newby cooling question

[msand9898]

I just bought a 2000 996 c4 and need some advice...

Today I warmed it up till it was at 180 degrees (at begining of "0" of the 180 degree mark) and then turned off the car.

 

Then I disconnected the engine temp sensor plug and turned on the ignition, voila the fan goes on but it turns off when I plug the sensor back in?

Now I read that the engine compartment fan is supposed to switch on when the engine compartment temperature is greater than 176 degrees.

The engine compartment fan does NOT turn on when temps are 176 degrees.

 

So is my engine blower fan ok, is it a relay, fuse, or maybe the temp sensor?
 

[Ahsai]

How do you know your engine compartment temperature at the spot where the temp sensor sits (between the right intake runners on top of the engine) was greater than 176 degree?

Edited January 30, 2016 by Ahsai

[msand9898]

Well I did this because the needle at first showed close to 210 degrees, so I took a temperature gun and read the temp on the reservoir at about 210 degrees and the reading was spot on at 208.

[Ahsai]

While the coolant maybe at 200, the engine compartment temp may be much lower.

[msand9898]

So is steam rising out of engine deck lid ok?

[msand9898]

That's what really prompted me to look into this.

[msand9898]

Other than the fuse on the driver side kick panel, is there other fuses for this fan?

[Ahsai]

No, steam coming out is not normal and your problem is not the engine bay fan. It could be the coolant cap not holding pressure. Should use the latest cap that ends with .04 p/n.

Also check if both of your coolant radiator fans are running at both low speed and high speed (at higher temp). Whenever the a/c is ON, both fans should be on low speed. You can put your hand on the ground about one foot in front of the front tires to feel the air flow.

[Ahsai]

Other than the fuse on the driver side kick panel, is there other fuses for this fan?

No, B4 is the only fuse for the engine bay fan but again, your problem is somewhere else if steam comes out of the engine lid.

[msand9898]

Thanks I'll check my cap