On The 88 TA is there more then one cooling fan relay?

The fans will come on when the AC is on. However, they will not kick on from the fan switch in the block. I even grounded the wire (same thing as if switch was closed) and nothing.

Help.

If there are two relays, which one is bad? There are relays all over these cars.

Or do i have another problem?


Thanks

 

I believe there are two relays located just above the brake booster on a small metal (square) rack. At least that is the way my 92 Z28 and 90 iroc is. I think they are the same on T/A and Z28 from 88 through 92. One is for main temp cooling and the other is run by the A/C which is tied in through a switch on the highside refrigerant line. I think the ecm actually does the grounding which activates the relay. There is a way to ground both relays to a switch (I have to do this soon) so if you live in Arkansas (where I live and it gets Africa hot here) you can turn the fans on by a switch before you get stuck in traffic and keep the car cool. I am sure some of the other guys are much more of an expert on this than I am and can tell us both which wires to ground and also recommend a good place to mount a switch. I also have a 90 IROC that I put a be-cool radiator in and that solved that cooling dilema. Too bad they are so expensive. Maybe the guys know of another radiator that has two, one inch rows that is cheaper.

 

Well...The relay made no differance. I tried it in four (4) differant spots.

1st: The radiator support area next to the air cleaner.
2nd: The relay next to the filter canester for the gas tank on the passenger side fenderwell.

These two had the same diagram as the new relay on the top

The other two were on the firewall buy the brake booster. I think they are both MAF relays on my year. This made no differance.

Is there an inline fuse somewere?

I checked the fuse box, all ok.

as I said before, The fans work when the AC is on. It takes about 20 seconds after the ac is turned on. Then they cycle on and off.

I had a buy pass switch to ground the sensor in the block so i could turn them on. However, with the new 200 degree sensor it was not necessary.

any ideas?!?!

 

Take your VIN and go to a dealer where they have access to all cars schematics and ask them to make a copy of the under hood harness for you. I have a manual for the Z28 but T/As have the battery on the other side so I am sure some other things will be in different areas. Once you find the correct relays and have grounded them take the plug out of the fan motor and see if you are getting power to the fan motors themselves, if not, back track and see where power stops. You could also try autozone to see if they could get you a factory book that tells everything about the car with pictures which is my favorite.

 

I found this article in the March 2006 Camaro Performers magaizne. Thought it may help you and others with fan problems.

 

Well...I double checked ground wires and all looks well. The *(&*
temp switch in the lower right side of the block I can barly see, from on top or under the car. It looks like there may be some burned wires from the headers. I thought there was only one wire from that switch. It looks like a green/white and a black.

I would have to pull the starter to get in there and see whats wrong. I will have my mechanic put it on a lift and see whats up.
(No pun intended)

If its going to be a little while before he gets to it, I will get a GriffIn radiator and LS1 driveshaft, with tax return money, and have him do the install.

If the car gets to hot, I will turn on the AC. That will turn on the cooling fans. In February that will make me the coolest guy out there
(Pun Intended)

I have a shop manual, Thanks Ebay, and went through it last night. The car does have two (2) fan relays. But it didn't really help me sort out the problem. Thanks for the imput!

I will post when its sorted out.

 

I installed a manual switch inside the car that lets me turn on the fan when I want. Ran a wire from the fan relay to the switch and a ground wire to the switch and turn it on when the temp goes up.

 

Had the same setup on my car. when went to 200 degree temp switch did not need it anymore. Ran the sam wire to ground and nothing. Thats why i started checking relays and still nothing. time to mind meld with my mechanic.

 

I have the exact same issue with my 91 camaro right now. If I turn on the A/C the fan comes on. Otherwise it does not. Car is overheating at idle, when I drive it it still climbs up there, but levels off in the wisconsin weather, so I cant leave it llike this too long. Good thing I dont drive it much to begin with. It sounds like it has to be the coolant temp switch. Is there anything possible else that it could be. If not, I am calling up good ole' bergstrom's and ordering a new one.

 

The fans started working again.

 

The cooling fans get their power directly from the relays, if the fans work when the ac is on then there is nothing wrong with the relays.

I had a similiar problem with my 89 where neither fan would work, The problem was the 20 amp circuit that supplied the fan relays was corroded and wouldn't conduct power. I replaced a section of wire and all was well.

 

well....The fans stopped working again. Same thing as before. found a wiring diagram and ran a wire from the ground wire at the point it went into the relay (next to the filter canester)to the closest spot to the temp sensor on the block.

AND IT WORKS.

Must be a short in the orginal wire. However, my mechanic had the car a week ago and said everything looked fine.

This has been another learning experiance.

Thanks for all the input.