Which is the Engine Cooling Fan Motor Relay?

2000 MAZDA MPV
150,000 MILES • 2.5L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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STEVE W.
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  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Actually the issue is usually that the airflow starts to lift the hood and then you hit a bump and the safety latch fails. The air grabs the hood and folds it back over the windshield. That commonly destroys the hood, dents the roof and many times it breaks the windshield.
I would use the temperature gun to check the actual temperatures.
May 10, 2024 at 7:59 PM
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MING FENG
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Thank you so much for telling me this. I had no idea before. I searched online and saw several people posted their terrible experiences of driving on highway with their car hood popped. This afternoon I drove on the highway at 70MPH. Luckily, nothing happened to me. I will not do it again.
May 10, 2024 at 8:31 PM
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MING FENG
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hello Steve, I tested the temperature using a thermometer after driving half an hour with AC on. The engine is about 150 degree. and the alternator area is about 200. Do the numbers look normal? (I still feel the rod is too hot.)
Thanks a lot.
Ming
Jun 2, 2024 at 6:20 PM
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STEVE W.
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  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Yep, those would be normal. The coolant temperature in most modern cars runs well over 200 degrees. For example your thermostat is supposed to start opening at about 180-190 degrees and be fully open at 210 degrees. The cooling fan or fans are normally set up one of 2 ways. A single fan with two speeds or two fans that engage at different temperatures. In both cases it's normal for the fan to come on a low speed around 215-220 degrees, then kick to high speed around 235 degrees. So they will be very hot if you touch anything in there. Totally normal.
Jun 2, 2024 at 6:57 PM
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MING FENG
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Got it. Thank you so much. (I forgot to test how hot the coolant tank is but I think it should be around 200. I will double check it. )
Jun 2, 2024 at 7:10 PM
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