88 Camry Cooling fan/AC issue - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

mcamphr2 · 07-10-2010, 04:53 PM

My 88 Camry 4 cyl w/280K is acting up. AC works fine for awhile the cuts out and I get the blinking AC light. Yesterday with the outside temp at 95 degrees I was out for a drive and and when the AC cut out I pulled over and popped the hood - AC was still on at full blast and the car idling around 750rpm. The dual cooling fans were not on. I'm thinking the AC cuts out when the fans turn off. Question is why are they turning off?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I like this car and was planning on keeping it as long as I can but do need the AC at least for the summer.

THANKS,

Martin
Oregon

white90dx · 07-12-2010, 12:53 PM

The cooling fans should operate on "low" when the A/C compressor is on (the fans run in series in this mode). If the A/C line pressure gets to high or the water temp gets to high, both fans turn on high (parallel).

Make sure both fans are operational first. Unplug the water temp fan switch located on the thermostat housing and make sure both fans run. For now, you can even just run the car this way to see if it keeps the A/C from cutting out - both fans should be on high the whole time the car is on.

If both fans work, you may have a relay problem. Let us know what you find.

-Charlie

mcamphr2 · 08-07-2010, 10:20 PM

Thanks Charlie - I unplugged the water temp fan switch and only one fan (passenger side) fan came on and then went for a drive. Put on AC and drove for about 15 min then the AC light did the blinking - drove home and popped the hood - the passenger fan still on - Driver's side fan didn't come on at all.

There are a few Fan relays - should I start replacing those?

Thanks

Martin

Mike Gerber · 08-08-2010, 08:10 AM

^ If there are individual relays for each of the 2 fans (I think there are but am not sure), I would try switching the 2 relays with each other as a test and take the car for a ride. If the opposite fan now works and the other fan now cuts out, you have found your bad relay. This test wouldn't cost you anything.

Mike

mcamphr2 · 08-08-2010, 05:41 PM

Checked the relays against continuity and the Number 1 Fan relay has an open circuit across pins 3 and 4 . Books says should be continuity there - to be sure I applied power across 1 and 2 and still no continuity across 3 and 4 - guess I'll start with that relay first as the replacement and go from there.

Thanks,

Martin

mcamphr2 · 08-14-2010, 12:56 AM

replaced the relay - (had to get a new one) and the fan no 1 came back on and the AC now works as it should. It must have had some intermittent episodes leading up to complete failure.