Hiya. 94 Rodeo 3.2L auto, 4x4, w/ ac. Front electric fan won't come on unless I connect it directly to a power source. Theres gotta be a relay somewhere or something that conrols the thing. Truck gets hot if its not moving. Need to get fixed before the weather gets any warmer. Can anyone help?

You should either have a relay in there somewhere , just follow the wiring untill you find it , also its possible they put a temperature sensor on it , and that its not working for some reason.My guess its a relay blew on you.

I tried chasing wires and I think I blew a gasket in my brain. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

I need someone that can tell me exactly where there is a relay or temp sensor or whatever it is that is not turning on the fan when its supposed to.

I'm pretty sure its the ECM that sends the signal to operate the fan, so there has to be a relay somewhere, finding it is the tricky part.

There should be a fuse in the wiring , and usualy the relay isn't too far from the fuse , and if its a big power draw , like a taurus fan , it will have a big fuse , usualy close to the battery.Is this a stock fan or an aftermarket?

It is stock.

Not positive on your truck, but *usually*....

The engine fan is for cooling the motor. If you're having overheating issues, you need to check the condition of your cooling system and especially the fan clutch.

The electric fan is an assist fan for the A/C and comes on with that whenever the A/C clutch is engaged. It might also be wired to come on if it's running hot, but mainly it's for better A/C performance at low speed/idling.

--Dan

Thanks Dan,

The fan doesn't come on with the a/c on either. How do I know if my fan clutch is bad?

You can hold the blades while the engine is running at idle. Although I don't recommend this test if you like having fingers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />...

Try spinning it when the engine is off and see if there is some resistance. You could also rev the engine and listen for the fan "humming". I you have neither the fan clutch is toast.

Cheap fix: Split (open) the clutch. Use some roofing tar, (from your local hardware store) a couple of spoonfuls should be enough. Just enough to fill (level) the engine end of the clutch.
You'll notice when you open it up there is a jelly like substance (real thick oil) that creates the drag needed for the clucth to work properly. All your doing here is giving the clutch a little more density. It's worked for me in 4 different trucks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

As for the electric A/C fan. My guess is the relay, if the relay is good then it's the temp switch. Try giving the temp switch a good cleaning by lightly sanding it down. They usally don't go bad for a long time. Most cases it's the relay that blows first if not the fuse...

Thanks, islandracer.

The thing is, I don't think there is a specific temp switch for the fan. I think the ECM reads the engine temp and that tells the fan to turn on and off. Can you tell me where a temp switch would be located if I had one? Good tip on the fan clutch. I'm sure a new one is pretty expensive.

I'm not to familiar with the V6 engines, however most temp switches are located on the intake manifold, where there is coolant flow.

If your fan comes on as soon as you turn on the A/C, then there might not be a temp switch. So, the problem will point to the relay.