Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Cooling Fan Short Cycling

I'm the recent purchaser of a 95 Contour Zetec, 5 speed. Great car, and I'm familiar with the drive train (had an escort.) Only problem is that the cooling fan only cycles for short bursts. Consequently, the temp at low speeds is higher than I'd like. Sorry if this is a topic you've recently covered. I checked faq and did a search, and didn't find any help.

Thanks

If you mean that the compressor clutch is frequently cycling on and off the most common cause is low refrigerant.

I should have been more specific. I was told that the fan should run continuously any time the compressor was engaged. It isn't. The compressor will kick on, and the fan will too. Problem is, the fan will kick off after a few seconds and the compressor is still running. Hope that helps.

CJB

There are some variations on number of fans and fan operation between models. Have you just one fan?

I think I would start diagnosis by checking normal operation with a/c off. At idle, alternator loaded with headlights and other accessories on will the car temp rise to the point where fan comes on, temp drops and fan goes off?

The a/c should bring fan on at high speed; repeat above and turn a/c on when fan comes on and see if speed changes.

From what I've read Zetec's tend to run hotter than v6 so where as my cars are usually in the 'NOR' part of gauge, yours might normally be in the 'MAL' part.

Ok, I took your advice and thoroughly observed the fan operation. Here's what happened. By the way, there' only one fan. Started car cold. It continued to warm up with fan only (no ac) and headlights on. Continued through normal to the far edge of "L." Then the rad fan kicked on, ran for 20 seconds or so and kicked out. Cooled to bottom edge of "L." Did this for several cycles.
Then, I turned on the AC. The fan cycled short, then longer, then longer, then longer, and finally stayed on. It cooled the engine to the middle of the gauge ("RM").
I also checked the electrical connections for the relays in the power dist. box and they were pristine.
Having said all this, I'm wondering if maybe the temperature switch is just letting the engine get too warm before closing. What do you think?

CJB

Well I think you mean the thermostat, which opens when the engine reaches a certain temperature allowing coolant flow to the rad.

Frankly, it seems that everything is working, and the normal temp of your car seems to be left side of 'L', presumably this is where it points during normal driving situations. This doesn't leave much room to the danger zone, I know, but as I said before the Zetecs seem to run hot.

I think I would just get used to the car at this point since now that you know the normal swings of the temp needle you should be able to better determine when something abnormal happens.

Happy motoring.

p.s. Having said the foregoing I do not understand why temp drops so low with a/c on, however lower better than higher in hot weather.

Guess What CJB! You are normal!

Welcome by the way!!!!

Zetecs according to the gauge do run hotter. It is not unusual to see the gauge go to the high side of "L" before the fan cuts on. What you described is EXACTLY how my Zetec responds.

According to what I have heard thru the grapevine on the site, this points to cheap or bad gauges that were put into our cars.

The other thing you might want to do, is drain your radiator and take it to a shop to have them clean it out. I believe it is called "rodding and cleaning". It is to remove scale build up that can occur thru time in the radiators of cars.

After you do that you will want to run lots of water thru it to get rid of as much left over gunk as possible then do a 50/50 mix of water to anti-freeze. I have also heard that too much AF can make the mix thick and that can cause the engine to run hotter than not.

Cool? Hope this helps!
Rich

I guess I just have to get used to it. I don't think it's a thermostat problem, I think that the gauge is reading incorrectly or the temp switch is waiting too long to cut the fan on.

Thanks for your responses.

CJB