Fan switch test

[Jeff Ga.]

It has been hot lately in Gerogia. I realized that I have not heard the fan kick on at stop lights this year. Typically in the summer it will kick on if I am at a stop light and it's hot. My Clymer book mentions testing the fan switch in another chapter. When I go to that chapter it shows how to test the ECT and thermo sensor, the 2 sensors mounted above the thermostat housing. No mention of a fan switch test.

When I turn the ignition switch on the temp indicator does not come on. If I ground the wire from the fan switch the fan will come on.

I was wondering if there is a test to troubleshoot the fan switch before I pay $60 for one.

Thanks for any help

1998 Standard, stock, 75,000 miles.

[Mr Steve]

I read somewhere that the switch will start to close somewhere between 208-216°F (fan turns on) and it will start opening (fan turns off) somewhere between 199-207°F.  So, heat and test continuity.

[Ricky-D]

You should do a search first before spending money on something that may be working properly.

I seem to recall a few threads about this exact subject and it turned out it was another unit that was faulty rather than the fan switch.

I also seem to remember that there was a discussion about Honda changing, somewhere along the line, the way the fan switch operated because of this particular problem. (fan failed to come on) The answer was a simplification of the operating circuit.

And finally, have you actually tried to get the fan to come on?  I mean, if you are using seat of the pants feeling to instigate an investigation I would think the first thing is to be sure it (the fan) is truly not working.

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[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I have a 2000 I/S back in Feb. My temp light came on while touring a parking garage for a parking spot in the medical center in Houston. I then noticed the fan was not coming on at all. I tested the fan by grounding the wire at the lower left side of the radiator with the ing on and the fan came on as it should. My switch in the radiator had gone bad. I wired the ground wire to a toggle switch that already had mounted in the fairing so I could turn the fan on and off manually until my new switch came from HDL.
   After installing the new switch I still left the toggle switch wired so if I see traffic jam ahead or a long light I can kick the fan on early to avoid the high heat from the engine while sitting still. Hope this might help you.