temperature problems did start around the same time this change happened, but for god's sake, it's going to be 110 degrees soon, and I don't even want to think about what's going to happen then. Again, I did change the Radiator fluid out, but it didn't help. The only thing I can think of doing now is changing the TFI or Thermostat. But I have a feeling those wouldn't solve the problem. Any ideas? Suggestions?

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #1 – April 11, 2006, 10:22:23 PM

you have verified that the fan is coming on, and have you checked or changed the coolant, since you've gotten the car?
If those fine and operational, how's the water pump?
Afer that, maybe a good flush, although if there's serious clogging, I don't know how well it'll clean it, if at all...

Just some suggestions for ya, hope it's an easy fix.

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #2 – April 11, 2006, 10:52:21 PM

Does the car pull any codes? Check that first, since you say it runs funny when it's "hot". If everything mechanical checks out, don't forget about the IVR on the back of the guage cluster. My '86 runs with the needle in between the white and red and isn't actually overheating.

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #3 – April 12, 2006, 12:19:56 AM

Inspect the radiator to make sure there are still fins between the tubes. The original fins tend to rot out after time (even in AZ), and when they're gone the car will overheat, especially at speed.

Also make sure the inside of the rad is in good shape. If the tubes are plugged you might have to back flush it, and if they're plugged bad you'll have to replace it.

If it's fine at speed but overheats around town, check to make sure both electric fans are working. Low speed driving will not force enough air through the rad to cool it, so if the fans aren't working you'll overheat in traffic.

As for the stumbling with the air on, make sure the compressor isn't seized - if seized it'll want to stall the engine every time the clutch kicks in

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #4 – April 12, 2006, 06:09:15 AM

Sounds like the same problem I had when my water pump went out on my Taurus I had. I drove all winter with no problems, but then when the heat in Kansas started getting up in the 80's 90's 100's I could sit at idle or run the AC. Radiator was always low on coolant (running out the overflow) Water pump was corroded to all hell.

If your loosing coolant I'd almost say for sure it's the pump. Look in your radiator or just get a sample of your fluid (maybe use a hydrometer to extract) if its brown and mucky, bet the pump is nasty as well.

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #5 – April 12, 2006, 08:18:02 AM

Just my opinion but you said it yourself change the thermostat.

Not that this is your problem but if you tent to think its your fan or shroud, a good way to check is while the car is on and idling wait for it to get hot/hot take your garden hose with nozzle on it spray it like a cone/like mist threw the radiator. If your temperature goes down then that’s your problem.
My farther showed me that trick.

If there was a room on this forum for good advice or pointers I think that would be right for it

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #6 – April 12, 2006, 01:21:25 PM

The thing is, when I drained the radiator yesterday, the coolant inside was still rather green. There wasn't any rust or gunk that came out which would indicate for me, clogged tubes in the radiator. The Air Conditioning seems to be more like a catlyst which makes the temperature rise even quicker than normal. My problem is that even with the Air Off, slowly yet surely the Temp rises all the way up to near the Red.

Both fans do come on. I can feel and hear them. If the problem is the thermostat, wouldn't I have had problems in the winter too?

This is why I'm so confused as to what to do next. As for pulling codes....I doubt there are codes for the radiator guys....

Besides that, every autozone and checker Around here seems to have blacklisted me for some reason and they all refuse to check my codes. (They claim they don't have the proper equipment to check those kinds of older cars.....B.S. is what I say...)

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #7 – April 12, 2006, 01:51:39 PM

When was the thermostat changed last? It's not like they're expensive..just buy one and replace it... It could be not opening all the way.

Also, you don't need to have some parts guy check codes for you. Either buy the $30 scanner and do it your self, or even just use a little testlight and hook things up and count the flashes. That will tell you codes.

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #8 – April 12, 2006, 01:51:59 PM

Hmm sometimes a radiator can be clogged but you won't be able to tell just by draining it. You might need to have it pressure tested. If it is shot you might want to upgrade to a 3 or 4 row radiator if possible considering you live in AZ.

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #9 – April 12, 2006, 03:02:03 PM

psh, I drove up a moutain in 95 degree heat(at least 30 degree incline) and it never got any hotter. 10 or 15 degrees isnt gonna kill it.

Anyways, just do the t-stat. also, turn on the heater(haha yeah, just cause you live in az) it will cool it down fast. Or if you dont get any heat, you will know its the t-stat.

Its almost always been the t-stat in my situations. If its the waterpump youwill know first.

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #10 – April 12, 2006, 03:02:52 PM

Ok guys, update time. I started the car up this morning and let it idle until the temperature got to it's high point. I opened up the Radiator cap and did see the coolant moving around, so I don't think the problem is the radiator. I noticed that once the temp got near the Top of the guage, the smaller fan did kick on. However, the main Big fan on the passenger side of the car did not turn on. I turned the Air Conditioning on and the same result. Smaller fan on Drivers side came on but big fan on passenger side didn't. I grabbed the connector to the Big Fan and moved it around a little to see what would happen. I noticed the engine seemed to skip and the RPM's dropped, and even stranger was the Speedo wildly moved around.

Should the Big Fan on the Passenger side be coming on?

(I should also mention that while grabbing the connector and moving it around, the fan did every once in a while turn slightly.)

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #11 – April 12, 2006, 05:11:53 PM

Ok guys, I've narrowed the problem. After running current into the Main fan itself, it did not engage. The other smaller fan came on just fine. So, obviously the motor is burnt out. I just purchased a new one, but I cannot seem to find a way to take the old one out. What do I do?0

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #12 – April 12, 2006, 08:33:26 PM

Do you have a friend with a big, 4 wheel drive truck, and log chain?

Nah, just teasin' ya, lol
Take the shroud off, then the fan case should unbolt off the radiator.
Might have to take the fan off before the shroud, not for sure.
My TC was all in pieces when I got it, so I'm not sure, but by looking at the fan, it appears to be like that.
The fan motor should unbolt, and you may have to gently knock the fan off the shaft.
Hope this gets ya going...let us know.

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #13 – April 12, 2006, 09:50:08 PM

I got the shroud off and did replace the motor. The fan does come on now. While the engine does run warm with the Air Conditioning on, it stays normal with it off now. I have to ask, what the hell is that Doggie Door doing on the bottom right hand corner of the Fan Shroud?

How Do I remove Fan Motor???

Reply #14 – April 12, 2006, 10:23:58 PM

While I'm not really sure what the TC fan shroud looks like (shameful, I know, especially since I've got a TC) I would imagine the "doggie door" is to allow more air through the radiator at highway speeds than the fans themselves would allow. Without that door the air would be forced to go through the fan openings, which, at the 140+MPH speeds the car is capable of, would be a restriction