Been puzzling over this for a while. For a few weeks now my radiator fans cut in very soon after stopping and then will not go off no matter how long i wait. If i turn the car off then restart the fans do not come on telling me that the coolant temp isn't that high and the fans should have gone off. My journeys are genrally about 30-60mins to/from work on some A-roads and motorway. So what could be casuing this???

Any help would be most appreciated.

Tony.

P.s the coolant is topped up and isn't loosing any fluid.

Thermostat ?

I have a feeling it's not the thermostat because if i just let the car idle up to temp the cooling fan cuts in and out as it should.... it's only after a prolonged drive. Im thinking that there's too much heat building up under the bonnet and heat soak is the problem. I must put the turbo heat shield on and wrap the downpipe. Saying that tho why has it only just started doing it?????? :confused:

Tony.

The problem is that with the engine switched off the water is not circulating, the rad fan/s will cool the radiator nicely but the water by the switch will stay hot for much longer as it is not being cooled as such...
Well that my guess anyway :D
Rob
Sticky relay whilst engine is off...????

this may sound daft but change the temp sensor and it will cure it. thats the first sign of a knackered sensor.

Cheers scoobyboy,

How would the temp sensor cause it tho? Do you work for a subaru dealer.... can't remember if it's you or not?

Tony.

I believe when the ecu gets a dodgy signal from the coolant temp sensor it switches the fans on incase the engine is hot and it doesn't know it.. so that it cannot blow the engine...

Hence y the fan is on..

you could try checking if there is any check engine light history too

JGM :)

No error codes at all :confused: .

Tony.

Pretty sure it will be the temperature sensor

Anybody any idea how much these things cost?

Tony.

Would the temp sensor have any effect on the temp gauge in the car.... this works as normal.

Tony.

temp gge in the car is pony mine stays in the same position even when my defi goes to 94 when sitting in traffic.
normal running temp 82-84 on defi and up to 94 when fans kick in when caught sitting..my temps slightly higher due fmic but standard temp gge doesnt move

No the temp gauge is a separate sensor I believe.

Also as said the temp gauge sits at normal all the time.. if it gets to hot them panic... as it is very hot..

You could check the wiring and connectors on the sensor and perhaps removing it and clean it.. as it is working and not working etc.. watch it doesn't cause you problems starting when cold as it will assume the car is hot.. hence no rich mixture (choke).

Not sure on cost.. dealer will do them obviously or try GRADE A SUBARU for a secondhand one.

JGM

o.k I have just replaced the temperature sensor on MY93 WRX. Purchased mine from Graham Goode cost me abot £45 inc delivery IIRC. A real tricky job though getting to the sensor to take it out (not much room to work) and careful when removing it as coolant will gush out once the old one has been unscrewed (I found out the hard way) ;)

If you want anymore info. just let me know.....

cheers

Cheers Nelson... £45 isn't too bad (can you e-mail me with details where the sensor is please).

Im still not sure it's the temp sensor tho.... the cold start is fine. If the sensor is fecked why does it operate fine when the car is left to idle up to temp... i.e fans come on and off as they should :confused: Think im just gonna have to bite the bullet and change it anyway tho :( .

Tony.

tone loc i do work for a dealership and i think jgm2 is correct in the safety thing. £45 is expensive i think we sell them for £27 + vat but cant remember tho.

Tone

no problem bout the info. I can't really comment about the price of the temp sensor that I bought all Ican say it is oem Subaru part and is a direct replacement. The link for the site is http://www.grahamgoode.com/cgi-bin/page.pl?car=subaru&page=engparts.htm

Just scroll down the page until u get to ignition/electrics -
GGS808 Temperature sender unit for ECU pre 1998 cars £35.86

I seem to remember it costing me about £42ish inc delivery.

Hope this helps mate

Chris Palmers website has info on location

Chris Palmers site

Specifically
http://www.saxonfields.freeserve.co....%20Page/s8.gif
Copy right Chris.. hope he doesn't mind..

Mind you I know I have been drinking but I cannot work out where that is... perhaps with the diagram and the engine in front of you it muight be clearer?

I'd check the connections they might be dirty..

Also keep checking the water.. you might have an air lock..

JGM

Cheers Guys,

I do check the water regularly and all seems well. I'll find the sensor and check all the connections etc. I'll also give my local dealer a bell and get a price for the sensor.... £27 sounds good :D .

Tony.

Hope you sort it mate.

JGM :)

Hmmmmmm...... just thought that the problem appears to be when i've been on the motorway. Basically when i drive home from work im running at 70-80mph on the motorway and im stationary after about 3 mins after getting off the motorway..... the fan then comes on as soon as i stop and appears to not want to go off. Tonight i had to go somewhere from work so got off the motorway and drove down 30mph limit roads for about 15-20 mins.... the fan cut in and out as normal when i stopped (as i've said before if the car is left to idle to temp all is fine also). So im thinking that due to my heatshield being in the boot :rolleyes: at a constant 4000rpm (at 80mph) there's a hell of a lot of heat generated and as such a lot of heat soak so the fan cuts in and then appears to not want to go off. If i drive gently for a while at 30mph all is well.

Still not sure... should be wrapping the downpipe and putting the shield back on soon tho.

Tony.

Hi Tony,

I had the same problem on mine before the fmic went on, it ended up to be the water temp sensor £29 from cheam subaru. It's a bitch to replace as well you'll need to remove a few pipes and try not to drop the spanner, I lost my 12mm somewhere down there. Thinking about it a deep socket may make it easier but you still need to get your hand in to put the wire on the end.

Still no air filter!

Rgds, Bryan

Bloody hell..... how long has the filter been on order now????

I'll have to resign myself to spending money then :( . I'll order the part next week and try to do it over the weekend.

Tony.