Just to re-capp, I bought this car, an '86 FB 2.8L w/ MPFI for $300. My strategy is to make all the minor repairs, paint it, enjoy it for a time, and then sell it to some German for an exhorbitant amount.

I've managed to fix everything but for two things. Engine code 34 and the cooling fan. This essay pertains to the cooling fan but both are related.

When I bought the car, the fan was wired in pure ghetto fashion, straight to the ignition switch -- with speaker wire! I wired it back up, bridged the fan relay terminals and the fan came on.

I have tried warming up the engine to see if perhaps the system still works but of course, this car has only idiot lights so there's no easy way to determine when the fan should be kicking in. I'm afraid to run the engine too long for fear of overheating it.

I measured the voltage at the relay and came back with some funky readings, though. The other thing I noticed was that the wires going into the relay were bare, leaving about 1/4 inch of each wire totally exposed. It almost looked like they had overheated at one time. Confused, I moved on to troubleshoot the code 34.

I had checked the codes using the jumper wire on the diagnostic plug many times before. But this time, when I jumped the terminals............ the fan came on?!?!?!? I find this to be very strange.

Questions.

1. Has anybody ever experienced this phenomena?

2. The fan relay can be closed by way of either the temperature switch or the ECM... Why both? Is this some kind of built-in redundancy in the event that one fails?

3. Where is the temp switch located on my make of car? I think it's on the front left cyllinder head just above the exh manifold.

Pat

 

why doesnt ur car have guages? or do they not work?

 

It's got idiot lights! I know. It sucks. Nice T/A, BTW.