My fan has been going on daily after shutdown on rides home from work. I was attributing it the 90+ degree days we've been having.

However, I got stuck in stop and go highway traffic today in a downpour. I just happened to look down to check the time as traffic picked up speed and saw my temp guage in the red! It dropped almost immediately as I got up to speed. I hit one light as I headed in to work and it started to climb gradually. But I got going before I reached the danger zone.

My assumption is that this was a gradual problem and that manifested itself today. I had heat since I jacked it all the way up. I'm not smelling the telltale signs of a head gasket problem and since I was in my work clothes and it was pouring, I didn't get under the hood when I made it to work.

I've done a good deal of work on my cars (just changed a water pump on my old 87 Accord, which I have sice given away). So this isn't foreign territory. But I'd like to try to narrow down the potential causes before I get into it.

I know the coolant needs to be changed but it doesn't seem that simple. Could the really high heat lately degraded poor fluid to unusable in only a couple weeks?

thanks

 

The fan staying on after shut down is likely a faulty thermal A or B switch.

As for the overheating, it is possible that during traffic, the engine fan became inoperable. With the AC on, the compressor fan should run continuously. The engine fan should circulate on and off via signals from the thermal switch that detect engine temperature.

-possible switch failure
- or the fan itself has bit the dust.

Radiator could be leaking, the OEM plastic radiators usually develop cracks along the upper tank causing a slow leak. Being that the car is a 96, if the radiator is original... I'd check it first.

If your coolant level is fine, then I would suspect either the water pump or thermostat (I'd check the thermostat first)

Check for leaks in the hoses, or a busted hose.

 

Fans on these radiators are brushed fans. The brushes can wear out or become contaminated as with the commutator. Relays can intermittently fail as well. Temp switches can also fail. In general, intermittent problems can be hard to find.

 

foot got it righ.
sounds like a relay problem or some type of electrical problem. thermostat maybe. i have a 96 accord and i had ur problem last yr and it was 2 main relay. i recommend u to check all relays and whatever u do dont take it to a shop, better off the dealer is a easy fix and cheap. as for the fan stay on after shutdown, it is normal and it is supposed to happen especially n this heat. the fan stay on for a few
btw if ur car is under 150k miles go to the dealer and get a free tune up

 

is the dealership really the cheapest, i mean i supose they dont give you the run around( or do they?) Like the shops do and tell you that a number of things wrong and before you know it, you almost replaced a whole engine
(damn them).

 

Change the switches. They are only like 20 or 30 bucks each. That was the culprit when I had that problem. and they are quick and easy to change yourself. Also, if your car is getting hot, turn the A/C on. If the switches are bad, they won't turn on the radiator fan, so turning on the A/C will at least make that fan turn on, so it helps to keep the temp out of dangerous levels.

 

the reason i said the dealer is the cheapest, is because they already know what is the problem since this is very very common with our cars. and the shop will take more time to find the problem and thats more money if more time. plus i just dont trust anyyyyy mechanic at all. the dealer u can always go back if they ever mess up which is hardly ever.

 

yup do that ^ JL95AccorD said.

 

I'm bumping this thread in hopes someone sees my question here. I'm having the exact same problem with my 91 accord (150,000miles). Car is overheating when I come to a stop and the fans are kicking on after I shut down when I don't beleive it did this before.

I've had the problem with overheating when idling before on my first car, a crx, many years ago and it was a bad fan relay. Anyway, I don't know where the thermal A or B switch is nor the fan relay. I was going to change out the thermostat first to be on the safe side, but with the fan acting funny I'm leaning towards the switch or relay side of things. If the thermal A or B switch is the issue can someone point me in the direction of where it's located. Thanks

 

Guess next time I'll start my own thread. On other car forums I visit people get pissed when you do that though cuz shit gets posted ovre and over...

Checked it at lunch and it looks like the fans aren't kicking on while it's running or parked. Upper radiator hose gets hot so I don't think the thermostat is bad. After killing the engine the passenger side fan kicks in for a little while.

I was checking autozone for parts info and there's something called the cooling fan switch located in the thermostat housing(part SW546). I see where this switch is as there's obviously wiring attached to it. There's another switch listed for the same price but part # SW2033. And lastly one called AC thermo switch. I think I'm headed in the right direction I just need to know what to replace. Please help
There are two other switches listed though that aren't so obvious