S2-13BT

Hi all,

Just got this wierd issue, I thought i'd post and see what people think.

It's a starting issue, something like this. I'll jump in the car, and it doesn't matter when. Can be cold, hot just switched off etc. Turn the key to the ON position, and about 50% of the time, the thermos on the A/C core in the nose of the car will switch on. If this happens, the car will not start no matter what! It'll crank and crank, with nothing. I've only had the car for a few weeks, so at first I was a little worried.

I eventually noticed that if I switch the car off and on a few times, the thermo will stop. I can hear a relay click, and then I notice a vibration in the shifter. It's very slight and is obviously the fuel pump. I dont get that when the thermos are running. After the relay clicks and the vibration starts, the car fies into life within a couple cranks. So, it appears it's either the thermos or the fuel pump! I don't have the A/C switched on at all as it isn't gassed.

Then... Just the other day, about a minute after starting the car, those same thermos kicked in, and the car stalled. I had to go through the process of turning the key on/off until the relay clicked again, and the car started up.

I haven't looked hard yet, but the car is essentially stock, so any ideas? I do plan to ditch the A/C, as it's not gassed and I don't really plan to use it anyway. I'm worried that if I remove the fans, I won't get the audible cue that the problem is happening from time to time.

Sorry for the long post!

GUZZLR

That is weird man !!!!!

**** knows whats is going on there....

I would get out a multimeter and start checkin some wires etc.

have you got a manual for the FC???

sometimes there is helpful troubleshooting in there....

cheers,

S2-13BT

Yeah, got the manual.

I'm not too good with electrics, but I will have a look sometime. Just thought I'd get opinions.

HAILERS

To read this thread one would think you have two or more electric fans. Do you have aftermarket fans?? You know the stock has but one auxillary fan. If this what your talking about? The ONE fan in front of the radiator?

IF that is the case, and you hear that fan come on with the a/c off, and the water temp is cool and not at the 209 degrees, then the fan should not come on. If the fan does come on with these conditions, then I'd suspect the water temp switch dedicated to the aux fan has a loose connection.

There is another situation where the aux fan will come on even if the a/c is off and the water temp is cold. There is a fuse, that if pulled will make the fan come on if the key is put to ON or better. I forget right now which fuse. It's in the Heating/Cooling section of the fsm. If a certain relay does not get 12vdc it will drop out and the contacts in the relay will MAKE and put a ground on the fan circuit, and the fan will now run.

S2-13BT

It's just got the factory thermo. I suppose only the one, but I haven't looked hard. I thought when I had a quick look (it was dark) I saw two, but I'm fairly sure everything down there is factory.

The car still runs the clutch fan for the rad.

Interesting info anyway. I'll look more into it.

Thanks.

RETed

Either some fucked with the electrical wiring or the car was in a front-end accident that damaged the wiring.
If this is either case, it's gotta be down-n-dirty electrical troubleshooting.
It's not hard, but it does take a lot of time and labor to take care of this properly.

Just for a test, why don't you unplug the electrical fan (what you call a "thermos"?).


-Ted

HAILERS

On top of the thernostat/ water fill housing there is a sensor. It has a one wire plug going to it. The wire is green/black. Turn the key to ON. Now disconnect that single connector off the sensor. See how the fan now comes on even if the engine is cold????? I think you have a bad connection there at that single connector. That connector has to be on good or the fan will come on all the time if the key is to ON or better.

The other possibility is the METER fuse. If the METER fuse fails or is intermittent, then the fan relay will drop out when the key is to ON, and that will MAKE a circuit to ground for the fan motor which already has 12vdc sitting there at the fan motor.

If the METER fuse was bad/intermittent I think you'd see other problems with the combination meter and lights in the interior.

Or the Fan Relay might be corrupt. It's in the front of the radiator with the other relays up there. Check and make sure the plug is on good. See the fsm for the location.

And you know that the fan should come on anytime the water temp is over 209 degrees whether or not the a/c switch is on or not.

S2-13BT

Thanks Hailers, you're full of good info (well I think, I'll let you know when I check it out ).

I'll get in and have a look this weekend, using your advice.

RETed, I had thought the were two fans there hance "thermos". I refer to them as a thermo, short for thermo fan. I'm still new to FCs, so I thought it was there purely for the A/C, but apparently not.

My cooling system is good, so I doubt the water temp is getting high enough to trip the fan.

Thanks guys.