Fan Testing?

Just bought a 2009 Aveo that seems to be running hot.
The temp gauge reads at the half way mark after driving 15 miles from a cold start.
I noticed the colloant level was down about a half gallon. I filled it to the proper level and still get the same temp reading.
I never see the fan run.
Thanks for your help.


Questions:
Should the fan run for a short period after turning the engine off?
What is the best way to test the fan to see that it operates properly?
Can I disconnect the fan and hook it directly to a car battery to see if it works?
If I connect it to the battery with the wrong polarity, will it damage the fan?

...what makes you think the temp gauge reading halfway after 15 miles is abnormal? That is in fact, completely normal. The fan shouldn't kick on till about 215*. And halfway is about 200-215*. Over 215 and the temp gauge jumps to about 3/4

I think it is abnormal because I've owned over 50 cars in my lifetime and every one of them usually reads anywhere from the 1/4 mark to somewhere in between the 1/4 and 1/2 mark. Secondly, I have to wonder why the coolant was low. It could have not been filled correctly by the last owner or it could have overheated and dumped out the catch tank overflow or the water portion of the coolant mix could have evaporated due to excessive heat. I really have no way to determine the exact temp given the type of gauge it has. This however is my first Chevy, so I'm not sure especially since I cannot find a service manual on this car anywhere. Haynes/Chiltons does not have one and helm wants $200, more than I can afford.
What is the best way to test the fan?
I have a friend that said the fan should come on immediately after turning on the Air Conditioner.
I'm not sure if he is correct however I will give that a try tomorrow.
Thanks for your reply.
Any additional thoughts are welcome.

I havent owned nearly as many cars, but all of mine have gone right to 50% then hold there. I also have a scanguageII which reads the temp in degrees, which is what reading i am going off of for temp

My lumina, my dodge caravan, my dodge caliber and my dads dodge magnum all go right to half

You'll probably never see the fan run after highway driving or in the winter. In slow traffic on hot days, you'll hear it kick in. Does your car have A/C?

My car does have AC. I just now started it and then turned on the AC and the fan did not turn on. I believe the next step would be to check the fuses and then try disconnecting the fan and then run it direct to a battery to see if it turns on. Does any one know which fuse runs the fan? The inside cover of the fuse panel doesn't say.
Attachment 6271

I think I didn't look far enough in the owners manual. I think this is what I need to check before going to do the jump the fan test.
Attachment 6272

Yes. Check those. To test the fan, take out the fan hi relay, and a run a 15a fused line right from the battery to the bottom left plug in the fuse box for the fan hi relay. The fan should turn on.

I don't have a fused line to test with. Couldn't I completely remove the fan from the circuit and run it directly to a bench test battery?

It would be much easier and safer to spend <$5 to make a fused lead.

my old Plymouth's fans (it had Dual fans) would come on at 220F for the Low Speed fan, and 230F for the High Speed fan. the gauge would usually be slightly above the first thin hash mark under normal operation (the needle would get near the middle mark, then drop as the thermostat opened), and would only move to the halfway mark if it had been sitting idling for a long time (about that time, the Low speed fan would come on to cool down the cooling system)

Well, I just blew up my car!
No, just kidding. :)
I tried the fan test and it worked.
So I really don't know if this is an issue or not.
How would I test the relays to make sure they are working?

I will take it out again in the next day or two and test drive in downtown stop and go traffic for about 30 miles or 60 minutes which ever comes first and see what happens.
I hoping that I will get to hear the fan kick on automatically at some point and never see the temp go any higher or lose any coolant.
Maybe I will install a set of digital gauges. I wonder where to get a set of pillar gauges???

The relays are youre typical 5 pin auto relay

watch this vid
How a 5 Pin Relay Works - YouTube


Ground 85, apply power to 87. If you hear a click, you are good

EDIT; im not too sure about the terminal numbers. maybe someone else can chime in? im only good with 4 pin relays

Can you tell me if the fan should come on anytime the air conditioner is turned on?

For what its worth my temp guage sits right on the halfway mark. I have driven over 100k kilometers last year mostly highway with some city, and never had an issue where the guage went higher.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cmm47172

Can you tell me if the fan should come on anytime the air conditioner is turned on?

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it should, because air has to be moving across the condenser for the A/C to properly operate. I might ask my dealer to look up the Cooling Fan On/Off Temps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevin7898

For what its worth my temp guage sits right on the halfway mark. I have driven over 100k kilometers last year mostly highway with some city, and never had an issue where the guage went higher.

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Mine does the same, stays at about the halfway mark once the engine is warmed up. This is normal operation. Besides it's winter. Wait until summer to assess the fan operation.

