Sab

I got so used to nothing going wrong for a while that I have gotten lazy to check and aparently had multiple failures today resulting in the shark overheating.
After sitting in some stop and go traffic the temperature warning came on. Luckily I was only 200 feet from a mechanics shop I know for many years, so I pulled over and waited for things to cool off.
I noticed the coolant reservoir has a hairline crack and was spraying a fine mist of water towards the hood.
One fan was dead and the intercooler line crimped in the headline mechanism with washer fluid (inercooler fluid) low.

Now, which of the components would cause the overheating? Or all of them combined?
I will order a new coolant reservoir right away, but patched it with a thick layer of epoxy for now. I fixed the intercooler circulation.
But I would only have one electrical fan on the radiator working. Will it cause overhaeting during a hot day in traffic?

MikeN

Yes, both the split reservoir and broken fan will cause you problems. Had a DOA fan on my previous '87 and the single fan could not keep up on a hot day......can only imagine its worse on a S/C'ed car.

IcemanG17

Sab
With only the one fan in the florida heat and stop and go traffic it probably will over heat...just don't use the A/C and watch it!!! Hopefully it didn't hurt the Intercooler pump?
Brian

Sab

Thanks Mike and Brian. Hopefully I get through the day.

Can I replace one fan or do I have to get the whole assembly?

Peter F

Yes you can replace one fan, no problem.
Just did the fan fix on my 90GT as well.
Replaced one fan some time ago and shortly after the other one started a bad noice and locked up after a while.
Got a new fan from a friend in the Swedish porsche club at half the Porsche price which fitted with some minor adjustments.
(think it is used on SAAB 9-3 Aero normally)

Cheers/Peter

Sab

Mine just stopped running, no noise and definetely not locked up.
I assume they are both on the same fuse, correct?
I will check the cables just to make sure.

Peter F

Try if the fan is working with 12v directly to the fan once the package is out.
(loose cables from a battery, careful with fingers though)
It could also be the electronic fan control unit up front that is broke.
Two separate fuses, number 29 and 30 at 30A each.

Cheers/Peter

MikeN

Actually there is a fuse for each, check them. There could also be other problems with other components of the fan system. Quick way to check all the above is to swap the fan power leads and see if the problem moves.

AO

Could the mist from the coolant resevoir have dripped/sprayed on to the fan causing it to stop? Maybe it just needs to dry out? Just a thought.

Sab

OK, I reseated all the connectors and it all seems fine now. Some sort of electrical gremlin.
Not very satisfying not really knowing if it will come back.

Could this slight overheating have caused any damage? What should I be looking for? Coolant looks clear, oil looks fine and no leaks under the car overnight. No strange sounds and normal power and idle. So I guess the patient survived with only a scare...

perfectly normal temperature all day today in a hot Florida heavy traffic day.

IcemanG17

Sab
Overheating is never good...but if it just barely went over then you should be fine....sounds like the car is running well now!
Brian

Sab

Both fans work whenever the car is cold in the garage. But once the car is warmed up and on the road, the left side fan quits. In heavy traffic the car then gets very hot, but is OK with AC off.
I fixed the coolant reservoir leak and coolant system seems leak free.
It is hard to figure out since it is intermittent.
With a DE coming up, I am a bit nervous to get this fixed. Any ideas how to troubleshoot this one?
Thanks,

Dennis Wilson

Sab,

Does that fan have a separate ground connection? High heat=high resistance=no fan.

Dennis

Sab

I am not sure where to even look...

Dennis Wilson

Should be able to track it by following the brown wires from the fan. Not sure on you 91 but on the older models the grounds go to the temp sensor on the radiator.

Dennis