Cooling fan identity

[SteveG94GT]

I have a 1996, V6, 3.8 convertible (in case it is relevant, and red, lol). How can I indisputably determine if the cooling fan set up I have is a one or two speed fan? I am having cooling issues and want to make sure I am trouble shooting a two speed and that is in fact a two speed. Thanks.

 

[Noobz347]

Look at the fan motor:

A single speed fan will have 2 wires.
A 2-speed will have 3 wires.

 

[SteveG94GT]

Look at the fan motor:

A single speed fan will have 2 wires.
A 2-speed will have 3 wires.

I definitely have two wires, so that is single speed. Thanks

 

[KRUISR]

Look at the fan motor:

A single speed fan will have 2 wires.
A 2-speed will have 3 wires.

Not necessarily. Contour fans are 2 wire fans and they are used as 2 speed fans. It depends on how things are wired up.

The thermoresistor in the Contour shroud will cut out 30% of the voltage (it will provide approximately 8V to the fan motors). That is how it achieves low speed. But the motors are still 2 wire - one power, one ground.

 

[SteveG94GT]

Not necessarily. Contour fans are 2 wire fans and they are used as 2 speed fans. It depends on how things are wired up.

The thermoresistor in the Contour shroud will cut out 30% of the voltage (it will provide approximately 8V to the fan motors). That is how it achieves low speed. But the motors are still 2 wire - one power, one ground.

Thanks. So, that means I still have a problem with no low speed fan at above operating temp. I did read in Haynes, that they all were 2 speed fans for 1994 to 2003, and the 3.8 and 5.0 had two wires and the 4.8 had 3. I did wonder why I had a ECT sensor if there was no low speed. Thanks for adding on to this. I would have sailed down the road thinking I was good and have problems showing up again. Would a code pull show where the problem could be, relatively?

 

[KRUISR]

Not that I have an SN, but I believe the fans are controlled by the CCRM. They have been know to fail. You may want to start there if your fan does still work.

 

[SteveG94GT]

Not that I have an SN, but I believe the fans are controlled by the CCRM. They have been know to fail. You may want to start there if your fan does still work.

I think I replaced it once already in 2019. I have an extra in the garage and no other to have one laying around. Thanks for the tip.