Meanwhile, fill your cooling system to the proper level and check for leaks. Even if no leak is evident, check it weekly for a loss of fluid.

thymelock is right, unless your overheating, the car might never get hot enough for the fan to be necessary.

I just ran the car for 1 hour thru heavy stop and go traffic. The temp outside today is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The fan never came on during or after the drive. The temp gauge reached the half way mark and went no further.
When I stopped the car I noticed two things that concern me.
First, as soon as I got out of the car, I could smell the sweet smell of DEX-COOL coolant. Looking under the hood, I could see no coolant leakage.
Second, I noticed that the level of coolant in the surge tank never moved. It’s was the same level as when the car was cold.
It makes me wonder if the thermostat is operating properly. I did notice that both the upper and lower radiator hose were hot to the touch and so was the surge tank so I would think that the thermostat did have to open even if ever so slightly. I checked all hose clamps and all are tight.
I have yet to test the relays. If they are not extremely expensive, I think I will by some to test with and just to have some on hand if ever needed.
At this point, my main concern is that I can smell coolant.
Any thoughts anyone?

From your first post of this thread you did experience some coolant loss in the surge tank. Have you seen a lot of white smoke from the exhaust? Have you checked the oil to see if the color is normal or does it look like a chocolate milk? If so, you may have a blown head gasket.

No white smoke. The tail pipe is black and dry inside. I just changed the oil and filter today. The oil had no water in it. It looked like your regular old dirty oil. I went out and bought a UV leak detection kit and some coolant dye. I plan to pour that in tomorrow and let it go for a could days and then see if I can see a leak anywhere.
Attachment 6286

Well that's great to hear....hopefully you can track that leak!

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Originally Posted by Aveo5_boy

Well that's great to hear....hopefully you can track that leak!

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What leak?
Nothing in the OP or any other posts in this thread point to any sort of leak...

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Originally Posted by cmm47172

I went out and bought a UV leak detection kit and some coolant dye. I plan to pour that in tomorrow and let it go for a could days and then see if I can see a leak anywhere.

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Pickles....This is the post about the leak that i was referring to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aveo5_boy

Pickles....This is the post about the leak that i was referring to.

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But you mentioned a leak earlier on too. Honestly I don't even know why a leak is being discussed. A car was bought with the coolant not completely full. So the first thoughts are a coolant leak or blown head gasket? I mean come on, that's just grasping at straws

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cmm47172

I just ran the car for 1 hour thru heavy stop and go traffic. The temp outside today is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The fan never came on during or after the drive. The temp gauge reached the half way mark and went no further.
When I stopped the car I noticed two things that concern me.
First, as soon as I got out of the car, I could smell the sweet smell of DEX-COOL coolant. Looking under the hood, I could see no coolant leakage.
Second, I noticed that the level of coolant in the surge tank never moved. It’s was the same level as when the car was cold.
It makes me wonder if the thermostat is operating properly. I did notice that both the upper and lower radiator hose were hot to the touch and so was the surge tank so I would think that the thermostat did have to open even if ever so slightly. I checked all hose clamps and all are tight.
I have yet to test the relays. If they are not extremely expensive, I think I will by some to test with and just to have some on hand if ever needed.
At this point, my main concern is that I can smell coolant.
Any thoughts anyone?

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If you can smell coolant, then you do have a leak. However, it may be a very minor leak, one that is not worth worrying about at this time.

I had a similar situation with my old '89 Celica. When I had a timing belt changed at 120K the mechanic told me my head gasket was leaking a bit at the very edge of it. I never did find the leak (and eventually sold the car many years later), but I could smell coolant when the car was hot, from under the hood. I lost about a pint of coolant every few months. I never had any drips or puddles - just the slow drop in the reservoir and the occasional smell of coolant. When coolant hits the hot engine block it will evaporate but leave an odor. A bad thermostat gasket might also cause it. A slow leak in a heater core could also, but then you'd smell it inside the car, coming from the vents, when cold.

As long as you don't run low on coolant, it's no big deal. Just check on it monthly to make sure it doesn't get any worse. Watchful waiting and adding coolant is much cheaper than than a motor tear down - as long as it's only a very slow leak. :wink:

Is it possible that coolant you smell is because you just filled it? You might've dripped a little on the block. Or am I the only one that thinks this while thing is irrational...

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Originally Posted by Pickles

Is it possible that coolant you smell is because you just filled it? You might've dripped a little on the block. Or am I the only one that thinks this while thing is irrational...

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this MIGHT be a Long Shot, but is the Surge Tank cap damaged in any way? if you don't see any Physical Damage, have the cap Pressure Tested because caps CAN fail and cause the smell.

