QuestionMy 1997 Plymouth started running hot today and at idle the air does not seem to work. I suspect it is the "fan relay" as I think this is what was fixed about 3 weeks ago for the same problem. Could it be another problem?
AnswerHi Jim,
It could be the fan relay, but it could be anything else too from the fuse that powers the fan, the sensor of the coolant temp that tells the powertrain controller to activate the relay, to the fan itself. You didn't tell me the model so I can't be specific about the fuse #.
You can jumper to the fan from the battery to verify that it works, just look for the fan motor disconnect, separate it, and jump from the battery.
If you have a van, then that solid state fan relay, which is mounted on the frame rail just at the lower left corner of the fan module, had its problems in the '90's that led to a recall. The relay's viability depends upon its being firmly connected to the frame rail so as to dissipate the heat by conductivity. It is is loose in the mount, or the mount is not firmly attached to the rail, then it will likely fail again.
A fairly simple diagnosis with a voltmeter should identify which part of the chain is not functioning.
Roland
