main70072

My temperature gauge is usually below halfway, but today it was at halfway. After coming home from stop and go traffic, I opened my hood with the engine running just to see if anything was different. I saw that both of my cooling fans were not running. So I gave it another 10 minutes or so idling and still none of the fans came on. I turn off the car and the fan on the passenger side immediately starts running with the car off. After several minutes, I start the car and like before both fans didn't move. I turn on the A/C and both fans kicked on. I don't know what the problem is because both fans seems to work and whatever sensor that is monitoring the coolant temperature probably is working because it detects that the coolant is hot after shutting off the car and immediately turn the passenger side fan on. I have search, but have not found a similar problem posted on here. I did learn that the passenger fan is the cooling fan and the driver side fan is the A/C fan. Are there multiple sensors that monitor the coolant temperature or control the fans? Any ideas what is going on?

982.5TL

I had an issue where I had a busted radiator and that caused problems with heat. So I got that fixed and still had heat issues. I was pissed so I took it back to the dealership.

Turns out it was the fan relay that needed to be replaced too (which they did for free since they didnt fix the problem fully the first time). You might just have a faulty relay that fails to kick in every time and start your fans.

As far as I know the part is less than $30 and should be easy to replace yourself.

Hope this helps.

main70072

Since both of my fans are working, that relay does sounds like the problem. Do you by any chance know where this relay is located?

kcc1kjh

I'm having simular promblems myself..like when im driving for a long period of time, my temp goes up and then goes back to normal when i start driving. but when parked and engine running, my car gets hot. Soon as I turn the car off the fan kicks on

main70072

^ When your car gets hot, does the temperature gauge goes up toward the H? Mine goes up to the middle, which I find not normal since it have always been below that.

kcc1kjh

nah it stays normal..but if im driving for an long period of time and i get stuck in traffic or at a local drive through..yea she gets hot. but once i start driving it goes back to normal. Turn car off and the fan kicks on lol

982.5TL

I do not know where the relay is. The folks at the dealership took care of it for me. Ill look into my service manual tomorrow and throw up a pic if I can find it.
I really need to get more car savvy lol.

kcc1kjh

so what did you do?

main70072

^ He took it to the dealer and they replaced the fan relay for him.

982.5TL

I think it is number 8 on the picture.
I pulled the picture out of acuraautomotiveparts.org

main70072

That picture you have falls under the components of the A/C condenser fan unit. I have seen that relay and not sure if it is for the A/C fan only or is this relay for both fans? It is my cooling fan that is not working while engine running without A/C and will run when I turn off the car.

982.5TL

Here are a few more pics. I'm going to look in the trouble shooting area too.

982.5TL

These are the symptoms that I can look up in the manual:

Radiator fan does not run at all (but condenser fan runs with the A/C on)

Condenser fan does not run at all (but radiator fan runs with A/C on)

Both fans (radiator and condenser) do not run for engine cooling, but they both run with the A/C on.

Both fans do not run with A/C on.

So that brings me to the question do the fans run with the A/C on? As they sit right now the cooling fan doesnt run with the AC off correct?

982.5TL

It might be your condenser fan relay connector thats in the upper picture.

My issue was my radiator fan relay connector.

I hope this helped a little bit haha.

main70072

You got it my man!

Both fans (radiator and condenser) do not run for engine cooling, but they both run with the A/C on.

main70072

Oh BTW, thanks so much for your help!

982.5TL

This is what the service manual says. I have no idea where the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) switch A is though.

main70072

^ Thanks for the pictures!! Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) switch A must be monitoring the temperature of the coolant and tells the fan when to come on. Now we know that there are multiple switches that monitors the coolant temperature since they labeled this one as switch A. Plus, we know that my other one is still working because it triggers the fan to come on when the car is off. So have anyone replaced this ECT swich A before?

TexasHonda

ECT thermoswitch A is on the lower radiator, pax side on 3.2TL. Pull connector and short terminals of connector. Turn keyswitch to ON and fans should immediately run.

You can pull the switch and perform a test in a boiler to determine the temperature at which switch closes, or not. If it doesn't close between 189-199F, the switch if bad and should be replaced. If switch is good look for damaged wiring or connector causing permanently open circuit.

good luck

main70072

Will it be in the same position for 2.5TL?

kcc1kjh

so basically I should check my ECT fan switch to see if its still works?

TexasHonda

Similar position on 2.5TL, but on driver's side.

good luck

96TL_X

what is the difference between radiator fan and condenser fan?

main70072

Radiator fan is on the passenger's side while the condenser fan is on the driver's side. The radiator fan is for cooling purposes, while the condenser fan is mainly to help cool the compressor while running it is running under pressure. Both fans should come on with the A/C on.

96TL_X

Thank you!

is part number 8 for condenser fan alone? Where is the relay for the radiator cooling fan? Cuz my cooling fan doesnt come on when AC is on. I already replaced cooling fan switch, part number 8 but it didnt help.

96TL_X

I FIXED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I replaced my radiator couple months ago and i didnt put the cooling fan relay back thats y i couldnt find it, and replaced the wrong one

arthur4444

Replace the fuse that will clear the problem... IT IS A Burnt FUSE

main70072

It's not a burnt fuse, but rather he forgot to put the fan relay back and/or replaced the wrong one as stated above. For my case, it was a bad temperature coolant sensor/switch.