2002 Pontiac Sunfire SLX Fan Doesn't Turn On, Overheats

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sunfireslx02

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Hey, I am new to this site and I need some help with this car. I just recently purchased a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SLX Canadian model with the 2.2 letre engine. When I first bought the car, I noticed the cooling fan for the radiator wasn't moving. I assumed this was ok, as it would kick in if it noticed the engine getting too hot. It was cold the past few days, and I noticed my temperature gauge goes up pretty quickly to 90 and climbs a few lines above it. Anyway, yesterday it was real warm and in a matter of about 3 minutes my car went from a few lines above 90 all the way up to the red zone (125). I quickly pulled over and the car shut off on me as I was turning into a parking spot. I don't know if this was because the car was hot? When I was looking at the car to decide if I wanted to buy it or not I turned the steering wheel all the way to the right, and to the left to check the cv boots and the car shut off on me. The check engine light and oil and ABS light are on the dash. The car starts up fine.

Anyway, last night me and my brother had a look at the car and the fuse panel box under the hood. We tested the fuses to see if they were getting power to them. They were fine besides the Cooling Fan fuse. I took it out and there is a rattle sound inside of it like something is broken. All the other fuses light up and sound ok. So I went to GM today and bought a new Cooling Fan Relay and put it on, the fan came on for about 3 seconds very slowly and then stopped.

So here's my problem: The cooling fan does not come on at all. I bought a new Cooling Fan Motor from Napa for like 52$ and I need to install it. I just can't find out how to take off the old motor and where is it located to?? I tried picking up a haynes repair manual but no stores here in town had them. I need to replace this asap does anyone know where I would find a diagram? Or maybe you have done this yourself and you know how? If so, please help me. Really appreciated, thanks!!
 
Did u hook up the fan motor to direct battery power when mine went out it was Just the plug. The fan is right on the radiator in the engine bay. Hope this helps a bit
 
No, I never. I checked the fuse relay with a light tester and it never lighted up. I took it out and there was a rattle inside (all the other relays sounded normal), so I replaced it. When I put it in and started the car, the fan came on very slow for about 3 seconds then turned off. In the past few days I replaced the fan motor, thermostat, coolant temperature sensor, new coolant cap... when I put the thermostat, coolant temperature sensor and new coolant cap on last night, the fan did kick in. But the car overheated in a matter of minutes. I took it for a drive around the block and it went all the way up to the red zone (125) and I had to shut it off before I even pulled in my driveway. I am out of ideas??
 
I have looked up online and some people say it could be blown head gasket but I doubt it.. car doesn't smoke and it seems to keep oil pretty good. It was driven by two female owners before. Could there be air in the system? I've tried pretty much everything I can think of, there must be something causing the engine to overheat so much in such little time.
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When it overheats does the over flow cap pop open?
 
hey did you figure out how to fix it?
my sunfire does this as well..I hooked up a code reader and it said that the fan relay system is not working. to stop it from over heating I have to turn the heat on full blast and roll the windows down. it cools it down quite quickly but on hot days this solution just doesn't cut it haha. I've had to do that on a few cars..but have yet to ever fix the actual problem.
 
GrandpriX07 said:
hey did you figure out how to fix it?
my sunfire does this as well..I hooked up a code reader and it said that the fan relay system is not working. to stop it from over heating I have to turn the heat on full blast and roll the windows down. it cools it down quite quickly but on hot days this solution just doesn't cut it haha. I've had to do that on a few cars..but have yet to ever fix the actual problem.
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Mine doesn't work either on my 98. What I do is also turn the heater on full blast with the windows down, but I aim the heater down to my feet since I can stand more heat on my feet then it blowing full blast in my face.
 
sunfireslx02 said:
Hey, I am new to this site and I need some help with this car. I just recently purchased a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SLX Canadian model with the 2.2 letre engine. When I first bought the car, I noticed the cooling fan for the radiator wasn't moving. I assumed this was ok, as it would kick in if it noticed the engine getting too hot. It was cold the past few days, and I noticed my temperature gauge goes up pretty quickly to 90 and climbs a few lines above it. Anyway, yesterday it was real warm and in a matter of about 3 minutes my car went from a few lines above 90 all the way up to the red zone (125). I quickly pulled over and the car shut off on me as I was turning into a parking spot. I don't know if this was because the car was hot? When I was looking at the car to decide if I wanted to buy it or not I turned the steering wheel all the way to the right, and to the left to check the cv boots and the car shut off on me. The check engine light and oil and ABS light are on the dash. The car starts up fine.

Anyway, last night me and my brother had a look at the car and the fuse panel box under the hood. We tested the fuses to see if they were getting power to them. They were fine besides the Cooling Fan fuse. I took it out and there is a rattle sound inside of it like something is broken. All the other fuses light up and sound ok. So I went to GM today and bought a new Cooling Fan Relay and put it on, the fan came on for about 3 seconds very slowly and then stopped.

So here's my problem: The cooling fan does not come on at all. I bought a new Cooling Fan Motor from Napa for like 52$ and I need to install it. I just can't find out how to take off the old motor and where is it located to?? I tried picking up a haynes repair manual but no stores here in town had them. I need to replace this asap does anyone know where I would find a diagram? Or maybe you have done this yourself and you know how? If so, please help me. Really appreciated, thanks!!
Click to expand...

On my 96, it used to shut off going slow speeds and while turning the wheel sharp. Cleaned the idle air control valve and it fixed the problem.
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Haha true. I'm going to take a look at it and see if replacing just the fan works. I am trying to get my engine light off, resetting it works for about a day. hopefully I get it fixed before summer. it doesn't over heat to much in the winter. sits around 90 or a few over.
 
Last edited:
GrandpriX07 said:
thanks:)
Click to expand...

Yw. On my 96, I took the car to the mechanic to get a motor mount fixed and I had him look at my radiator fan cause the fan wasn't working right. All he did was apply power directly to the fan motor from the car battery, and it fixed the problem.
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I hope it's a simple fix. I'm working on putting 2 new wheel hub assemblys on the front 2 tires and then fixing the main cylinder so when I stop it's not so rough haha. think I will worry about the fan after that. I lent my car to a realative and they put bad gas in the tank so they thought it was best to drill a hole into the tank, then not seal it properly. then the fuel system went bc of the bad gas so they took it apart and then hot glued it back together. I didn't know until it went completely. had to replace the entire fuel system etc. this car should be like new when I am done with it haha.
 
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