So ive been driving my car now for awhile and awhile back i noticed the service engine light randomly coming on. Just now checking fluids in my car, i realized when it turns on but have no idea as to why it does. I cant scan it for codes because i dont have a scanner and am currently broke to get it scanned. When the vehicle is in park, the coolant fans kick on. When the coolant fan kicks on, the service engine light kicks on. When u put the car in drive, reverse, anything besides neutral,park, the coolant fans shut off and the light shuts off. Does any one have a clue as to what this could be? Bad relay? Bad coolant fan? Short in wiring? Any clues? Its got me stumped.

 

The coolant fans come on in response to many of the codes that turn on the SES light, so that's not unusual.

Without a scan, its really just a guessing game. Does the SES light come on when you first start it? The most common problem is a blown fuse for the AIR pump, so you might check that if the light comes on at or shortly after startup.

 

I just tried it again and the Fans turn on about 2 seconds after the light comes on. So its not a fan problem i guess. Ill go check fuses real quick and see how that comes back.

 

okay so the latest is this

I replaced the fuse for the AIR pump because it was blown. But now that my check engine light doesnt come on, my coolant fans dont want to turn on with the A/C off. My temperature just keeps climbing until its almost in the red and i have to turn the AC on and the coolant fan will kick on. While driving the car with or without the A/C on, the temperature wont go below the middle line. If u sit at a stop in gear with the A/C off, the temp climbs real fast as if it was low on water (which is a possibility). Im going to let the car cool down, check the water level, and get any air that could be in the lines out. Then ill post back.

So heres my new list of questions:
1) What temperature should the coolant fans come on at an idle.
2) Whats normal temps for this car on a hot day.

Also, a noise ive never really heard before, When u first start the car, theres a whining noise like something spinning. After about 30 seconds id say, it stops. When driving im hearing the noise inside the car also. Any ideas on that?

 

That whirring noise is the fuel pump and you described normal operation.

The cooling fans come on at 226F and 235F.....so idling in traffic in the summer will see high temps before the fans come on.

 

Both fans turn on at low speed at 226*F, and go to high speed at 235*F. It might still be a good idea to try and get it scanned, since it may indicate a problem with the coolant temp sensor in the water pump housing.

In heavy stop and go traffic on a really hot day, the temp gauge may get a bit above the center mark (210*F). On the freeway, at higher speeds, it should run below the center mark.

The noise you hear at startup is the AIR pump. Problem is it rusts up, and gets hard to turn, then the fuse blows. It may just blow again. There was a recall on the AIR pujmp in 95, and applicable to 95-97 cars. You should still be able to get a dealer to repair and upgrade the system for free, under the recall.

The AIR pump only runs for a couple minutes at startup to help the cats heat up faster. Then it turns off, until the next start.

 

Ya my fans wont kick into high speed at all. Doesnt even seem as if they are running on low. The temperature just keeps climbing til it gets to the line right before the red, and i turn the A/C on and it drops to the middle. But i think it might have an air pocket in the block.

What is the purpose of the AIR pump? I have no cats so is it even useful? The car seems to be idling a lot more steady now that the light is gone, but the car use to run A LOT cooler than it is now. On a hot day in stop and go traffic it never came near the middle line.

 

When you start the engine cold, the PCM supplies a very rich A/F mixture, to help it start and run cold. By injecting air into the exhaust manifolds, the excess fuel coming out of the cylinders ignites, and the heat that is released helps heat the cats up. They don't work until the get fairly hot, so this shortens the warmup cycle, and reduces the emissions during that period.

If you do not have a catalytic converter, there is no reason to have an AIR pump.

 

Okay, so what could my issue be with why my coolant fans dont turn on unless the A/C is on? I checked water level and its fine now but when im in gear, or in park with the A/C off, the fans wont kick on and the temp just keeps climbing.

 

You can either scan it and find out exactly what is going on. Or you can shutgun it and throw parts at it.

The scanner way would be to let it get hot with the AC off and see what temperature the PCM sees by way of it's sensor. If the temperature continues to read low then you can bet the sensor is bad.

 

Ya for now until i can get it scanned, im just gonna leave the AIR pump off so i know my fans are turning on. I like to ride with my windows down and my t-tops off since im in florida so i dont use A/C to often.

 

Say my sensor is bad, any idea on a price im looking at for that?