2003 Honda Accord Radiator Fan Failure SOLVED! - How To Replace Fan Switch WITHOUT Draining Coolant!

Phil's 2003 Honda Accord radiator fan failed, but never fear, the problem was diagnosed and resolved! At first it seemed like it was an electrical issue because the coolant got hot when not moving. But, after debugging all of the fan electrical components it ended up being the thermostat after all.
BUY THE THINGS
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Cooling Fan Switch: amzn.to/33gbXZE
TIMESTAMPS
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0:00​ Intro
0:29 The fans
1:06 Making sure they spin
1:19 Checking fuses
2:50 Checking relays
4:00 Checking fan connectors
5:18 Replacing the fan switch
8:28 Checking relays 2
9:50 Considering thermostat or pump
10:42 Thermostat done it
10:58 Outro
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garage.gg
One day there will be cool things like merch and stuff. Or maybe this description is old and it's there now!

[@VeryGoodGarage]

Sorry about the kid yelling noises, the neighbors were having one heck of a pool day!

[@patrickculbertson4866]

Couldn't hear it over my own kids, haha. I liked the diagnosis video, you should do more.

[@bigmemes8190]

Extremely helpful, knowledgeable, professional, and efficient. Thank you! You made this diagnosis incredibly easy!!!!

[@tonydize3944]

I didn't have a problem but you're awesome at explaining things

[@trautweingreg7733]

Great video, Had a bad relay on driver fan. Ac fan worked so I switched those relays , now driver fan works and ac does'nt . Im off to get a relay at the auto parts store. THANX So much!!!!!! You made my day. Especially since I just did the radiator, thermostat and water pump (timing belt to but unrelated) Have a good one!

[@VeryGoodGarage]

Glad we could help!

[@AllfatherBlack]

great video. my radiator fan decided to just magically start working again so the hours i spent studying this and a few other videos weren't necessary, nonetheless, of all the stuff i read, you covered the most and thoroughly too. i have nothing to add but someone else mentioned that it's a good idea to start with jumping the temp sensor so you can immediately tell if the whole circuit is functional or not. i didnt do that but seemed like a good idea. anyway, this is probably the best content on the topic of diagnosing a 2003 Honda Accord radiator fan so legit props.

[@mula_2472]

Should the radiator fans work without turning on ac in car

[@mula_2472]

Or they should come on only by turning on car

[@CamCanCars]

I was having intermittent hot idle issues on one I just got and noticed fans weren't cycling at all. I was checking fuses/relays while running to see if I could get em going. Tapped fan motors hard with pliers one at a time and they came right on. New fan assembly for me it is!

[@joseleonaguirre6538]

Good 👍🏻 video, thank you for sharing.

[@luismillan9094]

Great video.

[@skyisthelimit9951]

I love when people share their knowledge with others. Thanks a lot, man keep up the good work. I have a 2007 (2.4l EX-L) accord my a/c works but I noticed one fan (Driverside) is not working (The passenger side fan works perfectly) Fuses/Relays are fine so what could be the reason? Do I need to replace the whole unit? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[@rudycastellon6360]

Did you ever find out what the issue was?

[@TheLbeeler]

Time for me to dig in, placed your video on my phone for reference and away I go....

[@VeryGoodGarage]

Good luck to you!

[@RosyB9]

Wonderful video. My 1988 Honda Accord LX has very similar problems! Radiator fan used to come on while idling (at Mickey D's or at stoplights) and would lower the temps but I no longer hear it and the temp goes up straight to H! I have to crank the heater up to save my engine. :( I had a new fan put in last week but the mechanic cracked my radiator!! I need to replace the rad, the thermostat, the temp sensor and possibly the fan switch. Question? Do older Hondas have a coolant temperature sensor AND a fan switch? Thanks in advance. P.S. I also purchased a new water pump...just in case. ;)

[@spotless7669]

Hi. I have a 2002 honda civic. While trying to fix my cooling fan temperature switch, I messed up the connector harness: one of the prongs got pushed flat back or something; now the connector needs to be replaced. Any idea of how I can replace it or (fix it)? Thanks in advance.

[@scottheitmanmarinesurvey3557]

I unplugged the fan pig tails (blue and black wires in to the plug, red white out. In your video it is shown at 10:01) at the fans on both sides of the radiator and supplied power directly from the battery with aligator clips. neither fan powered up. this idicates to me that both fans are blown. Is there any reason these fans will not power on when going directly from the battery to the fan motors. I assume that polarity is a non-issue.

[@meatymouse9600]

My coolant temp doesn’t go over 194 but the radiator fans don’t run and it seems like the lower rad hose doesn’t have water flowing thru it idk if I have a problem or not. I changed the fan assembly both fans come on when ac is on. I changed both temp sensors the thermostat and the water pump.

[@fantajenkings4068]

what intake kit is that? I'd like it for my EP3.

[@user-tt7by5kq4g]

Thank you, excellent video :O)

[@VeryGoodGarage]

You are welcome!

