Overheat

[dafugitive415]

Hello all, I own an 1990 Camry Le 4cyl engine. It overheated on me the other day, I pull over before a lot of smoke comes out. I let my neighbor mechanic deal with it because I had to go to work. When I got the car back, I test drive it and as soon as I turn on the engine the Fans start running. The whole time when I was driving around, it kept running. It wasn't like that before, it only comes on when the engine reach certain temperature. Any clue what's wrong with it. I told the guy but all he said is (the fan sensor switch must be the problem), I ask other mechanic they say (relay problem).

Thanks a lot for helping me out.

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Well, they're right...first, try testing the fan relays. I know a couple of guys with V6 Camrys who had that relay blow on them, and the fans stayed on all the time.

[Tommy]

Look ontop of the thermostat housing. If the temp sensor there isnt plugged in, it will cause both fans to run all the time.

[dafugitive415]

Thanks guys

[Tommy]

You figure it out?

[geoff5093]

Wrong gen and everything, but I noticed that my fan stays on all the time as well, I thought it was suppose to do that on this gen Camry, lol.

[CraniumInsaneum]

dafugitive415,

Your neighbor/mechanic "fixed" the overheating problem by disconnecting the temperature sensor to make the fans run. That means your car will probably overheat again, since he didn't get to the root of the problem. At the very least, you need to be sure that your thermostat is good, there is enough coolant in the radiator, and that it is not clogged or leaking.

Years ago I had an intermittent overheating problem with my 84 Camry, which nobody could diagnose. One day while staring at my engine listening to the radiator boil, I noticed that the lower radiator hose had collapsed under the suction of the water pump, cutting off the flow of coolant. I replaced the hoses and it never happened again. Good luck.

[toyomoho]

Go to the link below and download the appropriate cooling system info. This will allow you to check the coolant temp switch that controls the fan for proper operation.

http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry