Electric Fan takes forever to shut off-Kills battery
07-15-2017, 07:49 AM
#16
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Yep.
Unless there's an aftermarket shutdown timer installed, the fan shouldn't be coming on after the motor is shut off and the key is out of the ignition. I would start tracing the wires coming from the fan and seeing if it's been fiddled with and if you can see any random control boxes or relays in line with the harness.
Also never addressed. Assumed.
A fan that kills the battery is annoying. An engine that overheats can be catastrophic.
The overheating was the real problem, but that doesn't mean it was the only problem.
Last edited by BlueRidgeMark; 07-15-2017 at 07:51 AM.
07-17-2017, 01:12 AM
#17
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Year: 1998
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The fan doesn't run when its not needed anymore so I'm not sure what youre even getting at. Like I said, FIXED.
07-17-2017, 01:19 AM
#19
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Since i replaced the whole radiator I got a great look at all the wiring and there is nothing next to stock on every wiring harness in the engine bay.
Adressed, but never felt necessary to type out until now.
07-17-2017, 11:37 AM
#24
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Year: 1998
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Like I said earlier, im almost positive that my engine was just running too hot and kicking the fan when it wasn't needed. I started with the thermo sensor, temp gauge sensor, thermostat, thermo housing, and then that didn't work, replaced the water pump (definitely broke), radiator, and both hoses. Now the jeep seems to be running cooler and the fan doesn't run like crazy unless i turn on the AC.
07-17-2017, 11:42 AM
#25
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07-18-2017, 03:45 AM
#27
No, I don't lick fish.
Like I said earlier, im almost positive that my engine was just running too hot and kicking the fan when it wasn't needed. I started with the thermo sensor, temp gauge sensor, thermostat, thermo housing, and then that didn't work, replaced the water pump (definitely broke), radiator, and both hoses. Now the jeep seems to be running cooler and the fan doesn't run like crazy unless i turn on the AC.
So I've had this issue for a very long time and I've never been able to fix it. I first noticed it about 6 months ago and the electric fan was running for so long after I parked that it killed the battery.
I went and got the radiator flushed and I replaced the thermostat afterwards. Still stays on long but eventually turns off. Replaced the coolant temp sensor right on the water pump. Still stays on long, but only sometimes. I figured one more radiator flush might do the trick. But now after a second flush in 6 months the fan stays on all the time after I drive even more often, and now my temp gauge is shooting up randomly and then going back down to add to the confusion. Maybe my radiator is so dirty that it clogged up the new thermostat again?
I really want to take the XJ on some highway trips this summer but I gotta make sure she can handle the heat.
Any suggestions? Am I forgetting a sensor or something?
I went and got the radiator flushed and I replaced the thermostat afterwards. Still stays on long but eventually turns off. Replaced the coolant temp sensor right on the water pump. Still stays on long, but only sometimes. I figured one more radiator flush might do the trick. But now after a second flush in 6 months the fan stays on all the time after I drive even more often, and now my temp gauge is shooting up randomly and then going back down to add to the confusion. Maybe my radiator is so dirty that it clogged up the new thermostat again?
I really want to take the XJ on some highway trips this summer but I gotta make sure she can handle the heat.
Any suggestions? Am I forgetting a sensor or something?
That still doesnt' explain how you fixed this issue. All that stuff that you mentioned replacing before won't change why the fan stays running after it's been shut off. It's not setup like that from the factory to do so.
That's what we're getting at.
07-18-2017, 07:57 PM
#29
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ok... buuuuut......
That still doesnt' explain how you fixed this issue. All that stuff that you mentioned replacing before won't change why the fan stays running after it's been shut off. It's not setup like that from the factory to do so.
That's what we're getting at.
That still doesnt' explain how you fixed this issue. All that stuff that you mentioned replacing before won't change why the fan stays running after it's been shut off. It's not setup like that from the factory to do so.
That's what we're getting at.
If the fan was STILL running then based on what you guys have been saying it should be something along the wiring, maybe some weird timer someone installed or the relay fuse.
-The relay is fine and works.
-I've checked the wiring for the fan and there's nothing weird along the line that goes all the way into the main harness, like a timer or a short or anything.
Based on what you guys are saying those are the only other possibilities as to what is the cause of the fan always running.
So either the problem WAS entirely electrical and just fixed itself (dirty plug or bad connection) when I was messing with the coolant system replacement OR maybe the problem was something like the sensors I replaced.
Either way, the problem doesn't occur anymore but if it does happen again i guess I'll know where to start looking.
Last edited by CherokeeClassicWes; 07-18-2017 at 09:13 PM.
07-19-2017, 06:25 AM
#30
Caracticus Potts The Mod
this is not always true, because most vehicles built after 1996 have a body control module that continues to let the fan run for several minutes after the car is turned off and the key removed, so a Bad Relay, or a faulty BCM can cause the fan to run for longer than intended which can run the battery down
