Car overheats with the A/C on?

2008 SATURN VUE
243,000 MILES • 3.6L • V6 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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CHARLIE SANDOVAL
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I checked cooling fan with Battery 12v ok, checked temperature sensor with Multimeter reading 2000 ohms cold and around 500 ohms hot assume this is okay. Would my problem be my thermostat?
Apr 20, 2025 at 11:36 AM
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STRAILER
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When the A/C is on and the engine is running does the cooling fan operate? If not, this will be the problem. The fan must run while the AC is on. If it does run then I would make sure the coolant level is full, (engine cold only) and if so, check for blockage at the radiator, either internally or externally.

Here is a guide that can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

If the engine overheats in the first 15 minutes of driving, then I would suspect the thermostat. Here is the location so you can check it out. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

Apr 21, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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CHARLIE SANDOVAL
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nether cooling fan was operating whether the A/C is on or off. drove car this morning for 30-minute ride check the fans while car was idling nether one was on and not overheating had aircon fuse pulled during this test ride. Why are the cooling fans off?
Apr 22, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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STRAILER
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Yep, that will do it. The cooling fans must run with the A/C on. There are three relays and 2 fuses that run the system. Let's see if the FAN MAIN fuse and the FAN AUX fuse are good and have power to them, (key on). The fuses are in the fuse panel under the hood.

This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
Apr 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
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CHARLIE SANDOVAL
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Checked both MAIN and AUX fuses under the hood both have power. did test with A/C disconnected.
Apr 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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STRAILER
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You could have two fan motors that are bad, let try checking the ltblu and gray wires for power when the engine is running and the A/C on.

Here is a guide to help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
Apr 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM
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CHARLIE SANDOVAL
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Checked LTBLU and Gray wire no power. Found 15amp ENG-3 fuse blown, replace it and blew again right away? What does this fuse control? Fans were tested with 12V Battery and both work just fine.
Apr 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
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STRAILER
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Did you check the fan circuit grounds? Here is what the ENG 3 fuse powers, nothing to do with the fans so please start a new thread for this problem.

Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) Canister Purge Solenoid Valve, Heated Oxygen Sensors (HO2S), Mass Air Flow (MAF) Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor

Here is the wiring diagrams for the radiator cooling fans, I would swap the relays out one at a time to see if that is the problem. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.



Apr 27, 2025 at 11:47 AM
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CHARLIE SANDOVAL
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How do you check the fan circuit ground with a test light?
Apr 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
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STRAILER
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Did you go over the guide? You put the ground lead of the test light on power.
Apr 30, 2025 at 10:36 AM
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CHARLIE SANDOVAL
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Yes, I went over the guide. Thank you, what I don't know is where to check the fan circuit with the tester? That's where I need help.
Apr 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
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STRAILER
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Gotcha, Remove the electrical connector from the right fan motor and check the black wire. Let me know.
Apr 30, 2025 at 11:04 AM
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CHARLIE SANDOVAL
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No ground to the Right fan connector, had ground to the left fan connector.
Apr 30, 2025 at 1:44 PM
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STRAILER
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Okay, it sounds like you tested everything, so the PCM might be bad, let's run the codes to see which ones are stored.

Here is a guide to help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
May 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM