I have a 1997 Honda Accord Special Edition I bought recently. When i turn on the AC the car runs fine but then when i turn off the car and the AC, water spills out of the the expansion tank for the radiator. The car overheated once due to this issue. I would help or a possible diagnosis for his issue. By the way when i turn on the AC the fan on for the radiator comes on but the fan for the engine doesn't. Help Please!! Thank you

 

is this a 4 or 6 cylinder? Which fan does not turn on when you turn on the a/c (driver or passenger side)?

 

4 cylinder, the driver side fan doesnt come on

 

I'd start by figuring out that fan that is not working.

When the engine is cold, start up the car and turn on the a/c. Try hitting the motor of the fan with the handle of a screwdriver to see if that fan will turn on.

If you have a volt meter, you can unplug that fan's electrical connector and test for 12V going to that plug when the engine is running and the a/c turned on.

 

so when i turn on the A/C both fans need to turn on?

 

just a reminder the passenger side fan comes on when i turn on the a/c

 

Both should come on with the AC. And both should come on with overheating while the engine is running.

 

thanks Jim. thats what i thought but i wasnt fully sure. i tried what pahonda said and the fan still didn"t work i"m gonna buy a new fan see what happens. i'll give u an update thanks

 

You mean you hitting the fan or hot-wiring it? If hitting it doesn't work, did you go on to hot-wire the fan motor? You might have a wiring problem, so make sure the fan motor is actually bad..

 

i checked all of that and come to find out the fan motor was bad so replaced it and now both fans work when the a/c comes but water still spills out of the reserve tank when the a/c is on... could this be the water pump?