Thinking about getting this 97

[CDsDontBurn]

Wiring:

View attachment 17246

As helpful as this is to many people, and while I also am thankful for you having provided this, I do not understand wiring diagrams .

 

[MadMikeyL]

What’s not to understand? Follow the lines. Power on top, ground on bottom.

As for the fan fuse, it is in the underhood fuse box. 50A, as shown in the diagram.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

As helpful as this is to many people, and while I also am thankful for you having provided this, I do not understand wiring diagrams .

The only thing that may be of interest for you are the letters or letter combinations on the right side of each wire. Those are color codes, e.g., DB = dark blue. Most of them, you can guess; others you can google.

I find these diagrams extremely enlightening. I learn by understanding how things are designed/connected. So this information makes me way more comfortable in tackling projects.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

What’s not to understand? Follow the lines. Power on top, ground on bottom.

As for the fan fuse, it is in the underhood fuse box. 50A, as shown in the diagram.

I can follow lines but I don't know what all the other lines in between are.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

As for the fan fuse, it is in the underhood fuse box. 50A, as shown in the diagram.

That's 60A in position 5. Apologies for my blurry pictures.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I can follow lines but I don't know what all the other lines in between are.

The lines in between are the internals of the CCRM, so not much use to know anyway. But the takeaway you can get from it is the dark blue wire is low speed power, brown/orange is high speed, black is ground and on the other side of the CCRM is the black/orange power wire coming from the fuse

 

[CDsDontBurn]

So for ahits and giggles, I did the same test on Pearl and the fan came on when connected straight to the battery on both black/red and blue. I tested Gold Bird again and still, the black/red wire is dead.

I'll take that as a bad fan confirmation as stated by @Kidd-7 and will be buying a replacement fan. $133+ tax for a Dorman unit from a VatoZone 30min away from home.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Is that just the motor or the whole fan assembly? The motor is just $28 on Rockauto. Why not just swap it over from Pearl, then replace that one later?

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

So for ahits and giggles, I did the same test on Pearl and the fan came on when connected straight to the battery on both black/red and blue. I tested Gold Bird again and still, the black/red wire is dead.

Still check the fuse, and monitor temperature after the fan replacement. I mean this still doesn't fully explain the overheating, does it?

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Is that just the motor or the whole fan assembly? The motor is just $28 on Rockauto. Why not just swap it over from Pearl, then replace that one later?

Pretty sure it was just the motor and I'm 99.99% confident that it's been replaced once before by P.O.

Also, RA has the entire assembly for $70 but after shipping it would probably have been what I just paid for it at AZ.

Replacement fan has lifetime warranty, so I'll take that for next time, and I have two cars now so it's double important, lol.

Still check the fuse, and monitor temperature after the fan replacement. I mean this still doesn't fully explain the overheating, does it?

I will still check that fuse.

 

[Zep5.0]

It's been pretty warm there, right? If it's only working on high or low speed, then part off the time it's not running at all. In hot temps that could very well be all there is for an issue. Am I remembering correctly you put a new intake on this car? If not check the thermostat for cycling at the proper temp. ( Need to find your IR gun for that)

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Update:

$172 and several hours later (I had to run errands before I could get back to working on the car), Gold Bird is golden!

I double-checked the fuse and it was good and began working on replacing the old fan.

For shits and giggles, I ran power to the new fan on both high and low speeds and it worked and then proceeded to install said fan and add ~2gal of coolant that I drained. The fan kicks on at 210F as it should and stays on until engine temps drop below 197F.

Now I'm curious if all the overheating issues I was having last year shortly after buying this car were related to this fan not working properly back then?

 

[CDsDontBurn]

It's been pretty warm there, right? If it's only working on high or low speed, then part off the time it's not running at all. In hot temps that could very well be all there is for an issue. Am I remembering correctly you put a new intake on this car? If not check the thermostat for cycling at the proper temp. ( Need to find your IR gun for that)

Yes, it's been warm here this week, mid to upper 80s. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 91.

Yes, I replaced the OEM IM for a Dorman unit along with thermostat, spark plugs, serpentine belt, tensioner pulley,.and other odds and ends last year shortly after purchase from P.O.