race7347

I have a 94 4runner V6. It's stock and has recently been overheating. I'm only overheating when I sit still for a while and the mechanical fan is working fine. I've done all of the normal checks (thermostat, coolant, radiator cap, etc...) and discounted them all. I've noticed the only time the electric fan in front of the radiator kicks on is when it first starts up for about 30 secs or when I turn the A/C is on.

I've gotten a replacement thermostat and relay for the electric fan, but I can't find the originals on the truck. Can you help?!? Thanks.

DH6twinotter

Hey! Welcome to the forum! Great bunch of folk here.

As fas as I know, that fan (the little one that sits in front of the AC condensor, right?) only goes on when you turn on the AC. Mine doesn't go on unless the AC is on. It spins for about the first 30 seconds on my rig too, but I'm not sure if it's just spinning becuase of the air getting sucked into the larger fan behind it (on my 4Runner, when I first start the engine, the mechanical fan spins much faster the first 30 seconds), or if it spins becuase its electric motor is getting juice. Not sure if that makes any sense.

Does your mechanical fan spin faster for the first 30 seconds too? Maybe you already know this, but I believe that fan is on all the time. It's just spins kinda slow untill the engine gets hot, then it "drop into lower gear" and spins a lot faster. Usually, for some reason, it turns on in that fast spin mode when you first start the engine too.

A few other things you could check:
Spark timing
Drive belt timing
Water pump


As far as to where the relay and thermostate for the electric fan is, I'm don't really know. Sorry I couldn't help you there. I checked my Hanes manual, but they didn't show the electric fan in there.

Well, not sure it that was any help, but just thought I'd add that anyways.

Have fun.
DH6twinotter

race7347

thanks for your reply. yeah, during the first 30 seconds there is definitely more air flow. it slows down when the electric fan kicks off though so i thought it was attributed to that.

i also checked the haynes manual and it doesn't mention the electric fan at all. I was hoping someone would have access to another set of technical books that might help out with this.