ElMartillo

New to me '89 XJ. Electric fan seems to be running a lot. Even goes on when dead cold as I'm starting up. Normal?

jpmarine6786

AC or defroster on?

ElMartillo

Nope.

jpmarine6786

Is your temperature gage working, if the sensor isn't plugged in the fan will run at all times.

ElMartillo

I'm on idiot lights right now, but I have a full-gauge cluster in the mail. I'll know what temps I'm running in a few days. Meanwhile I'll check the connection.

93_xjcherokee

X2 on the connection. That's how I test my fan, I unplug the sensor.

cruiser54

Not on a Renix......

The temp SENDER is on the driver's side rear of the head for the gauge/light on the dash.

The coolant temp SENSOR for the ECU is down on the lower driver's side of the engine block.

The fan SWITCH is located on the driver's side lower part of the radiator. That's the one that actuates the electric cooling fan.

ElMartillo

And the symptom of my fan being on most of the time could be caused by that switch being faulty?

cruiser54

Correct. Disconnect the switch and clean the contacts . See what happens.

Do yourself a favor and click on my Pink Link below and do Tips 1,3,4, and 5.

ElMartillo

I will, all of the above. Thank you

ElMartillo

Interesting. I just found this connector bridging both wires from the fan switch. No wonder it was on, well I guess all the time. Now to figure out why it was there.

jpmarine6786

Listen to this guy, he is the expert.

ElMartillo

Took it out for a little test wheel, can't say I heard the electric fan come on at all, and it doesn't seem to be running hot. I gotta say, for stock suspension this little wagon seems to hold it's own in the loose stuff, and it's running like it'snew. Pleasure to drive both on and off pavement.

cruiser54

Thanks for reporting back!!

ElMartillo

I installed a full gauge cluster today, as well as new oil pressure and coolant temp sending units. Everything seems to be working well, I even figured out how to reset the new odometer to the old one, so the mileage even reads correct and the dash looks so much better now...

I'm curious as to what the normal operating temperature should be. The temp gauge is consistantly on the line between 100 and 210 degrees. I'm not concerned, but that tells me it's near 155 degrees which seems a little cool to me. I thought most engines want to be in the 180-190 degree range.