Howdy folks. Been a long time since I've been here. Forgot my old account so I started a new one. Things still seem to be in good shape.

Anyhow, on to my problem - Wanted to head out to a bar last night to meet friends, so I jump in the TL and realize everything is dead. Locks, clock, you name it. The battery was flat-lined.

So this morning I pull the battery out and head down to Sam's Club to swap it out for a new one. Get it back and drop it in the car - everything works, except...

...the cooling fan was running, and the key wasn't even in the switch! Must have been what drained my battery!

I disconnected the fan wire so it won't drain again, but I want to know how to fix this. I checked all the fuses under the hood, everything seems fine. A buddy of mine told me that the thermostat valve must be stuck open - that makes a lot of sense, but I don't exactly know where that is on the TL.

Anyone got any tips? It seems like an easy DIY, so I'd like to avoid the dealership if possible.

 

If the car was hot the fan will run even if the car is off. If not just follow the top radiator hose to the engine & where it connects, that is where the thermostat is(inside the oval housing). Other then that it could be a bad fan switch.

 

Well I checked it again. It has cooled down this afternoon. I plugged the fan back in and it didn't start. Am I to assume everything is hunky dory now? I am frickin' paranoid about these things.

 

Id say everything is fine. Drive it normal & if your battery goes dead then I would look at the alternator as the culprit first.

 

Okay. Thank you very much for the quick replies!