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Radiator fan

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Old Jun 1, 2016 | 05:11 PM
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Radiator fan

02 Maxima. I am having a problem with my air conditioning. I just put refrigerant in my car about a month ago and the air blows cold air when I am driving, but as soon as I stop or slow down to speeds less than 35mph or so the air starts to get lukewarm. I am sure it is probably either the fan motor or the fan itself. Is there a way to test one or the other before just guessing at which one it is?
Old Jun 1, 2016 | 05:18 PM
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if the fan motor is not working the fan wouldnt work just replace the fan motor cheap and easy fix.
Old Jun 1, 2016 | 05:18 PM
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Search for the FSM and download heating and air conditioning section, it's probably in there
Old Jun 1, 2016 | 09:49 PM
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Are you talking about the radiator fans? The two fans should both be running whenever the a/c is on. A simple look-see will tell you the answer.

A more likely cause of your problem is the a/c is low on refrigerant.
Old Jun 1, 2016 | 11:12 PM
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My money is on one of the fans being bad since the AC's working when you're moving. Like Dennis said, see which fan isn't coming on with everything warmed up and the AC on.
You can also hotwire the fan to see if it comes on or not. Each one has a four pin plug. The black is ground and the red with stripe is hot. The white and blue don't matter for this. Add power and ground to the appropriate pins and the fan should come on.

I've seen this on other cars and both of my Maximas in the last year or two.

You can buy the fan motor alone at the local auto parts store and it's a relatively easy fix. Don't let them sell you the whole shroud assembly for several times the price.
Old Jun 2, 2016 | 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by dennismik
are you talking about the radiator fans? The two fans should both be running whenever the a/c is on. A simple look-see will tell you the answer.

A more likely cause of your problem is the a/c is low on refrigerant.
+1
Old Jun 2, 2016 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by DennisMik
Are you talking about the radiator fans? The two fans should both be running whenever the a/c is on. A simple look-see will tell you the answer.

A more likely cause of your problem is the a/c is low on refrigerant.

Not low on refrigerant, ac is ice cold when driving at speeds above 35mph, just put some in it. My passenger side fan has never turned on, Ive heard from people only 1 runs at a time and others say both are spose to run. But yeah im guessing its the fan motor
Old Jun 2, 2016 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Derrick2k2SE
My money is on one of the fans being bad since the AC's working when you're moving. Like Dennis said, see which fan isn't coming on with everything warmed up and the AC on.
You can also hotwire the fan to see if it comes on or not. Each one has a four pin plug. The black is ground and the red with stripe is hot. The white and blue don't matter for this. Add power and ground to the appropriate pins and the fan should come on.

I've seen this on other cars and both of my Maximas in the last year or two.

You can buy the fan motor alone at the local auto parts store and it's a relatively easy fix. Don't let them sell you the whole shroud assembly for several times the price.

Yeah Im gonna go to my local pull a part and just get the whole assembly, they have them for $22, just the motor alone goes for $37 on rockauto
Old Jun 2, 2016 | 11:04 AM
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On the nissan, both fans always run, never one only. The people that say otherwise do not know the maxima as well as they should.

