May I ask what item is at 200 degrees? Are you referring to the radiator fan switch or the engine coolant temp sensor? Also, what model year are you?

 

ECT temp switch. I have Bluetooth tablet connected to ECU. Typically I don’t go over 195 degrees. Now sitting in idle it will creep up to 215 degrees and keep going if I will let it. I have a 2005. This is not normal. Could this be a fuse or relay issue?

 

Bad fan switch on the rad?

 

Does anyone think replacing the radiator fan is worthwhile? If it turns on with AC fan that means it works, right?

 

If it works then it works, and something isn't closing the circuit... such as...a switch.

 

On my 2003, the fans turn on when the scan tool ECT reading is 217F.

 

Fan switch at the bottom of the radiator (gray connector)? It controls the regular fan and supposed to kick it on at 196-200. I doubt its a relay cause it works with the ac on but just to test it you can swap the horn relay in place of it. Swap RL3 and RL2

 

 

On my '08, the fan turns on around 208 when monitored with the Blue Driver app.

 

Good feedback everyone. So I just switched relays this morning as suggested. Then I drove to the park and did IVAC reset procedure. Both fans eventually did turn on. I’m assume after 200 mark, because temp seemed to fluctuate from 203-209 on the last 1.5 mins of stray 3k rpm

 

What is the RL2 fuse for? The one at swapped?

 

 

Thanks everyone. So upon further research (with AC off) both fans will kick on at 212 degrees. Is this normal/ok?

 

Sounds in the ballpark from what I've found on mine.

 

I typically don't drive with tablet running data, and when I have in the past, I usually have had the AC on. It's been cooler lately and I have been driving with AC off and I think that why the higher ECT temps have thrown me off guard. I am wondering now if maybe they have always been this way and I have simply been unaware.

 

There's probably no correlation, but my Element has the hottest heat of any vehicle I've ever owned. Told my wife she could do a Hot Yoga class in the back, lol!

 

My fan switch seems to stop working after about an hour driving it in heavy traffic. I switched it out a couple of months ago, the issue went away. Now its BACK again!! I unplugged the plug to the fan switch to see if it was a bad contact. I even sprays some deoxit it there. I'm starting to wonder if there's an issue in the wire somewhere, either the wire that connects the switch to ground, or the one that goes to the relay.

 

What evidence do you have that it is not working after an hour?

 

Check your coolant levels in the radiator. Low coolant and air blocks can prevent the fax from coming on even if your temperature is swung to the 'too hot' side. Don't look in reservoir. Make sure actual radiator is full to the top. Even 2 quarts of missing fluid can screw it up.

 

My radiator is full.

 

Check to see of there is a way to short the switch to cause the radiator fans to come on. Or use a lead to supply 12V to the radiator harness to get it to run (without getting your shirt of hair caught in it!). If I can remember that is what I did to check if the motor was working (it was not). The passenger side fan should come on automatically when the aircon is on and vent fans is on (aircon running). Those methods can check both fans.

 

They come on, just at to high a temp

 

Don't drive it until you fix the problem. These engines do not handle overheating at all. If you ever overheat, it will either blow a head gasket in 6 miles or 6,000 miles, but rest assure, it will blow a head gasket after an overheat event.

 

So to be clear for everyone my engine has never ‘overheated’. It was just a question of when should the fan turn on. Seems it turns on from 205-212 on my E. Which I have now learned is normal compared to others.

 

So to be clear for everyone my engine has never ‘overheated’. It was just a question of when should the fan turn on. Seems it turns on from 205-212 on my E. Which is normal compared to others.

Mine comes on at 104C to 106C which is 220F to 223F. Always has been in that range - rarely but sometimes around 95 to 99C (conditions specific?) and sometimes as late as 110C. But right now at 104C to 106C. Also seems normal from what I've read. I suppose the fan switches have some variance??

And there are aftermarket switches that come on at different temps. See "Mishimoto Fan Switch 80°

 

Those switches are just in the ballpark range anyway. I bet if you bought 5 new ones they would all be different by a few degrees.
AWD your probably completely safe as long as it turns on before it gets to far