What would cause my radiator fan to burn out like this...also looking for new harness
 

My wife told me the car was overheating on her. She said it was bubbling and coming out the resivoir tank so i knew somehow it was not a hose but the fans. Limped home and i checked it out. Sure nuff turn on a/c no fans. Turn the car on to run to check for leaks and no leaks. The regular fans come on when it hit 212. Ok. Turn the a/c on again nada. Fans turn off. Ok. First thing check fuses. Good. Check relay, tapped it and the fan kicks on. Upon further inspection i see this. So I replaced the relay, wiggled it and all and it stays on. Is this just a bad relay? Also the plug is not the best looking so i need a plug/harness if anyone has one for sale.
Thanks
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....cd5311ff21.jpg

Looks like an overheated relay.

Try to turn your fans by hand. They should turn easily. If they feel kinda stiff and not so easy to turn, they would ask for lots of power from the relay to do their thing.

You have replaced the relay, (the symtom) now check the probable cause of the burned up relay, the fan. I think you probably need a new fan

This is interesting because one of my relatives 2014 Nissan Versa has a fan issue (they're built with only 1 large fan). I suggested a new fan, but the fan seems to cut on intermittently. But, wonder if a relay may be the issue.

On my max, I had both fans go out at separate times. I just went straight for the fan motors and swapped them out. Problem solved. Kinda tricky because the max can live off 1 fan for awhile until it's under load, idling, or high heat situations. So a failing fan can go unnoticed.

Gonna do that this afternoon. Thanks. These are aftermarket fans.

Go to junkyard.... get good used parts.

Agreed. I'll bet the aftermarket fans contributed to the relay burning up.

Frankly, I've never seen a relay in that condition.

I am gonna price some fans at Courtesy or whatever dealer you guys recommend with the best price. Yeah, these fans came from Arch Auto so I don't remember what brand it is.

Someone recommended visiting a junkyard to find an oem fan. As long as the fans spin without much resistance, that is a good option.

The point iso find fans with good bearings.

Good bearings cause less drag and power consumption than bad bearings.

I can't recall a relay that looks like that on the 4th gen. Exactly where was that relay located?

Good catch. I didn't notice it originally, but that is not the correct color for the fan relay. If I'm not mistaken, there are two relays for the radiator fans, and they aren't that color. Maybe the issue isn't the fans, but the relays.

Post a picture of where you removed the relay. Also one of the top and bottom of the relay.

Based on what you said... the fans work with ac off but not when the ac is on. It could be you pulled the ac relay. That would prevent the fans coming on if what you're holding is the ac relay.

Also check the single wire going to the compressor and harness for the fans. Look for any fried wires.

My wife has the car but that relay is in the front of the battery tray. Fan relay #1.

One Grey one Blue

There are 3 relays for the radiator fans, one blue and 2 (usually) tan colored.

Is your car a 99? There were a lot of changes in the 99.

Mine is a 97. We changed the fans and rewired the fan relay to outside the box. Lets see. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....7fb5440513.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/maxima....3008965b30.jpg

Does the fan now work with the ac on?

yup! ;)