please help gal with radiator fan relay switch question

[atoyotchick]

I am told that I need the relay switch that controls the radiator fan for my 94 Tercel. Toyota garage quoted me $80, I'm pretty sure thats way marked up. So I called a local parts store and said that this car has two relay units, one called the "radiator fan relay", and one called "engine fan cooling relay". Not sure which one I need, but one part is $65, while the other is $21.00. The guy at the toyota garage said that the fan that mounts to the radiator does not come on when idling in traffic, and that it was because the switch that controls it was bad. I also looked at rockauto.com and they list two similiar sounding relay switches as well, so the question is, which one of these do I really need? Thanks!

[TeaBag43]

I would replace both switchs because they are getting very old anyways....

[Donald]

If money is a problem, I would buy the cheaper one first and try that to see if it solved the problem. If it does then plan to changs the other one in the not too distant future, like TeaBag43 suggests. If it doesn't, then you have no choice, get the other.

There is a way to check them to see which one is bad, but that will require a little knowledge on how to test electrical circuits. If you are not so inclined, or don't have a friend with the necessary skill and tooling, follow the suggestion above.

Good luck.

[tercelite]

on the right side of the thermostat housing there is a switch called coolant temp. switch. turn on the ignition switch without starting the engine and pull this coolant switch connector. the radiator fan should start turning. this means the switch is bad because it is supposed to open when hot. if it does not run suspect the cooling fan relay located inside the fuse box near the battery. it is the only relay there with metal casing to dessipate heat. this should not cost more than $30. if you know how to use a multimeter i can show you how test it.

good luck.

be careful when testing for the fan might hit you.