When thermo fans try to come on engine dies.....

[MC-waz]

Hey guys like the title says, when the fans try and come on on my 2000 VT wagon V6, the engine stutters and then dies.

Has this been a problem for anyone else? Any ideas?

Cheers,
Waz.

[accentstencil]

Any problems when you turn the headlights on?

[MC-waz]

No problems when I turn on the headlights, also no problems when I turn on the AC.
It sputtered a little with the AC, so I tried pulling the high speed fan and low speed fan relays out. But still when it's time for the fans to kick in the car sputters and dies.

[MC-waz]

I forgot to mention that the old girl has 325,000 on the clock and I drive it about 270km a day for work. Should I just look at replacing the CAS and the DFI module and coil packs etc??

[accentstencil]

I thought it might be a power drain thing but that doesn't seem to be the case. I wouldn't replace all those items if it isn't necessary. Have you tried checking the error codes?

[MC-waz]

Checked the error codes about 15 mins ago. All I got was 12, so I'm assuming nothing has been logged.

There seems to be a lot of threads on here with people who've had similar problems. All of which have included changing everything from relays to CAS to DFI to plugs and leads. It seems that most people don't get an error code logged either. I guess this is just one of those things that's hard to put a finger on.

I'm almost certain it only happens when the fans try to come on, in the mornings on the way to work the car runs fine. I only seem to have trouble when it's warmer and stuck in traffic. After it just turns itself off it's hard to start but after a few minutes it starts fine and doesn't seem to stop again until you lose air flow to the radiators and the fans try and come on.

Strange..........

[accentstencil]

If your leads are old then it couldn't hurt to change them. If the CAS is faulty it usually logs a code, 46 or 47.

[MC-waz]

I think I'm gonna do the plugs leads and probably DFI, see if that works. If not I might do the CAS.

Thanks for the reply's mate!

[IBLOWN]

I thought it might be a power drain thing but that doesn't seem to be the case. I wouldn't replace all those items if it isn't necessary. Have you tried checking the error codes?

Your first suspicion is right i think. Probably a bad earth/positive main cabling.

Check the cabling from fuse box to battery to starter. If they look old and decrepit then change the harness with a new one.

[IBLOWN]

I think I'm gonna do the plugs leads and probably DFI, see if that works. If not I might do the CAS.

Thanks for the reply's mate!

No nothing to do with those parts.

[MC-waz]

Cheers IBLOWN, that does make sense as I'm guessing something simple like that will cause a problem when the extra power required for those fans kicks in.

This is a lot cheaper and simpler solution as well. It's funny how your mind tends to lean to the bigger complicated problems when it could be something so simple.

I'll post back with how I go.

[GTS69]

maybe a short in the wiring to the fans and the positive is arking out on the body or negative power supply

[BlackVXGTS]

Might also pay you to get your alternator (and possibly battery) checked out to make sure they are OK.