How to Fix the Cooling Fan on a Saturn

Many models of Saturn cars us two cooling fans -- a puller fan on the radiator and a pusher fan on the air conditioning condenser. Both of these fans must work for the cooling system to function. A malfunctioning fan is often due to the motor, and you usually need to replace the fan and motor together as an assembly. The process can vary depending on the exact year, model and engine type of your Saturn vehicle.

Instructions

Open the hood and unplug the fan's electrical connectors that are atop the fan shroud. Connect the fan motor directly to the car battery using fused jumper wires. You must replace the fan and motor if the fan doesn't immediately come on.

Check the fuses for continuity -- these fuses are usually located in the lower right corner of the fuse box. Replace any blown fuses.

Check all of the wiring to the fan for any defects. If the wires are in good condition and all of the above steps check out, have your dealer service department check the engine coolant temperature sensor or fan control module.

Disconnect the car battery, loosening the clamp nut and disconnecting the negative cable first and then the positive one. Slide the fan control module off the battery without disconnecting its wires, then remove the battery's hold-down bolts with your wrench and lift it out.

Unbolt and move away the power steering pump with your wrench and disconnect the fan's electrical connectors.

Drain the engine coolant at the radiator; remove the drain plug and drain it into a large container. Disconnect the upper transmission cooler line and its retainer with a wrench, then disconnect the upper radiator hose with pliers.

Disconnect the fan motor harness by removing its clips, then remove the motor's mounting bolts with your wrench. Slide the puller fan up and off the radiator.

Lower the replacement fan onto the radiator and bolt the motor in place. Clip the fan motor harness back in place.

Connect the radiator hose and the transmission cooler line and retainer, then reinstall the power steering fluid reservoir, the battery (don't connect the cables) and the fan control module.

Reconnect the fan motor electrical connectors and then connect the battery, connecting the positive cable first.

Refill the engine coolant at the radiator filler neck.

Disconnect the battery's negative cable and then disconnect the fan's electrical connectors.

Raise the car's front end and support it on jack stands.

Remove the pusher fan's mounting bolts with your wrench and lower the fan's top section to release its clips and remove it from the condenser.

Raise the replacement fan assembly onto the condenser and apply the mounting bolts.

Lower the car off the jack stands.

Reconnect the fan wiring and then the battery's negative cable.