3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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We just recently rebuilt the engine and the radiator fans dont turn on.
Also, the temperature gage on the car just go up to the middle and STAYS at the middle. Is this normal?
The car hasn't been in service for so long and that I dont remember what happens. We observed this for the first run and reved the engine up to 2000 rpm for 20 minutes to break in the cams.
Any help will be appreciated! Thanks!
Depending upon the year of your Camry (and please always provide that when seeking help - year, engine, tranny type (auto/manual), because there are differences within any of these groupings), if your radiator has a coolant sensor mounted in the bottom tank, you can remove that sensor wiring connector and see if the fans come on. You can also turn on your A/C (if it works) and the fans should come on also.
If you have electric fans (not hydraulic), the radiators fans wouldn't come on until the coolant at the bottom of the radiator (coolest part of the radiator) reaches upwards of 199 deg F). So maybe the radiator coolant never got warm enough to activate the fans.
The temperature gauge should hang around the middle normally anyways. My fans rarely come on in my 92 with electric fans, and I'm in florida. It's possible the engine was just not hot enough to activate them. Unplugging the temp sensor at the bottom of the radiator as 93celica suggested is a good way to test whether the fans have power or not. (that is if you have that sensor/switch on your model year)
Is this the '97 5S-FE you were trying to get to run? Sounds like you got 'er running (BTW, thanks for letting us know ). What they said about the temp switch on the radiator...
On my 5s-fe there are two coolant "sensors" on the top of the motor, drivers side near the intake manifold. One is the true coolant temp sensor (its closest to the motor) the other is the sender for the temp gauge on the dash (closer to fender). Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but I believe if pulling that temp switch on the radiator makes the fans kick on, your relay should be good, and your problem is either your fan temp switch or the c.t. sensor (unless nothing is wrong and your car just isn't hot enough for the fans to be needed). If it doesn't kick the fans on, chances are its a fan relay
Last edited by LittleWhiteBubble; 04-28-2010 at 09:52 AM.
IIRC, LittleWhiteBubbles, there are 3 coolant "sensors" on the car. The two you said, plus the one at the bottom of the radiator, which is technically an "on/off" switch.
If removing the wiring harness at the radiator coolant temperature switch results in the fans running, then the only problem left to consider is the radiator coolant temperature switch (and it doesn't activate until the coolant down there reaches about 199 deg. F). If the fans do not kick on, could be a fan relay, could be the fan, could be the wiring.
Checking if the fan runs with the A/C on is also a very good test.
Yea there's definitely the 3. Ones a sender (for the gauge), ones a sensor (for the computer), and ones a switch (for the fans). That sounds right to me. And if his sender for the gauge is working, which it sounds like it is, and the temperature slowly rises to the halfway point and stays, then I don't think there's a problem. The fans should rarely come on, unless its very hot and you're idling a lot or running ac.
Yea there's definitely the 3. Ones a sender (for the gauge), ones a sensor (for the computer), and ones a switch (for the fans). That sounds right to me. And if his sender for the gauge is working, which it sounds like it is, and the temperature slowly rises to the halfway point and stays, then I don't think there's a problem. The fans should rarely come on, unless its very hot and you're idling a lot or running ac.
Hit the AC, fans come on. Tells me relay is good right?
Unplugged at sensor on bottom of brand new radiator. Fans came on. Tells me sensor is bad right?
I did hookup a guage to obdii port. Ran up to 248 sitting at a stop light. Ran mid 220s while moving. It's 104 ambient out right now here in vegas. Unplugged the sensor which kicked fans on. Held it right around 228 degrees.
So... with that info, replace the sensor correct???
The fail safe is usually if the sensor goes bad the fans run all the time, but that doesn't always happen. Does the car warm up normally from a cold start?
Really the only way to know is swap out the unit. It does sound like the sensor has gone bad on you.
yes, from cold seems to warm up normal. Then sits around 220-225ish for a bit. Then starts to rise till it hits red. Fans never kick on though. I unplug the sensor though and the fans kick on and it pulls it back down in temp. Ac on = fans on also like said.
I guess I know tomorrow's project. LOL
This is all caused btw... cause the tiny nut on one of the fans holding the blade to the motor fell of sending the nut and fan into the radiator. Girlfriends car... Punched a hole in it. So I replaced the radiator, put the fan back on. Fans don't work. The catch is, they may have never worked for all I know... LOL Her check engine has been on for an egr code. When I pulled the codes yesterday it had one for the sensor also... No clue how long it's had the code though...
Replace the coolant temperature switch at the bottom of the radiator. Then run the engine while parked, from cold all the way up to the point where the radiator fans kick in (no A/C on) to make sure the new radiator coolant temperature switch is working properly. I think it will.
Put a new sensor in the car... Kinda forced it up to 200+ degrees on purpose yesterday. The fans kicked on at 206 according to the OBDii reader I had plugged in. Everything seems to be good to go which is a relief cause now I can get my Jeep back from her that she's been driving since the car died pulling into my driveway on Thursday afternoon!!! LOL
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). What they said about the temp switch on the radiator...
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