The coolant temperature sensor and the car computer control the electric radiator fan in your Accord, unlike belt-driven fans. In most cases, damage to the fan can be attributed to a loose wire or blown fuse. However, debris that has accumulated on the fan blades is most often the cause of failure of the fan motor. You can remove the old radiator fan in your 1996 Accord at home. The total repair time, including replacing the fan, should take no more than one hour.
Instructions
- 1
Raise, and support, the hood on your '96 Accord. Loosen, and remove, the negative battery cable from its post with a suitable socket and ratchet. Wrap electrical tape around the metal terminal at the end of your negative battery cable. Position the cable away from the battery, and loosen, then remove, the positive cable from the post, with the socket wrench, as well. Place tape around this terminal, as well.
2Remove the bolt from the clamp on the lower left and right of the battery with a socket wrench. Grasp your Accord battery with both hands, and lift it out of the engine compartment. Set the battery down, carefully, to the side of your work area.
3Locate the radiator drain plug at the bottom, center of the radiator, on the engine side. Slide your coolant drain pan beneath the car, and line it up with the drain plug. Remove the radiator cap, then reach down into the engine compartment, and begin turning the drain plug to the left. Allow the coolant to flow out of the radiator for 25 seconds, and close the drain plug, by turning it to the left, until it is snug.
4Squeeze the metal tabs together on your Accord top radiator hose with a pair of pliers. Draw the clamp back on the hose, away from the radiator, and release the clamp. Pull the top radiator hose off its connecting nipple on the radiator.
5Locate the radiator fan's motor. It sits at the center of the fan assembly. Unplug the wiring harness connected to the left side of the fan motor.
6Remove the two bolts along the top of the radiator fan assembly with a socket wrench. Both of the bolts sit against the lip of the engine compartment to the rear of your Accord hood latch. Lift your radiator fan, slowly, out of the engine compartment, while watching to make sure that it does not catch on any other wires.
7Lower the new radiator fan back down into the engine compartment, and position it for mounting. Hold the fan in position with one hand, and thread each of the fan securing bolts with your other hand. Tighten both of the fan bolts with your socket wrench, until the are snug. Plug the wiring harness that you disconnected from the old fan up to the new radiator fan.
8Reattach the top radiator hose to the nipple on the radiator. Squeeze the tabs on the hose clamp together with the pliers. Slide the clamp back toward the radiator into the original position, and release it. Refill the radiator with fresh coolant, and place the cap, securely, over the filler hole.
9Lower the battery back down onto its tray. Place the clamp back over the lower left and right side of the battery. Install both of the clamp bolts by hand, and then tighten them with your socket wrench, until secure.
10Remove the electrical tape on the Accord positive battery cable terminal, and discard it. Connect, and secure, the positive cable to the battery with the socket wrench. Remove the electrical tape on the negative cable terminal, and discard it, as well. Connect, and secure, the negative cable back to your '96 Accord battery with your socket wrench, and shut the hood.
