Radiator Fan is killing my battery!

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Will Frazier - 18 Apr 2006 18:03 GMT

Hey everyone. I have a 1988 Saab 9000. After purchasing the vehicle
from the previous owner, I noticed that the radiator fan would stay on
after the car had shut off (i'm not sure if this is normal). some
months later, the fan switch went bad, and i replaced it. After
replacing the fan switch, I began to pay more attention to the fan,
seeing that it now switches on whenever the car is started, regardless
of how cold the engine is, and it will stay on for 10 or so minutes,
regardless of how long the engine is running. This has been causing my
battery to go dead whenever i turn the car on for a short period. I
could really use some advice on this one. Could I have possibly hooked
the fan switch up wrong?

-Will
Leibestoter@hotmail.com

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Tom R. - 19 Apr 2006 18:47 GMT

It may not be the radiator fan. I have the same problem on a 1988 Turbo
Convertible which we use for summer driving only. It was driving me crazy,
then I discovered that the car has two alarm systems. In theory you can turn
both of them off, but I learned that the second alarm is nearly impossible
to keep off. I installed a kill switch at the battery and now when I start
the car it instantly fires up despite months of non-use. If we leave the
summer place after a weekend, I open the kill switch. Prior to the kill
switch, we were lucky if the car fired up the next weekend. Now no problems
other than to reset the clock and remember the radio code.

Tom

> Hey everyone. I have a 1988 Saab 9000. After purchasing the vehicle
> from the previous owner, I noticed that the radiator fan would stay on
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> -Will
> Leibestoter@hotmail.com

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Will Frazier - 19 Apr 2006 19:44 GMT

I believe my car has an alarm system, but it appears to have been
disabled for some time. However, when I unplug my radiator fan, the
battery never goes dead, so i'm pretty certain that this is the source
of the problem. This obviously leads to overheating issues, so I only
connect the radiator fan for longer trips.

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Everett M. Greene - 19 Apr 2006 20:20 GMT

> Hey everyone. I have a 1988 Saab 9000. After purchasing the vehicle
> from the previous owner, I noticed that the radiator fan would stay on
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> could really use some advice on this one. Could I have possibly hooked
> the fan switch up wrong?

You definitely have something wrong. Either the cooling
system has a problem or the fan switch is misfunctioning.
I live in one of the hotter places in the U.S. and the
fan rarely runs at all and when it does, it's only for a
minute or so. Even on the hottest days, when I return
home, the fan will come on when I park in the garage but
the fan has gone off by the time the garage door has
closed or shortly thereafter.

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Walt Kienzle - 19 Apr 2006 23:48 GMT

>> Hey everyone. I have a 1988 Saab 9000. After purchasing the vehicle
>> from the previous owner, I noticed that the radiator fan would stay on
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>> could really use some advice on this one. Could I have possibly hooked
>> the fan switch up wrong?

I remember reading about a problem with early 9000's that would cause the
fan to run too long and eventually cause the battery to go flat. The
problem was the fan control relay that went faulty. The relay normally
allows the fan to run for about 5 minutes after the engine is turned off.
IIRC, the Saab recommended solution was a new relay part number that changed
or eliminated the fan running after engine shutoff. Saab moved the relays
around over the years, but I think it is in the box in the engine bay that
also houses the headlight relays -- don't hold me to this, though. If it
isn't there, the rest of the relays are above the fuse panel. You can
access them by removing the glove box and then the fuse panel. I expect you
can also access them by removing the top of the dash panel. I have never
managed to accomplish this myself, though.

While/if you are working at the fuse panel, check the tightness of the nut
and bolt that attaches a thick, red wire (main feed from the battery) to the
fuse panel. There were reports that if this connection loosened, you would
get electrical problems and possibly a fire behind the dashboard. There
were a few reports of fires even after the engine was shut off.

Walt Kienzle
1991 9000T

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Michael - 22 Apr 2006 03:35 GMT

sounds like a 9000

replace the 4 wire a/c pressure switch for the air con.. this shorts out and
causes this..

if u cut the black wire it will solve all problems. how ever u then carnt
use the a/c ..

replace the switch. all will be good.

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