Cooling fan not working engine stalls when relay bypassed?

DAKOTADAILY

MEMBER
1998 DODGE DAKOTA
180,000 MILES

Engine fans are not working, temperature sensor works, fresh coolant, good relay. Bypassed relay by jumping terminals but when I shut engine off it stalls, only happens when I jump the relay. Tested wiring for continuity and it works. Clueless as to what to do next.

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,256 POSTS

When you say cooling fans there is only one correct? If so, unplug the fan motor and try jumping it again if the system doesn't shut down replace the fan motor because it has shorted out.

This guide can walk you through the steps:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-electric-fan-motor

Here is the cooling fan wiring diagram so you can see how the system works. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

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Tuesday, December 27th, 2022 AT 12:21 PM

DAKOTADAILY

MEMBER
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Yes, it's only one fan. I'm sorry I didn't mention it's a new fan. But I unplugged it and tried reconnecting the relay without the fan and it still clicks as if it's getting tripped, connected an ohm meter to check volts and still has no power to the fan plug. Only shows 12.7 volts if I jump the relay. Is there a way to check the fan? It works with battery terminals. As I said it's a brand-new fan but maybe defective somehow.

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Tuesday, December 27th, 2022 AT 5:10 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,256 POSTS

If the fan works when connected to the battery it might be okay or it works but draws too many amps and is defective. How big of spark does it make when connected? If it is excessive the fan motor is no good. You can see the wiring to the fan is straightforward, check out the wiring diagrams above. You can run a new power wire from the Lt/Grn wire from the PDC in case it is pinched somewhere. Let me know how it goes.

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Thursday, December 29th, 2022 AT 1:08 PM