[@LogicGaming]

I jumped the relays and the fans turn on. I checked the connectors and they both read 12.81V. I tried to jump the coolant temp sensor like you did but the fans wouldn't come on. Can you steer me in the right direction on what to do next?

[@MrBluoct]

It’s back ( Accord) 🤙

[@eldenayarit6345]

I have the similar problem one of my fans doesn't turns on i tested and it does have power im thinking that my radiator fan motor is bad

[@Atqiyage]

I have an issue with the position of the fan on my 2004 Accord, fyi I live in Indonesia, steering wheel on the right side. So the issue is, my condense fan is on the passanger side facing transmition engine, which is if on the left steering wheels is on the driver side, and the radiator fan is on the right side facing v-belt. It is OK ? If not how can I switch beetwen the fan ?

[@senseofpeacefulness743]

I had a pin in my radiator switch for the past month now all of a sudden my fans doesn't work at all do u think it ground out? I had it hanging.

[@myronblack8852]

Bro when I jumped the driver side relay( I have a RHD) the fan powers on, however when I jump the passenger side( Left side of the car) that fan stays dead. Does that mean my fan is bad?

[@biglos9d]

I replaced the thermostat and ECT 2 sensor with brand new parts and the fans still aren't kicking on. They kick on when jumping the ECT 2 wire connector, so it's not a wiring issue. Tested the old thermostat and it opens up at 197 F, so that was working before. What else could it be?

[@garcia3885]

I would pay you $$ if you let me work for you !!! Now my fans R working 🏆

[@Shells6123]

Hello! I had a question about the relays. We tested the condenser relay with the wire and the fan came on. Did the same with the cooling relay and nothing! No power going to it at all. Would that be the relay is bad on the cooling fan? We have already replaced the fan switch and that did nothing. Hoping to get suggestions on where to go from here. Thanks so much!!

[@glasser2819]

... tentative help: if the 20Amp fuse is still good, when you bypass the correct relay slot then fan should run... - if NOT: bad fan, bad connector or bad GND! - if YES: bad TempSensor or bad relay! Use a $15 DVM to help yourself out with this basic stuff. Tricky is when computers gets involved. [Video: OEM thermostats do not die shut but jammed open, perhaps only partially opened in this car)

[@Mr7352]

my sons 2000 honda camrey heats up only time it cools off is by turning on ac ..there is no thermostat in car so im thinking fan switch is bad.. Thanks for video, nice work.

[@cashmoneyzo3589]

“honda camrey” ok

[@bryanm7719]

So bro there is nothing wrong on your car but you made good video .

[@VeryGoodGarage]

The thermostat was the issue in the end

[@fantajenkings4068]

I've replaced my radiator, both fans, thermostat. Now its time to check the cheap things :D Mine we're all upgrades I wanted to do anyway but I should have made sure I knew what was the culprit for my fans not coming on. I guess its fuses, wiring or the relays.

[@bronxbomber80]

2:51 relay

[@Stevesbe]

Jont?

[@frnkjones40]

I replaced temp sensor, temp switch, relays and check ALL fuses. Fans are not seized and have been tested, they work fine. Fans will not come on

[@VeryGoodGarage]

If you short the relay does that force the fan to come on?

[@frnkjones40]

@@VeryGoodGarage yep. I'm gonna go back over the fuses one more time though

[@VeryGoodGarage]

You should check the radiator hoses, there's a top one and a bottom one. The bottom one flows through the switch that turns the fan on. If that bottom hose's coolant doesn't get hot enough to trigger the switch, then the fan will never come on. That's why our problem ended up just being the thermostat, it wasn't opening to let the hot coolant get down to that switch. Also it took a *long* time for the engine to heat up enough to trigger the fans. Took about 30 minutes with revving the engine to get it to finally kick on.

[@frnkjones40]

@@VeryGoodGarage the temp switch and the temp sensor is on the top of the engine inches away from each other along with the thermostat which is also new.

[@VeryGoodGarage]

One other possibility is a bad water pump. Fortunately for us, that wasn't the issue, so we also don't how to test that, but it would be another thing to check

[@makesgarages]

My both fans starts blowing when i turn ingnition on (not start) and AC is on.. is that normal? If AC OFF (button) fans not blow. When car running, fans working normal (blow-off-blow)

[@VeryGoodGarage]

I think when the key is in that position, the car turns on most of it's electronics (like the dashboard lights) to make sure things work? Total guess, not based on anything, but honestly if your fans work at all I'd be content. Much better than not working

[@BJVela]

Excasty is CJ

[@rohangangar6210]

I really appreciated the good camera work and clean commentary, but I despise of videos which show unexpected curveballs. We watch videos to see the solution to your problem, not you struggling to face the problem the same way we do. Regardless keep up the commentary and diagnostics it was good to hear.

[@ejslife5342]

At what point did you hear an unexpected curveball? I’m a mechanic and I can tell you he 100% went over everything he’s supposed to. It’s a 9 minute multiple diagnosis video .

[@IAO_Strange]

Wow, you really don't troubleshoot, huh??

[@MrBluoct]

Ouch …

[@1bunb730]

I burn my car im 😡