Cars runs very hot in stop and go traffic and I never hear the fans come on. Relays and fan motors check good. Haynes manual says power should always be available from #1 socket on relay board and it isn't for any of the three car on or off.

Temp indication on dash works. Is this the same sensor that the fans use? What actually turns the fans on? Is it safe to hard wire the fans to switches or somehow bypass the system?

 

Moving from thirdgen forum to the LT1 forum....

 

Out of the factory, these cars are designed to run hot, to reduce emissions. The easiest way to fight it is to install a 160 degree thermostat, manual fan switch, or have your PCM tuned to turn the fans on at a lower temperature.

There are two temperature sensors on your engine. One is in the driver side cylinder head, and goes directly to the temp. guage. The other is in the water pump and goes to the PCM, telling it how hot the car is.

You can either buy a manual fan switch, or wire one up yourself using this guide from Shoebox:

http://shbox.com/1/fan_sw_diagram1.jpg

 

With key off, you should see 12v at D1 of relay one and at F4 of relay two. Relay three won't have any power. If you are not getting this power, chase it back to the terminal where the fusible links are.