There has been a change in a cooling problem with my car. Now I’m wondering if others have experienced something similar.
I posted earlier about cooling issues on my 2002 (with 73,000 original owner miles) related to failure of the fan actuator. A problem many have had also judging from other posts here. Those posts relate attempting solutions including replacing the actuator ( now obsolete but available used
on EBay) or replacing the hydraulic fan with an electric fan and controller like 2003-2005.
My question here- if you have experienced actuator failure have you also experienced the actuator reviving itself and functioning again as intended? If so does it eventually fail again right away? Can the odds be improved by cleaning the actuator solenoid mechanism?
I’m asking because my actuator did fail as confirmed by the OBC
code reader which reported “actuator failed to respond.” After a few days of driving with the
AC off I tried again with the
AC on and now I have consistent performance from the actuator. The coolant temp stays just under the halfway mark. I have tested the performance with the
AC on while climbing substantial hills and drives of 45 minutes but so far not in outdoor temps exceeding 72 degrees. But earlier it would
overheat in 50 degree weather if the
AC was on.
My 2002 is recently purchased (about a month ago) and was garaged for almost two years before I bought it except for a 100 mile drive from the owner’s home to his son’s home. It seems that perhaps the actuator became stuck or at best partially stuck during that time. And maybe driving again (only about 200 miles added by me so far) revived it through circulation of the fluid. Anyone else experience this? Has anyone got recommendations on cleaning or rehabbing the actuator?
Since I’d like to drive in hot weather I was already committed to an electric fan conversion but now wondering about the odds of a once again working actuator allowing me to wait and see. The graceful engine shutdown of this engine when in
overheating mode seems to allow me a reasonable chance to see what happens. Made possible given that I have AAA coverage with 200 miles towing!