OK, now I think I'm getting somewhere.
I took the car out for a nice long drive then parked the car in my garage overnight.
The next morning I noticed a small puddle (about a shot glass full) of coolant on the floor next to the left front tire.
The coolant level in the surge tank was at the half-way mark just below the seam in the tank.

Next, I jacked up the car and put it on stands.
Looking from underneath, I could see drops of coolant on the bottom of the surge tank although I could see no indication that coolant had escaped around the pressure cap.
So I got to thinking that the surge tank may be leaking around the seam rather than from the cap.
Then I got to thinking, what if the cap did release coolant because it reached its pressure point?
If that were the case then I would be back to square one wondering if the fan is operating properly so I bench tested both fan relays and the fuses.
All tested good. I know testing relays thoroughly requires testing under a load however; I’m not quite sure how to do that.

So, unless anyone has any better ideas, I plan to borrow a cooling system pressure tester pump from AutoZone and test the entire cooling system as well as the cap.
I inquired about a replacement cap at AutoZone. They said it was rated for 20 psi. My surge cap has 17 psi stamped on it.
I’m also not sure if my cap is original to the car.
Can anyone tell me the correct PSI for this system; is it 17, 20 or something else?
If my cap is the original, am I taking a chance by using AutoZone's 20 psi replacement cap?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cmm47172

OK, now I think I'm getting somewhere.
I took the car out for a nice long drive then parked the car in my garage overnight.
The next morning I noticed a small puddle (about a shot glass full) of coolant on the floor next to the left front tire.
The coolant level in the surge tank was at the half-way mark just below the seam in the tank.

Next, I jacked up the car and put it on stands.
Looking from underneath, I could see drops of coolant on the bottom of the surge tank although I could see no indication that coolant had escaped around the pressure cap.
So I got to thinking that the surge tank may be leaking around the seam rather than from the cap.
Then I got to thinking, what if the cap did release coolant because it reached its pressure point?
If that were the case then I would be back to square one wondering if the fan is operating properly so I bench tested both fan relays and the fuses.
All tested good. I know testing relays thoroughly requires testing under a load however; I’m not quite sure how to do that.

So, unless anyone has any better ideas, I plan to borrow a cooling system pressure tester pump from AutoZone and test the entire cooling system as well as the cap.
I inquired about a replacement cap at AutoZone. They said it was rated for 20 psi. My surge cap has 17 psi stamped on it.
I’m also not sure if my cap is original to the car.
Can anyone tell me the correct PSI for this system; is it 17, 20 or something else?
If my cap is the original, am I taking a chance by using AutoZone's 20 psi replacement cap?

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I check the Pressure cap on Scoot's Surge Tank, and it had 17 PSI (120 KPa) proudly stamped on it. and I Know FOR A FACT that the cap on it is the Factory Original (she's only 3 Years old, and led a Hard Early Life as an Enterprise Rental Car) so If i were you, I would try to stick with the 17 PSI cap If you can.

Thanks for the info. I went to AZ and found there cap was not even the correct one. Also, I found that their loaner pressure tester pump would not fit my Aveo5 either.
I called around all the local parts places and no one has a 17 PSI cap. I guess it must be a dealer item and I’m sure that's going to cost $$. I will call them tomorrow.
I’m not sure what else to do without the proper test tools. I hate to spend money on a cap if it is not needed. Any ideas?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cmm47172

Thanks for the info. I went to AZ and found there cap was not even the correct one. Also, I found that their loaner pressure tester pump would not fit my Aveo5 either.
I called around all the local parts places and no one has a 17 PSI cap. I guess it must be a dealer item and I’m sure that's going to cost $$. I will call them tomorrow.
I’m not sure what else to do without the proper test tools. I hate to spend money on a cap if it is not needed. Any ideas?

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according to GMPartsDirect, the MSRP on the cap at the dealer is $11.04, which is only $4 more than the AZ/O'Reilly's Cap, and $4 LESS than a cap at Advance Auto.

Hi Everyone! I just got a new cap from the dealer that's exactly like the original and it was $12.00.
I have yet to see if this is the fix. At the moment, I have the car up on stands and am getting ready to do a four wheel brake job. Once I have that done, I will install the new cap and take her for a test drive. It may be a few days before I get back on this project. The area where (Southern Indiana) I live is under a winter storm warning and my garage is colder than you know what right now.

I have more questions...
Can any one tell me where to locate the temp sensor is on the engine?
Also, does anyone know how to test the sensor for proper operation?
This is one area of the cooling system that I have yet to inspect/test.

Please Help! I can't find the temp sensor on my 2009 Aveo5 LT.