Help ASAP!

[Shawnb]

Hey guys. New member and first thread. I have a 2003 grand prix and the coolant fans are not coming on. I put a new ect in and still nothing. The shops were closed so i couldnt get a new relay. But when i disconnect the ect the fans come on. They also come on when the air conditioning is turned on.

So do you think it might be the relay or something else?

Thanks for any help

[dsmuts]

ect? Could be a relay or coolant temp sensor.

[Scottydoggs]

the fans wont come on until the engine get so hot, being your in Canada, its cold, and the fans are not needed right now.

the fans are supposed to come on when the a/c is on.

unless you over heating, they you have a real problem.

[Shawnb]

Well it is cool here but its not cold enough to not need the fans. And sorry i meant coolant temp sensor. I dont know why i said ect.

Ya its overheating. When i shut the engine off when it over heats it wont start again until the engine cools down.

[dsmuts]

Your engine has to get to like 212* or something like that

[Shawnb]

It heats up to red line and no fans. I shut it down and it wont start until the temp reaches below 210-200. But i need my car for work and i cant drive it for more than 5-10 mins. Just hoping to get the fans working properly this weekend

[dsmuts]

Just unplug the sensor and the fans run? I'd just run it like that for a while.

[Sven the Sexman]

Well it is cool here but its not cold enough to not need the fans. And sorry i meant coolant temp sensor. I dont know why i said ect.

Ya its overheating. When i shut the engine off when it over heats it wont start again until the engine cools down.

FYI, ECT = Engine Coolant Temperature sensor so you sir are correct. As for the overheating, I know it sounds dumb, but is there coolant in the car?

[Scottydoggs]

could be a temp sensor. may even be a stuck t stat. even with out fans in this cold weather if your moving, the car should stay cool.

in my truck i had electric fans on a switch, i used to turn them off in the winder and never use them unless i was plowing snow. im talking under 35 deg. no fans on. any warmer sitting still it would get hot.

and ive yet to hear my fans turn on this winter in my regal.

[Sven the Sexman]

My thought is if the car overheated, it lost coolant. Then he replaced the ECT...lost more coolant. Refill requires bleed procedure...if not done, could lead to more overheating.

[dsmuts]

LIM gaskets probably leaking it is a 3100

[Sven the Sexman]

LIM gaskets or heads/head gaskets. Those are my guesses.

[Shawnb]

All good info. Thanks for your replies. Haha ya the coolant is topped up. But i think i could try bleeding it. Ive never done that before. Thermostat was changed a few months back i believe. I was working lots and took it in for a tune up cuz i didnt have time. He said he changed it so ill double check that.....it was a pretty sketchy shop that did the work...

[dsmuts]

Your bleeder is on the pass side of the motor on the metal coolant line that runs on the front of the motor.