I've tryed to find the info I'm looking for.No luck yet after 2 hrs.I bought a 86 bird with 2.8 mpfi.I've never heard or sean the fan come on sence I got it running.I dont drive it real far yet because i'm not sure everything is working right.The fan mostly now.I have drove it 15 miles one way.It has a light not gauge.So I have no idea what temp it gets to.It's never acted like it is getting hot.No light other than when the key is in starting position.Keep in mind I'm not boiling over.What tests can I do and in what order to see if my system is good to go cross country.

 

 

Sorry, but I love your answers Nina....

What he said is right.

You can also check the fan motor by jumping 12v to it. Alternately, you can get an IR thermometer, let your car idle and watch the temps rise, should get to around 220 degrees when the fan kicks on.

Pull the cap off the radiator, when you see the water start to "flow", should be 190-220 degrees or so. Shortly after that is when the fan should kick on.

 

i didnt know they made a cap with a thermometer in it,I just dont think it ever gets hot enuff to turn on with just the short runs we do make,and we are moving and not in stop and go traffic like some people have to deal with.If I just let it ideal with out moving on a cool day,as a guess how long should it take to warm up to the point the fan would get the signal to turn on.Would the fan work from the a/c being switched on even if the a/c didn't have freon in it?How can I test the relay?

 

If the system is empty, just turn on the AC, the fan should kick on as soon as you set the AC to "on".

Idling...anywhere from 10-25 minutes I guess. AZ or O"Riellys should have a Infrared thermostat you can borrow. Drive down there, borrow it and use it to check how hot it's getting.

 

ok,I'll try that.

 

If its like my 86 IROC the A/C will only turn on the fan if the high side pressure switch turns it on. No freon wont make it turn on. I think if you take the connector off of the switch and turn on the A/C it should come on. But thats for a 86 IROC. Dont know if the concept was the same for a 2.8 liter.

 

thank you. I want an 86 IROC too! Had an 89 with t tops.Didnt like the vats in the system and didnt like the t tops.Loved the rest of the car.5Speed would have been nice.