Hi all: I started my car this morning and discovered a cooling system problem. The "idiot" light (radiator light) now comes on. The fluid was a bit low, but it didn't appear to be leaking. The Fans are NOT coming on. I believe this to be the source of the problem, but I am definitely no mechanic. I looked for the obvious: a loose wire or connection to the fan but didn't see any - atleast not any that I knew where to look anyway.

I took it for a test drive into town and it ran hotter but didn't reach the halfway point on the temperature gauge. I feel I can take the chance to drive it to work tomorrow, but certainly don't want to maintain that level of stupidity and keep driving it.

Being a woman, it is a natural reaction for me to take it to the dealership, but as I have discovered in the past they like to convince you to spend a fortune on things you can take care of yourself. I would really appreciate some advice (I don't expect anyone's advice to be perfect) on a) what the possible problems are b) what I should expect for costs and c) what type of replacement parts should I consider?

Thanks in advance!

 

You sure it is a radiator light? I have never heard of one of those.

So, you say the temp gauge doesn't go past halfway? In that case, there isn't a problem. The light must be for something else. Check engine light, perhaps?

 

First, with your engine 100% cool, fill your collant to the FILL line in the coolant reservoir. If your fans aren't kicking on it's because something isn't telling them to kick on at the sepcified temp. Hrm. After you fill your coolant, let the car warm up as warm as it'll get and squeeze the big hose coming out of the left topmost part of the radiator. If it's firm, good. If not, quite possibly thermostat. If you don't already know where that is, take it to a mechanic.

Just one of many possibilites Good Luck!

 

Ive replaced lots on these, It usually is the coolant fan switch. On the thermostat housing there is , depending the model there are 2 temp switches, one controls the temp gauge and the other the cooling fan. . The way to test them is one , its usually the one with the green base. Unplugg the sensor( one closer to the engine) and with a test light plugged to the ground( we are not checking for voltage though, just usuing the low supression ground of the test light) with sumone sitting inside have them turn the key to the on position DONT start the car!!! probe both side of the terminal , keeping it probbed for 3 secs each), with sumone watching the temp gauge in the car 2 things should happen 1: the cooling fan should kick on and off as soon as yu remover the tester frum the plug in , or 2 the coolant needle will start to sweep towards the H side on the gauges in the car. If the temp gauge budges, then repeat this procedure with the outter sensor on the thermostat housing. If after doing the following procedure and 1 or 2 does not happen there is a fault with the PCM. if the gauge moves and after probing the other sensor and still nothing there is a possible fan problem or PCM issue. On some models there is one sensor on the thermostat housing and one located in the cylinder head near the thermostat housing. The sensor with the one wire plug in is the oil pressure sending switch, do not touch it.I have foung the plug in on them break very easilly even when being gentle lol

 

if you fans are not on, it could be fan switch or the cooling fan relay. the relay is in the under hood fuse box. what year is your car? do both your fans come on when you turn the A/C on?

btw, coolant reservior is only for overflow. it should be full but does not have to be completely to the full.

the radiator should be 100% however, and should only be checked when the engine is cold. just unscrew the radiator cap and look inside. the coolant should be up to the bottome of the radiator neck(where the cap goes).

 

The operation of the cooling fans on when A/C sycle can be a way to tell if the fans are bad, but the switch would be the first thing i check, exnay on the ac deal .

 

that was the point. to tell if the fans are even operational. whats the point of checking the switch without even checking if the fans are good?

 

1. fan switch/relay
2. thermostat
3. wiring