3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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Hey everyone, i have a 2001 camry ce, 4cyl (5 speed) and one day while driving in traffic the temperature gauge shot all the way up. the radiator fans only turn on in high speed mode (when the car is near overheating), and never activate the low speed. according to the manual the fans should have too speeds, a low speed at 180 and a high speed at 200ish. I have replaced the switch at the bottom of the radiator with no improvement. The fans only turn on when the guage approaches the red zone. the car only overheats in traffic, after its been sitting a while, and activating the ac brings it to normal b/c it forces fans on. for now im driving with the switch disconnected so fans are always on and it drives 100% perfectly with the switch disconnected. and i have checked all fuses and relays. so im just wondering why my low speed radiator fans dont come on? (btw, i also replaced the dash sensor so i know its not a bad temp sensor, and my thermostat was also changed with a coolant flush) thnx for the help, im new on this forum.
Check your fan relays. There are 3 of them, not sure which ones are responsible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milkshake
Hey everyone, i have a 2001 camry ce, 4cyl (5 speed) and one day while driving in traffic the temperature gauge shot all the way up. the radiator fans only turn on in high speed mode (when the car is near overheating), and never activate the low speed. according to the manual the fans should have too speeds, a low speed at 180 and a high speed at 200ish. I have replaced the switch at the bottom of the radiator with no improvement. The fans only turn on when the guage approaches the red zone. the car only overheats in traffic, after its been sitting a while, and activating the ac brings it to normal b/c it forces fans on. for now im driving with the switch disconnected so fans are always on and it drives 100% perfectly with the switch disconnected. and i have checked all fuses and relays. so im just wondering why my low speed radiator fans dont come on? (btw, i also replaced the dash sensor so i know its not a bad temp sensor, and my thermostat was also changed with a coolant flush) thnx for the help, im new on this forum.
I checked again and I think I got it wrong previously. There may be variations, however, but I think the radiator fan should operate only in single-speed mode.
The high-low speeds work only when AC is also on.
So you may have to check the level of coolant in the radiator when cold. Is it full? Also you need to verify the operation of the thermostat and water pump. The coolant flow inside the radiator should not be obstructed.
If the fan turns on only when the temp gauge nears the red zone, then the hot coolant isn't reaching the radiator fan switch at the bottom of the radiator in time.
When were the coolant, water pump, and thermostat last changed?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milkshake
Hey everyone, i have a 2001 camry ce, 4cyl (5 speed) and one day while driving in traffic the temperature gauge shot all the way up. the radiator fans only turn on in high speed mode (when the car is near overheating), and never activate the low speed. according to the manual the fans should have too speeds, a low speed at 180 and a high speed at 200ish. I have replaced the switch at the bottom of the radiator with no improvement. The fans only turn on when the guage approaches the red zone. the car only overheats in traffic, after its been sitting a while, and activating the ac brings it to normal b/c it forces fans on. for now im driving with the switch disconnected so fans are always on and it drives 100% perfectly with the switch disconnected. and i have checked all fuses and relays. so im just wondering why my low speed radiator fans dont come on? (btw, i also replaced the dash sensor so i know its not a bad temp sensor, and my thermostat was also changed with a coolant flush) thnx for the help, im new on this forum.
I checked again and I think I got it wrong previously. There may be variations, however, but I think the radiator fan should operate only in single-speed mode.
The high-low speeds work only when AC is also on.
So you may have to check the level of coolant in the radiator when cold. Is it full? Also you need to verify the operation of the thermostat and water pump.
Opps you are right they are only single speed fans. So now im really confused as to why my fans come only when the car is approaching the overheating state? it only occurs in traffic when ive been sitting for a while. the coolant level is fine and has been drained and replaced. Thermostat has also been replaced with autozone unit. car drives fine on highway, and with radiator fans on all the time.
Car has 90,000 miles on it. i dont think the water pump has ever been changed. I guess it is time for it to be changed. im wondering if that would be the issue though, only because i assumed that with a bad pump it would overheat on the highway as well. then again i guess there are different levels of bad pumps and mine may be allowing it to drive fine on highway and just overheat in traffic.
Yes, a bad pump should more likely to overheat on the highway, primarily because a defective impeller (corroded or loose) not pumping enough coolant.
So the car never overheats on the highway? Like the temp gauge is always middle-normal type of a thing? And as you slow down the gauge goes to the top? And then if you speed up again the gauge goes down to normal?
If so it almost sounds like there is air in the system. How's the level in the reservoir tank when cold and when hot? And the level in the radiator when the engine is COLD (never open hot of course)? Does the radiator hose feel pressurized when warm?
In general, I wouldn't use an aftermarket thermostat for any car, domestic or import. I'd get an OEM thermostat and a new gasket. The lack of a jiggle valve can be a problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milkshake
Car has 90,000 miles on it. i dont think the water pump has ever been changed. I guess it is time for it to be changed. im wondering if that would be the issue though, only because i assumed that with a bad pump it would overheat on the highway as well. then again i guess there are different levels of bad pumps and mine may be allowing it to drive fine on highway and just overheat in traffic.
Car temperature stays in the middle during highway. it does not go up as i slow down or accelerate. The temperature only begins to go up during stop and go traffic. and the fans only turn on when the temp gauge is getting near the red zone. but highway driving it stays right in the center. and as soon as i get any air passing past the radiator it returns to normal. so right now with fans on all the time stop and go traffic is fine, i just dont want them on all the time i want it to turn on when it should.
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