Cooling fan not turning on

I have a 1992 Accord LX. For the last few weeks, the temperature gauge
would read very hot while idling, but after I accelerated, it would
decrease. For the last few days, it goes to very hot(the red part of
the gauge) after just several minutes of driving.When I open the hood
with the engine running, the cooling fan does not turn on. When I turn
the engine off, the cooling fan kicks in. I have replaced the cooling
fan relay with no luck. Any ideas on what could be causing this? would
there be a way to temporarily wire it so that the fan is always
running when the car is running?

Jason

 

I should also add that I have already replaced the Main Relay and
turning the heater up full blast does not make a difference.

 

Most of those Jap cars use a Thermal ground switch that
attaches to the engine or radiator, it looks like a sending units that
screws in to the water jacket with 1 wire
coming of it.
When a preset temp. is reached the switch completes the circuit to ground
and turns on the cooling fan,
you can bypass the switch by removing the wire and connecting it directly to
ground.
The cooling fan will run when the ignition is turned on.

 

I would next consider testing and/or replacing the coolant temperature switch.
There appear to be two for your Accord. See

http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/AccordManual/400/16-103.pdf

especially the first page (component locations) and the last page (the test).

For more general info about your radiator, see
http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/AccordManual/index.html under "Engine," then
"Radiator."

When you go after the coolant temperature switch(es), you might want to replace
the current thermostat with a new, OEM thermostat at the same time. Just to help
bring the whole system "up to date." (Unless of course you know the current
thermostat is pretty new and OEM.) You'll be in the area of the thermostat,
anyway, when you go after the switches.

www.autozone.com likely has more specifics for replacing the switches. Click on
"Repair Guides" on the right, put in your car's info, look under "engine
mechanical" (or similar) for cooling fan info, and go.

 

While my 81 Rabbit was like this, this isn't even remotely true for the
90-93 Accords. There is lots that can cause this problem, even with good
sending units and a good relay.

Bill: use google's "groups" search feature, and search this NG for 'accord
cooling fan'

As example here's a thread from someone who got some responses. It wasn't
exactly your problem, but the ensuing discussion explored many of the
components, and some tests to run:
http://tinyurl.com/3p55q

Good luck,
Arthur