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My electric fan is INOP please help?

I have a 1995 Olds Cutlass Ciera and it keeps overheating. I believe the problem is the electric fan located behind the radiator because it hasn't been turning on and off. What is the best way to tell if the fan is working or not after I take the fan out of the car? I just don't want to buy another electric fan and spend more money than I need to if that isn't the problem. Please help it's my only transportation and I'm quite poor.

Update:

Thanks for answering but how do I tell if the fan relay is INOP?

3 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    With the engine cold (so the fan doesn't try to run) try to turn the fan with your fingers. You can reach the blades from the back side well enough to get a feel of it. The most common reason for fans to fail is bad bearings. The fan should feel smooth, generally with a bit of a clicky feel, as though it was bumping over balls as it turned. That is what a good fan feels like, while a bad one just doesn't want to turn, as though the center was packed solid with sawdust.

    A new fan from the dealer is longest lasting and least affordable, one from auto parts stores is less expensive and probably not as long lasting, while one from a wrecking yard (especially a pull-it-yourself yard) is most affordable and the biggest gamble.

    Source(s): 35 years maintaining my own cars
  • 1 decade ago

    With the engine running, turn on you air conditioner. The fan should run while A/C is on. If not, you can unplug the fan and run a wire from the battery to the fan and see if it is bad. Could be fan relay bad also.

    Source(s): 35+ years fixing my own stuff
  • ?
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    You may have a bad temperature sensor, without it sending a signal fans will not turn on. replace thermostat it couldn't hurt

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