Unusual cooling fan issue? NEED HELP!

[JDM97LegacyGT]

Hey all-

I have a 2001 Legacy GT Limited, 5 speed manual. 194,000 miles.
For the last few months I've been trying to get to the bottom of an unusual problem I've been having.

When my cooling (radiator) fans come on, they just stay on. It seems like they come on very quickly after driving the car, only about 10 minutes of driving, and they're on already. My temperature gauge has never moved (until recently). But this problem has been happening for over 3 months.

The fans will go off when you shut the car off. But if the car is running, they will NOT shut off. They keep going, even though the temp gauge stays at half, sometimes below half.

Now the weird part is this- the fans will shut off if you are in neutral, and rev the engine up above 2k for about 10 seconds or so. Let the engine back to idle speed, and they are off! This seems to be the only way to get them to shut off when the car is running. No it's not a coincidence, it was worked every time I've done this.. probably a hundred times.

I've replaced the following: thermostat, coolant temperature sensor, radiator fan relays, and most recently a new radiator and hoses. I'm tired of spending money only for it to not solve the issue.

My friend believes it is something electrical. But I am leaning more towards a water pump. (I think the water pump makes more sense based on syptoms, but it isn't leaking or making noise)

THANKS FOR THE HELP IN ADVANCE

[d1giPhux]

Not sure, but have you checked all your ground connections on the car? Ground connections can cause some really weird gremlins sometimes, so you may want to have a look at it. Sounds like a weird issue.. bump for you since I'm not sure really what to check out besides ground wires!

Also, check your relays and see if they may possible be causing the issues.

[JDM97LegacyGT]

I'll give a look at the ground connections tonight. I forgot to add that the car wants to overheat going up long steep inclines. But this just started recently. The more I think about it and type this, I'm leaning towards water pump. My relays are also new...

[harrymaneuvers]

With that mileage, your radiator might be on its way out.

The temp rising while going uphill is definately a sign that your cooling system can not cool or pump as well as it should be.

I had a temp rising issue during long uphill drives in the WRX. Replaced the radiator with an Autozon lifetime warranty Spectra and it solved the problem completely.

Honestly, the coolant gauge (needle) that is in our cars cluster is not a deadly accurate gauge. In fact I think there there is a pretty darn large range of temps that will cause it to show as normal.

I know in the WRX, the needle would be in the same position from about 160 degrees all the way up to 212 degrees. At that point, the needle was just barely above where it normally was.

Getting close to 224 gets your needle almost to the mark before H (3/4 mark).

Your waterpump or radiator going out would also be the reason why your fans are turning on quickly (within 10 minutes of driving is actually normal as long as they turn off after a minute or two) and staying on.

I believe they will turn on at anything above 204 degrees but I could be slightly wrong.


You are getting close to your next timing belt interval and you will most likely remove the radiator when you do it so I suggest just doing the timing belt and replacing the radiator and waterpump while you are in there.

[Wiscon_Mark]

/\ Good post. My temp gauge always reads normal and my ScanguageE shows that I reach 205* fairly frequently. If it's spiking, you're getting pretty hot.

[harrymaneuvers]

If it's spiking, you're getting pretty hot.

Especially if it is cold outside!

Now that I think of it... I had the Scangauge hooked up to both the WRX and FXT when I was having heating/cooling issues with each of them and I had similar gauge (needle) readings with corresponding Scaangauge readings.

Because I just looked into this... I know that a Spectra brand radiator at Autozone is only $129.99... a bargain compared to the OEM replacement which is NOT guaranteed for LIFE against manufacturers defects (like leaks from end tanks) for $310 MSRP.

[L.Michael]

Throwing this out, which fan is going? When I had an air lock in my system, the right fan would go continuously, and the left fan would run normally.