I replaced the stock oem radiator with an after market all aluminum radiator and electric fan. ( Note), the fan is rated at 1,530 cfm , at 12-v AC and only draws 13- amps and is connected to the cars own wiring harness for the stock fan, that was don over eight month ago. As of two weeks ago, the heater would blow out hot air, then cold , while at the same time my engine temp gage would start out at 143-145 degreez while doing 65-70 mph, while the gage is still climing past 230. I have since replaced the thermostat,coolent temp sensor, and coolent temp sending unit.. After refilling the cooling system and purging the system to get any air bubbles out, and running the engine up to 1500-rpm with the radiator cap off and using an exsternale temp gage w/ a wire probe lead sitting inside of the radiator filler neck, The coollent temp reached past 220 degreez while boilling out of the radiator, and the cooling fan still did not come on!!!
Check that you have a thermal switch to switch on the fan and not a temp sender unit. One completes the curcuit when a set temp is reached ,the other is a resistance unit that lowers the voltage which in turn reads hotter on the gauge.
If I do have this thermal switch on my car; where would it be located in the engine compartmen?If I do have this thermal switch on my car; where would it be located in the engine compartmen?
The thermal switch will be similar to the temp sender unit sometimes it will have 2 wires to allow current to pass through to a relay. It may have one as it may be on the ground side of the relay. As to location it will be in the head . some times it is next to the temp unit in which you would have 2 units near the thermostst housing. But it will be in the head near the frontWork back from the fan and check the relay if you find one then keep going until you get back to the head. If you still have original wire loom the color wire at the relay/fan will probably be the same color at the sender unitThe thermal switch will be similar to the temp sender unit sometimes it will have 2 wires to allow current to pass through to a relay. It may have one as it may be on the ground side of the relay. As to location it will be in the head . some times it is next to the temp unit in which you would have 2 units near the thermostst housing. But it will be in the head near the frontWork back from the fan and check the relay if you find one then keep going until you get back to the head. If you still have original wire loom the color wire at the relay/fan will probably be the same color at the sender unit
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I think you could be right about there being air trapped in the system. Or the heater core(radiator) is plugged. Either way you need a pressurized radiator coolant pump to put the coolant in without air being trapped. Although,i have seen it done by jacking the vehicle up high enough that the radiator was now higher than the heater core level, and then the coolant was put in. But this is dangerous to try.
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Remove the power steering reservoir and set aside.
Disconnect the cooling fan connector.
Remove the cooling fan mounting screws and the cooling fan.
To Install:
Install the cooling fan and the mounting screws. Tighten to 50 in-lb (5.5 Nm).
Connect the cooling fan connector.
Install the power steering reservoir.
Install the coolant bottle.
3.7L EngineTo Remove: NOTE: If the fan blade is bent, warped, cracked or damaged in any way, it must be replaced ONLY with a replacement fan blade. DO NOT attempt to repair a damaged fan blade. NOTE: For 3.7L Heavy Duty/Max Cool/Trailer Tow cooling package, the viscous fan cannot be removed separate from the shroud. Both fan and shroud must be removed together.
Disconnect battery negative cable.
Using special tool #6958 spanner wrench and #8346 adapters, remove the viscous fan from the water pump.
Gently lay fan into shroud.
Disconnect the electrical connector for the electric fan, then disconnect connector from shroud.
Remove the two fan shroud mounting bolts connecting the fan shroud to the radiator.
Remove the shroud and fan from the vehicle.
To Install:
Install fan shroud assembly into the vehicle. Tighten fan shroud to radiator bolts to 50 in-lb (5.5 Nm).
GM Grand Am/Achieva/Calais/Skylark/Somerset
1985-98
Radiator - REMOVAL & INSTALLATION CAUTION
Never open, service or drain the radiator or cooling system when
hot; serious burns can occur from the steam and hot coolant. Also, when
draining engine coolant, keep in mind that cats and dogs are attracted
to ethylene glycol antifreeze and could drink any that is left in an
uncovered container or in puddles on the ground. This will prove fatal
in sufficient quantities. Always drain coolant into a sealable
container. Coolant should be reused unless it is contaminated or is
several years old. A cross-flow radiator is used on most models. The radiators
used on automatic transaxle models are equipped with oil coolers with
inlet and outlet fittings for transmission fluid circulation. An
aluminum-plastic radiator can be identified by the black plastic side
tanks and aluminum radiator.
Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Drain and recycle the engine coolant.
If necessary for access to the radiator, remove the air intake
duct assembly or air cleaner assembly.
On automatic transaxles, disconnect and plug the upper oil cooler
line.
Disconnect the engine strut brace at the radiator, loosen the
engine side bolt and swing aside, if equipped.
Matchmark and remove the hood latch from the radiator support.
Detach the upper hose and coolant reserve tank hose from the
radiator.
Disconnect the forward light harness and fan wiring. Remove the
electric cooling fan. On some models this may not be able to be removed
unless the front end of the vehicle is raised and supported.
Raise and safely support the vehicle.
Remove the engine cooling fan if not yet done.
If equipped, remove the splash panel below the radiator outlet
hose. Detach the lower hose from the radiator.
If equipped, disconnect and plug the lower oil cooler line.
Carefully lower the vehicle.
If equipped with air conditioning, remove the radiator to
condenser bolts. Unbolt the refrigerant line clamp. Do not disconnect
the lines.
Remove the mounting bolts and clamp, then the shroud (if equipped)
and carefully lift the radiator out of the engine compartment.
To install:
Lower the radiator into position.
Install the mounting clamps and bolts, including those associated
with air conditioning parts.
Raise and safely support the vehicle.
If equipped, attach the automatic transaxle cooler lines.
Connect the lower hose(s) and attach the splash shield if
equipped.
If the engine cooling fan was removed while the vehicle was in the
air, install the assembly and attach all electrical wiring.
Carefully lower the vehicle.
If not already done, install the electric cooling fan, then attach
the electrical connector(s).
Connect the upper hose and coolant reserve tank hose.
Install the hood latch and strut brace.
Fill the system with coolant.
Connect the negative battery cable, then start the engine. Run the
vehicle until the thermostat opens, fill the radiator and recovery tank
to their correct levels, then check the automatic transaxle fluid
level.
Turn the engine
OFF
, then once the vehicle has cooled, recheck the coolant
level.
Hopew this help (remember comment and rated this) TY for using Fixya.
Drain engine cooling system as described. Disconnect upper radiator hose (8260) and lower radiator hose (8286) and radiator overflow hose (8075) from the radiator (8005). Disconnect the transmission oil cooler inlet and outlet lines from the radiator.
Remove cooling fan motor,fan blade (8600) and fan shroud (8146) assembly as described.
Remove radiator upper bracket retaining bolts and remove bracket. Lift radiator from vehicle.
Installation
Position the radiator into the vehicle. Install upper brackets and tighten bolts securely.
Connect the transmission oil cooler lines to the transmission oil cooler fittings.
Install cooling fan motor, fan blade and fan shroud assembly as described.
Engine Cooling Fan Motor, Fan Blade and Fan Shroud Assembly, Electrical
Removal
Disconnect (pull apart) the male-female cooling fan motor wiring connector at the side of the fan shroud (8146). Remove the male terminal connector retaining clip from the fan shroud mounting tab.
Remove two fan shroud upper retaining bolts at the radiator tanks.
Lift cooling fan motor/fan blade (8600)/fan shroud assembly past radiator (8005), disengaging fan shroud from two lower retaining clips.
Installation
Follow removal procedure in reverse order.
Tighten fan shroud retaining bolts to 5.2-7.2 Nm (46-63 lb-in).
If the engine is overheating when the A/C is operated it means your cooling system is marginal. Your radiator is probably blocked and now your cooling system cannot cope with the additional heat generated by the A/C radiator.(Remember the A/C radiator sits in front of the engine radiator) I'd recommend a cooling system flush and failing that, have the radiator cleaned by a specialist or replace it with a new unit.
YOU NEED TO TAKE IT OUT FROM THE BOTTOM REMOVE PLASTIC SHROUD THEN DRIAN AND PULL LOWER RADIATOR HOSE FROM RADIATOR AND THE REST IS PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY MAKE SURE YOU BUY THE CLIPS FOR THE WIRRING BEFORE YOU EVEN START
Not familiar with your vehicle but engines of that period will normally have them hidden under a fitting that probably is a diamond-shaped cast aluminum piece with one of the radiator hoses leading to it and held in place by two (rarely more) bolts.
It will be either on the head or the block.
Just follow the (large) hoses from the radiator and the one with a fitting as described will likely have the thermostat concealed under it.
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