Fans not always working

[Astron_Boy]

Next to positive I'm correct here.

typically when you turn AC on the fans WILL come on regardless.

So, I dare say that's thrown another spanner in the works.

There is typically only 3 points to these types of systems.

1: Fan
2: temperature sensor (thermistor)
3: relay

If the fans are ECU controlled, then it is tied with the sensor you just replaced.
If they are separate, then there is typically a sensor within the radiator.

Haven't looked specifically at FTOs, but other cars I've dealt with having cooling issues, those are the points of attack.

Have you confirmed that the car is getting to temperature in the first place, ignoring the temp gauge.

If you have it sit idle in your driveway (without AC) from cold, it should take a very very long time for the fans to kick on.
Check at intervals at the temperature gauge, it should never hit H.

Usually it would require a couple of minutes getting the car to temp by holding the revs for a while until finally they activated and usually the temp gauge would read mid.

Get a temperature gun and keep checking the radiator core during it's idle warm up.

[silverGPX]

I reckon just swap clusters first, I had a Ute that gave me wrong fuel readings and it was just the cluster.

[silverGPX]

Nah I dunno, sorry don't listen to me ha.

[PHIL069]

Unplug the wire from the coolant sensor and bridge/connect the 2 terminals on the harness plug, start your engine and your fans should turn on. Even with the coolant not hot yet.

Have you tried this yet?
Doing this will bypass the sensor.
Then you will know for sure if it's your sensor or not.

[Daniel2019]

@Dan yes it takes a long time to heat up, unless I sit there revving it in neutral (neighbors must hate me haha)

@Phil I dont understand how a new sensor could be the fault but I will try anyway.

@Matt I will bet you my left nut that it's not a cluster problem.

I have only ever let the temperature gauge get to just ever so slighty over 3/4 before turning it off.

[FTOwnage]

@Matt I will bet you my left nut that it's not a cluster problem.

Hold him too it!

[Daniel2019]

Is there another temp sensor on the radiator somewhere?

[Bennoz]

No

[fraz91]

Brand new sensors can be faulty as well. If you got a dud then you got a dud. You need to eliminate things by actually testing them, rather than just saying "It's new, therefore it's fixed "

You also need to make sure the fans are working correctly. All you have to do is get two lengths of wire (about 1m each) and plug them into the connector. Then attach one to the positive and one to the negative on the battery (I don't think the FTO's fans are polar), and if it starts going then you know it's not the fan. Do this for both fans, as the brushes in the motors could be faulty given the kms on the car.

Start with the basics, then move to the more complicated. It's really not that hard.

[Daniel2019]

Brand new sensors can be faulty as well. If you got a dud then you got a dud. You need to eliminate things by actually testing them, rather than just saying "It's new, therefore it's fixed "

You also need to make sure the fans are working correctly. All you have to do is get two lengths of wire (about 1m each) and plug them into the connector. Then attach one to the positive and one to the negative on the battery (I don't think the FTO's fans are polar), and if it starts going then you know it's not the fan. Do this for both fans, as the brushes in the motors could be faulty given the kms on the car.

Start with the basics, then move to the more complicated. It's really not that hard.

Isnt testing the fans with wire the same as just testing them with the air con?

I will test the sensor then.

[PHIL069]

I will test the sensor then.

You need to have moar faith in the Phil

[Daniel2019]

I will test the sensor then.

You need to have moar faith in the Phil

To be honest I was just going to replace it with my other new one.

But kinda pointless, may as well just test.

[Daniel2019]

Tested today. Unplugged sensor and without even bridging with wire, fans kicked in. So, rooted sensor?

[Daniel2019]

Replaced new sensor with another new sensor. Still overheating.
Now I'm completely lost for ideas.

Fans kick in when sensor is unplugged though (without having to bridge the connection). Two dud sensors?

[FTOwnage]

Loom?

[PHIL069]

Fans kick in when sensor is unplugged though (without having to bridge the connection). Two dud sensors?

I will unplug my sensor on the weekend and see if my fans come on, if you can wait till then.

[Daniel2019]

Fans kick in when sensor is unplugged though (without having to bridge the connection). Two dud sensors?

I will unplug my sensor on the weekend and see if my fans come on, if you can wait till then.

I can.

Driving fine, can just turn aircon on and close the vents so its OK (dont like driving around with it on all the time though, so I kinda want to fix this)

If this isnt done by the time I get my ute, I will just take it to my mechanic. I'm stubborn so I'm trying not to be defeated by this, but I'm running out of ideas

[Daniel2019]

Driving smurfy around this arvo and started overheating a little bit (not much) even with the air con on now.

TF is going on here?

[silverGPX]

probs cluster

[Daniel2019]

probs cluster

Its not the bloody cluster