I'm kind of surprised that the temperature gauge wasn't climbing towards hot.
Old Jun 2, 2016 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by DennisMik
On the nissan, both fans always run, never one only. The people that say otherwise do not know the maxima as well as they should. I'm kind of surprised that the temperature gauge wasn't climbing towards hot.
You would think that the car would get hot but it doesn't. I've had this same issue. With only one fan working, it will sufficiently cool the operating temp of the car. The issue I had was that at idle or stop and go traffic the ac gets warm almost like it stops working. As soon as you get going a steady speed again the ac gets cold again. My guess is with the help of airflow at a steady speed it makes up for that fan that doesn't work. Once the airflow stops then it's not enough air circulating for the ac to work properly.
Old Jun 2, 2016 | 07:07 PM
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Same thing happened to my Maxima last month and it only was effected when I was bumper to bumper traffic with Ac on and it was my fan-replaced fan and baam issue is resolved now!
Old Jun 5, 2016 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Mattx
You would think that the car would get hot but it doesn't. I've had this same issue. With only one fan working, it will sufficiently cool the operating temp of the car. The issue I had was that at idle or stop and go traffic the ac gets warm almost like it stops working. As soon as you get going a steady speed again the ac gets cold again. My guess is with the help of airflow at a steady speed it makes up for that fan that doesn't work. Once the airflow stops then it's not enough air circulating for the ac to work properly.
Originally Posted by Sam Maxima
Same thing happened to my Maxima last month and it only was effected when I was bumper to bumper traffic with Ac on and it was my fan-replaced fan and baam issue is resolved now!

Bought the whole assembly from pull a part for around $30. I was just gonna replace the whole thing but decided just to change the motor in the fan that wasnt working (passenger side) and it did the trick. Both fans run when ac is on, and ac is ice cold at standstill now.
Old Jun 5, 2016 | 01:49 PM
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Lmk if you want to sell the other fan motor!
Old Jun 5, 2016 | 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by nestorlugo
Lmk if you want to sell the other fan motor!
Want mine my dad ran my fan over haha
Old Jun 5, 2016 | 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Boston003
Bought the whole assembly from pull a part for around $30. I was just gonna replace the whole thing but decided just to change the motor in the fan that wasnt working (passenger side) and it did the trick. Both fans run when ac is on, and ac is ice cold at standstill now.
Good work. Can't drive around the northeast without a properly functioning a/c system.
Old Jun 5, 2016 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by sebastian2041
Want mine my dad ran my fan over haha
I'll pay the $15 for shipping !!
Old Jun 5, 2016 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by nestorlugo
I'll pay the $15 for shipping !!
Iet me check that it works before i ship it
Old Jun 5, 2016 | 08:51 PM
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Old Jun 6, 2016 | 08:44 PM
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Check out the diagnostic procedure for insufficient cooling in the Nissan workshop manual.

Get a krikit gauge and test the belt tension too. On the 01 Max its supposed to be 180 lbs. It says that loose belts could cause insufficient cooling.
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 01:51 PM
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By process of elimination you'll get closer to the issue. I'm having a coolant issue too and I'm pretty sure it's a low pressure hose leak but I've been going through all the steps. If you replace any component or recharge you may want to consider adding the suggested amount of oil.
For a big leak it's like 1.1 Oz s when recharging.

Last edited by maximatech12; Jun 8, 2016 at 02:02 PM.
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 01:54 PM
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he solved the problem 3 days ago...
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 02:49 PM
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What was it
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 02:55 PM
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i would post his solution but you would just tell me i'm wrong

you'll have to search for the answer yourself (hint it's in this thread)
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 03:17 PM
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I still want the fan!
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by nestorlugo
I still want the fan!
as an outside observer, I have to ask... WHY???
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by maximatech12
Check out the diagnostic procedure for insufficient cooling in the Nissan workshop manual.

Get a krikit gauge and test the belt tension too. On the 01 Max its supposed to be 180 lbs. It says that loose belts could cause insufficient cooling.
It's confusing because when you get to step 8 for insufficient cooling it sends ya over to EC but doesn't specify which page.
One would conclude this guy would've had a P1217 or equivalent if this was a fan issue.
It's got the complete diagnostics + circuit diagrams. This makes it too easy to repair this issue!!
Old Jun 8, 2016 | 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by DennisMik
as an outside observer, I have to ask... WHY???
Hey Dennis, well one of my fans is really loud and I'm experiencing a slight overheating issue I think the motor might be intermittently failing and I don't wanna buy the whole assembly if I can get this fan motor.

Last edited by nestorlugo; Jun 8, 2016 at 07:39 PM.




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