B18B1 Coolant temp sensor question/problem

[ArcticFox]

I've got a 95 'Teg with a rebuilt B18B1 in it and was/am trying to troubleshoot why my radiator fan never kicks on unless I plumb it straight to the battery with a switch on the dash.

Went to NAPA and the lady said "sure my son had the same problem you just need this..."

Engine Temp Sensor

So I picked it up thinking it was a piece of cake. Well, I must be missing some info because I ended up breaking something that looks identical to that part...just smaller threads (wrench slipped). Upon breaking that one and noticing it wasn't the right fit I saw another one of them next to it that was a tad larger in diameter. Had to find a bolt big enough to close up the hole so I wouldn't spill all my coolant out on the apartment's parking lot.

The one I need now (broken one) is located right under the distributor, while the one I bought should be the one that fits a few inches away from that one right next to one of the coolant hoses, below the first one.

NAPA doesn't have that part so I need to figure out what part I busted and where to get it. No pics since I don't have a camera worth a damn, but I'll describe anything you need me to.

[TegTech]

Try a dealership. You usually pay more, but they tend to know more. Most of the time. . .

[MATTXR250R]

I did a B18B1 LS swap into my 93 Civic. Buddy I bought my engine from gave me two of the coolant pipes that run across the back of the block with the Thermostat housing attached. Both were off the engine when I bought it...so when I started prepping the engine I of course put one on...I didn't pay attention to which Thermostat cover I put on so after I got the engine running I was at a drive through getting some food and noticed my engine temp started creeping up. I then got the food and took off as it was just a little above normal..once moving it of course went back down. Fan wasn't coming on. I noticed the thermostat housing cover I put on didn't even have a hole for the temp sensor..I should have noticed this when plugging in all my wires but after almost 48 hours or no sleep working on it I was tired and didn't even catch it. Swapped the covers out and put a temp sensor in there and its been fine ever since.

But you did say you had a temp sensor in there didn't you?

Did you check the fuse under the hood?

[TegTech]

You could always go the cheap route. Wire it up to the AC on the radiator, that way you can turn it on and off with the push of a button. Or if you don't have the ac system, like myself, you can just have an extra fan from the junk yard and wire it to the ac wiring. Mine can be turned on and off if im sitting in traffic.

[EnJoiThaRex]

Get a manual and figure out the names for the sensors, first. Either the coolant temp sensor or the fan relay.

Then, take two leads from the battery and touch them to the fan motor to make sure your fan works. Then take the positive wire for the fan relay. Attach that wire to the fan motor and ground the fan. This will make sure you are getting power to the relay (this is a way to test it if you have no DVOM). If this test good, replace relay. You might even be able to connect the power wire to the relay and the ground the relay (artificially hot engine) and see if the fan comes on. It is quite simple.

My fan wasn't working and i went through these steps. But the problem was that my connection to the relay kept popping off. Problem fixed. This on a D-series though, but you can basically take this same concept and apply it to any vehicle.

If all else fails. The switch inside the cabin to the fan motor is your last resort. Other than a dealer or mechanic shop.