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cooling fans

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theremin
8/13/2006 12:32:11 PM
I have a 96 Taurus (67,000), 24 valve, EATC. With AC on the fans shut off and on. About 15 to 30 sec intervals. With AC off the fans never come on, even when temp gets to about 212. (Reading pids in NGS). The car will run fine for 35 to 40 mins but after that it starts to get hot. I have changed the engine coolant temp sensor, the thermostat and it's housing (fluid was nice and green, no sludge), the CCRM and the PCM. I work @ a Ford facility so some friends helped me with the parts. I'm about to go after the wiring. Am I missing anything on this? Thanx
94 4x4 ranger
8/13/2006 12:43:17 PM
Is the check engine light on? Also there might be a temp sensor for the computer that turn's on the fan and one for the gauge.
theremin
8/13/2006 1:23:04 PM
Thanx for the reply. No check engine is not on. Also I edited my post to say Engine Coolant Temperature sensor. You're right there are 2 sensors, the other being for the gauge. The ECT sensor sends a signal to the PCM (computer) and then 2 lines out to the relays in the CCRM. I haven't tested these yet and I will, but I can't help but think I'm missing something. The problem with these older first year model change vehicles is a lot of things were changed halfway through the model and of course even more so in the following years. I can't seem to find anyone who really knows how this system works. A lot of my info is from Haynes and a friend of mine who gave me some schematics.
94 4x4 ranger
8/13/2006 2:23:35 PM
Do you have a power distrubion box with relay's and fuse's over the wheel well? If so check the fuse's there and i think there is a relay there for the fan.If so pull the relay and look at the contact's make sure the 1 clip in not ppushed down.I just did 1 like this the other day but it was a ford contor.If that is not the problem swap 1 of the realy's with another 1 to see if the fan come's on.
theremin
8/13/2006 3:03:55 PM
The 96 & 97 Taurus have a module called the CCRM (constant control relay module). It is located on the side of the battery tray, which is over the wheelwell. That's where the fan relays are. This was deleted and replaced with the relay box I believe you're talking about with the 98 Taurus model. You can't open it and I have changed it.
94 4x4 ranger
8/13/2006 3:42:54 PM
ok then i would troubleshoot the wiring.
theremin
8/13/2006 3:46:43 PM
Thanx
94 4x4 ranger
8/13/2006 3:52:51 PM
I worst come's to worst at the temp sensor run a wire to the fan. Your check engine light may come on but at least it will work.
theremin
8/13/2006 9:45:31 PM
OK here's what I've learned. My fans still work off and on. But when sitting @ idle with AC on, temp stays around 198. Which is okay. Gauge is @ about halfway. When sitting @ idle with AC off, fans come on when temp reaches 220, without fail,(so my fans do work without AC, I just wasn't sure @ what temp they should come on) and engine temp drops down to 200,202. @ 220 the needle is just below 3/4. So I'm looking @ a couple things. There may be a problem with my gauge or the sensor, I may need to burp my system, I've ruled out cottonwood on my condenser. Or I may not have a problem @ all. Any input would be appreciated. Thanx
94 4x4 ranger
8/13/2006 11:01:25 PM
If im correct the fan should kick on without tha a/c @ around 195-220
theremin
8/14/2006 2:00:27 AM
Thanx for your input 4x4. I will dicker with this thing for another week and see what I come up with. The problem is that it's my wife's car and I've been driving it more because my truck loves gas. Maybe what I'm seeing has always been. I don't know. I'll get back.
detroitmi
8/14/2006 11:31:21 PM
It is possible the PCM is having troubles sending a signal to the fans. I wonder if your local junk yard will let you borrow a PCM and see if theirs kicks the fans on?
theremin
8/15/2006 3:38:31 AM
I appreciate the input but in my first post you'll notice that I tried another PCM. I think I am going to clean in between the rad and condenser and see what happens. I'll be back. Thanx
theremin
8/24/2006 12:25:12 AM
Still looking for someone out there that has had a 96 Taurus where the cooling fans turn on and off with AC on and did they discover what the problem was. Been doing a lot of reading and cannot find this problemhappening with anyone. Also on the 96 are these 2 speed fans? Thanx
tx_zstang
8/25/2006 3:35:03 AM
I don't know how different '95s are, but I've recently been battling a similar situation. Except, the fan (single fan) won't come on at all, even with the a/c on, once the outside temp gets into the upper 90's. When the outside temp is cooler, things work fine. With numerous recent days over 100, this has been a real problem. Here's what I found and subsequently did.
The cooling fan is energized by a 'relay control module'. The ECM allows the fan relay(s) to energize based on a 'signal' via a single wire bewteen the ECM and relay module. The temperature sensor tells the ECM the temperature of the coolant, and the ECM causes the fan to energize based on the temp and the state of the a/c.
I obtained a simple wiring diagram (from www.autozone.com for the specific car), and was able to determine several places for which to check for voltage. You need to know where the problem really lies: is the relay module getting controlled from the ECM? Is there proper voltage at the relay module? Is the relay module energigining but the fan not engaging? Is there a wiring problem?
Ideally, you want to check voltages and operation when the car properly works, so you know what it is supposed to do. This will let you isolate or rule out any wiring issues as well.
Anyway, what was happening on my Taurus was that during proper operation, the control wire from the ECM (I think it was tan/orange in color) was at 8 volts when the fan was on, 0 volts when the fan was off. A person would would probably think that you'd simply beed to give that wire 8-12 volts from a hot circuit and the fan nwould work. NOT! As it turns out, when I cut the wire between the ECM and relay module, the relay module internally raises the circuit to 8 volts and turns on the fan. The ECM therefore serves to act as a solid state 'switch to ground' to turn off the fans by getting the voltage to 0, or opening and letting the control module voltage rise and (via transistor swithing inside itself) switch on the fan relays.
So, I simply put a switch in series with the wire I cut, to connect or disconnect the wire between the control module and ECM. Leaving the switch open will cause the fan to always stay on, regardless. When I want the ECM to control the relay module again, I'll simply close the switch; this will be needed once cooler weather arises.
While this approach is not good for the fan because it stays on more than it really should, it solves all overheating.

Idelly in this case, the proper fix would be to replace the ECM, since the relay control circuit is malfunctioning. But since all other aspects of the ECM appear to be working, usiing a switch in this circuit was a viable alternative.

Hope this helps.

Mike
'95 Taurus GL
'98 Contour
'05 Mustang V6
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