1992 Buick Century Radiator Fan Not Spinning

1992 BUICK CENTURY
118,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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LEXIQUE
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  • 1 POST
The radiator fan on my 1992 Buick Century stopped running last night and I can not see an obvious reason why. There is no structural damage to the fan or casing preventing its movement and the motor is still connected to the fan.

I know that the previous owner had the fan motor replaced shortly before I purchased the vehicle (8 months ago) so it is possible that it has gone again. Right now I am on the road so do not have access to my usual tools and have been using whatever I can get my hands on from passers by. I am trying to get the fan casing off of the frame of the vehicle so that I can access the motor to see if it is indeed the problem but I can not find a socket that will loosen the bolts. I have tried imperial and metric sockets (9mm and 3/8 inch are too small while 10mm and 7/16 inch are too big). No one has heard of anything between these sizes and neither have I. What am I doing wrong? Does anyone know what size these bolts should be?

Also, if there is not something mechanically wrong with the fan motor, any suggestions what else I might try and trouble shoot?
Feb 20, 2010 at 11:06 AM
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JDL
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 16,098 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Hi, some models, if you turn on the ac, the fan comes on. If you unplug the coolant temp sensor, the fan may come on. If you access your trouble codes, jumper wire at A & B terminals of datalink connector, the fan may run. I'd check the above before taking anything loose.
Feb 20, 2010 at 11:16 AM
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