1996 Camry Overheating

[Dieselj25]

Hello all, great Forum! So glad I found it.
I have a 1996 Camry 2.2 which was overheating. I repalced the radiator with a new one, also put in a new fan sensor in the bottom of the radiator, and replaced the thermostat as well.

The problem all along is that the fans won't come on at all when the motor is at warmed up. In fact, at idle I can watch the temp gauge climb into the red zone - but the fans will not come on.

If I unplug the wire from the fan temp switch at the bottom of the radiator, that of course "forces" the fans to run constantly, which they will indeed do. So the fans DO work.

This seems to be a common problem, so I need some more advice... what next? Relays? Radiator Cap? maybe an air pocket in the new radiator? Anyone who has been thru this, what fixed it? Thanks

[ASG14]

It;s an electrical issue if the fans go on when you unplug the connector fromt he sensor. I forgot what the normal cause of this is though.....Have to find out for you. But I'm sure someone will chime in soon.

[hill8570]

Take a look at the left-bottom side of the schematic at www.camrystuff.com, Generation 3, 1994 Camry Wiring Schematics, page 242. It not rocket-science -- it's closed until it gets hot, then it opens up. If you can disconnect the switch (simulating an opened-up switch), and the fans work, it's with the switch or there's basically no coolant circulation (so the switch isn't getting hot).

If the lower part of the radiator feels like it's getting pretty hot, then you really need to pull and test the temp switch. If the radiator bottom isn't getting hot, then you gotta figure out what's going on with your coolant circulation.

[Quattrovalvole]

Well, in my 97 when you disconnect the lower temperature sensor, one of the fan remains working all the time, some sort of back up system , that´s what I have seen so far.

When you turn un the A/C. Are the fans running?

[chemie]

What happens when you drive the car? There should be enough air flow to cool things but if it still gets hot, that points to other problems other than the fans turning on/off. (like collant flow; air bubbles; temp sensor; etc)

[Dieselj25]

As it turns out, the water pump was failed. Replaced it, no more overheating! Hope this helps someone too.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by Dieselj25

As it turns out, the water pump was failed. Replaced it, no more overheating! Hope this helps someone too.

Got piccies of the failed water pump? I'd be curious on what the true cause was...