My cooling fan is not coming on without turning the ac on. I have a 98 4 cyl, stick shift accord and it is overheating now. It even seems to be overheating when the ac is on due to fan shutting off at times. Where do I need to check first and last if you could. I can continue to drive and it won't heat up but at stop it goes up fast. The weird thing is as soon as I take off it might cool down immediately or it might stay up a while.

 

I'm leaning towards the rad fan switch.

When the ac is on - do BOTH fans on the rad run?

 

Yes but then I think I am low on freon so the compressor is kicking off and they both turn off. I have checked into it and it looks like it might be something simple just posted to soon. Looks like a leaky radiator and the water was low. How often should the fan run when the radiator is hot without the ac. I just want to know if I have 2 problems.

 

No I think you have one problem....or one I would start with and see if that resolves the second.

If there is air in the system - low coolant - then the fan switch will not read the temp correctly and not turn the fans on.

Resolve the coolant issue first. Find the leak and repair it. Be sure to properly bleed the air from the system - follow the procedure as Honda's do not like air in the cooling system.....for reasons like the fans not coming on

 

I appreciate the help and yes I will correct the leak before doing anything else.